In front of the store, there is a monument of Yūko. Inside the store, there are various sweets displayed such as maple roll cakes, matsutake mushroom rice crackers, bell-shaped cakes, natural gold sugar candies, and small red bean yokan. I chose to purchase the Yūko (matcha) rice cakes, which are soft and have a melting texture with a matcha flavor and sweet red bean filling inside. It is perfect for tea time. I plan to try the Yūko (milky) rice cakes next time.

Visited on July 24, 2020 (Fri) because I was interested. Located in Saganotenryuji Tsukurimichi-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City. Right next to Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Electric Railway. Entered at 1:15 pm. Due to the impact of the China virus, there were few customers. Purchased "Duck Sablé: 648 yen (tax included)". It is made with duck, not pigeon. The package is very cute. It is a large sablé with 5 individually wrapped pieces. It says butter flavor, but there is actually no butter in it. It is crispy and delicious, even though it doesn't use shortening. The ingredients are mainly wheat flour, sugar, food products mainly consisting of milk, eggs, leavening agent, emulsifier, flavoring, antioxidant (vitamin E) (contains wheat, milk components, eggs, soybeans in some parts). There are not many additives, so I think it is a conscientious company. Japanese commercial sweets are full of additives, so you have to check the ingredients list.

On this day, I strolled around Kyoto with my wife. We came to this traditional Japanese sweets shop. It is located inside Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Arashiyama Main Line, along the main tourist street of Arashiyama. We came here to buy souvenirs for my colleagues. Whenever I travel to Kyoto, I always buy Yatsuhashi from Itohachi Honpo as souvenirs for my workplace. The reasons are: - It has a long shelf life. - It is individually packaged, making it easy to share and place on absent colleagues' desks. - The amount of 3 pieces per person is just right for a workplace snack. It also feels like a good deal. - Even in individually wrapped packaging, it is clear that it is a souvenir from Kyoto. There is no need to ask "Where is this from?" - It is very affordable. A pack of 10 bags, each containing 3 pieces, costs 432 yen. - The taste is just as good as Seigoin Yatsuhashi, in my opinion. So this time, I bought a total of 6 packs of Yatsuhashi (432 yen for a pack of 3 pieces, 10 packs in total), totaling 2592 yen. I also bought a few extra for home. As soon as I returned home, I tried them. Yatsuhashi: When I was a child, I preferred fresh Yatsuhashi over regular Yatsuhashi, but in recent years, I've come to appreciate regular Yatsuhashi as well. The taste and flavor of cinnamon come through directly. As a souvenir, I think it's excellent. This Yatsuhashi is truly a good deal. It offers a taste of safety and security. Occasionally, some people may not like the taste of cinnamon, but that's just a matter of personal preference that comes with any souvenir, so it can't be helped. I will definitely use it as a Kyoto souvenir again! Thank you for the meal!

A shop located inside Arashiyama Station on the Randen Arashiyama Line. It is in a prime location at the center of tourism. There are various types of Yatsuhashi, but I find Seigoin, Otabe, and Yūko to be consistently good. It's more enjoyable to buy mini packs rather than a box because they come in packs of 5, allowing you to try different flavors. The classic cinnamon and matcha flavors are a must-try, but I also recommend the chocolate flavor (with chocolate instead of red bean paste) which is popular among children, as well as the autumn limited edition chestnut and sweet potato flavors. Even as an adult, I highly recommend the chocolate flavor. The combination of fresh Yatsuhashi and chocolate is delightful.

It is located right after exiting Arashiyama Station on the Randen line. They offer limited-time flavors of Yatsuhashi (traditional Japanese sweet) at reasonable prices. Compared to Nishio Yatsuhashi nearby, the flavors here are more traditional. Both are delicious though (laughs).

☆Souvenir Series Part 81☆ A classic Kyoto souvenir that never disappoints is Yatsuhashi ( ^ω^ ) There are countless flavors available now, but this time I received a set of cinnamon and matcha flavors. Each set contains 5 pieces of each flavor. The surface of the dough is coated with cinnamon, and the scent of cinnamon spreads gently. The red bean paste and the texture of the dough are both solid and unchanged from the past. The sweetness is just right, so even one piece is quite satisfying.

Received a gift from my wife's mother. She brought back Yatsuhashi. Before, the packaging was torn apart so I couldn't review it, but this time I'm keeping it intact. It's from Iizutsu Yatsuhashi Honpo, called "Yuko". When I opened it, there were two types: matcha and cinnamon. The cinnamon has a strong smell, some people don't like it. The red bean paste is solid, maybe not ideal for those who prefer smooth paste. The matcha flavor wasn't very strong. "Yuko" is named after the heroine of "Gobancho Yūgirisakura" by Mizukami Tsutomu, representing the delicate and pure heart of a beautiful woman. I have no idea what that means! (laughs) Sorry for my ignorance. Thank you for the meal.

Founded in the second year of the Bunka era (although it was not a traditional Japanese confectionery shop at that time), this company has a history of 210 years. This time, I tried the "Kyoto Warabi Mochi Kyoto Blur Blur Matcha." It is a type of warabi mochi, made with uguisu powder (kinako) mixed with matcha. There are three flavors available: cinnamon, matcha, and yuzu. The one I tried this time was the matcha flavor. Personally, I prefer the simplicity of just kinako for warabi mochi. The Kyoto Warabi Mochi Kyoto Blur Blur Matcha was very soft with a smooth texture. I enjoyed it with green tea, but since it was matcha-flavored, it felt a bit overwhelming when paired with green tea. In that sense, I think the plain kinako flavor would go better with green tea.

After finishing my meal and doing some sightseeing, I bought some souvenirs and rode back to Nara Prefecture, which is about 75km away. When you come to Arashiyama, you absolutely have to get some "Nama Yatsuhashi" as souvenirs. There are so many flavors to choose from like cinnamon, matcha, chocolate, strawberry, black sesame, and gold sesame, so you won't get tired of them. There are about five different companies making them, each with their own unique varieties and names like "Otabe" or "Yuko". This time, I got a box of 20 pieces (1,080 yen) with the classic flavors of cinnamon and matcha. I wanted to try more flavors, but my backpack for cycling is very small. Nowadays, they have improved the way they preserve them, so when I opened the box at home, the cinnamon and matcha flavors were fragrant, soft, and delicious. They also last for about 10 days, so they're still good to eat. I heard that in the past, they used to wrap them in bamboo skin. I also tried some crunchy rice crackers for tasting.

In early April of Heisei 27, I tried the Yatsuhashi "Spring Four Flavors: Yūko" that I received as a souvenir from Kyoto. The thin, soft, and chewy texture of the dough was consistent throughout. The "Sakura Bean Paste" had a gentle sakura flavor, the "Black Sesame" had a strong and distinctive black sesame taste, the "Cinnamon" provided a refreshing sensation as expected, and the "Matcha" offered an elegant flavor. It was my first time having Kyoto's Yatsuhashi in a while, and I found it easier to eat compared to before. Next time, I would like to try Yatsuhashi when I visit Kyoto myself. Thank you for the meal.

Today's tea snack ＼(◎o◎)／! The representative confectionery of this shop!! (^。^)y-.。o○ In the past, when it came to souvenirs from Kyoto school trips, it was always Yatsuhashi. Nowadays, there are so many different souvenirs available that you don't see many people buying it at the store anymore!! (-。-)y-゜゜゜ It's the changing times, I suppose. As for the content and taste... ・They are baked sticks made from raw Yatsuhashi!! They are hard... (＠_＠;) I had it for the first time in a while and it was a bit surprising!! It's not crispy, but rather crunchy (laughs). The scent of cinnamon is unique. The sweetness is subtle and has a simple taste... (・。・; I think it's good for your health (*^^)v It goes well with Japanese tea ♡ Overall... In a time when soft and smooth textures are popular, this is truly an old-fashioned snack!! (-。-)y-゜゜゜ Those who have eaten it in the past may find it nostalgic... If it's served as a tea snack, I'll eat it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy and eat it...(-_-メ) The taste itself is not bad at all, but even if I have it at home, I don't feel like eating it, so it just sits there... (@_@。It has a long shelf life, it's light, and it's cheap, so it's kind of disappointing (T_T)/~~~

After visiting the restaurant Osan Arashiyama, I stopped by the Arashiyama Station on the Randen line before taking the train. Inside the station, there is a foot bath on the platform! I didn't use it this time, but I remember that if you pay ¥150, you can get a towel from the station staff, so even if you don't have anything prepared, you can relax. The area in front of the station is full of customers! While browsing around, I found some items I liked. For souvenirs, I thought Yatsuhashi would be nice, so I bought apple honey for ¥630, sweet potato paste for ¥260, matcha for ¥260, and chestnut paste for ¥260 here. By the way, Yuzuko is a brand named after the heroine Yuzuko from "Gobancho Yugiri Zakura" by Tsutomu Minakami, expressing the heart of a delicate, elegant, and beautiful woman as a Kyoto confectionery. The chestnut paste was given out as a souvenir, so I don't know the taste! The ¥260 ones come in a pack of 5, and the ¥630 ones come in a pack of 10. The apple honey... sweet apple paste!! It's sweet but fruity, so it was very delicious. Especially recommended for those who like apples, and the fragrance is also nice. Sweet potato paste... I checked the website and found a seasonal sweet potato paste, but I guess this is just regular sweet potatoes? Still, I love sweet potatoes, so it's totally okay!! It was delicious with a comforting sweetness. Matcha... a classic deliciousness, right? The slight bitterness of matcha and the sweet bean paste were great. At the checkout, the staff gave me separate bags and even a free fresh Yatsuhashi as a bonus. These little things make me happy. The place was full of customers, but the atmosphere was nice. I was also interested in the cute duck-shaped "Duck Sablé" cookies. I thought it was a street vendor type of shop, but they had a pretty good selection of products and it was easy to see. It's a convenient location, so I'll visit again.

This is a food review of a walking tour in Arashiyama. From the Arashiyama Randen Station, the steam rising from the steamer whets your appetite. I tried the "Black Sugar Manju" for ¥100. It seems I got the last one, sorry to the people behind me. The Black Sugar Manju is similar to those often sold in hot spring towns! The skin is thin and the black sugar flavor is excellent! It's so hot that it might burn your upper palate! The sweet red bean paste is delicious without being too sweet. It was definitely worth the ¥100! It might become a famous specialty of Arashiyama Randen soon! Thank you for the meal~♪

Arashiyama's autumn leaves were voluminous even as they fell, creating a beautiful carpet-like scene with many leaves still shining on the branches. However, the end of the season was approaching. I decided to buy a souvenir of "Nama Yatsuhashi" from the Yatsuhashi Honpo store at Arashiyama Station, as it was more popular with my family than the traditional hard Yatsuhashi. I purchased a set of "Nama Yatsuhashi - Yūko" which included 10 pieces of cinnamon flavor, 5 pieces of matcha flavor, and 5 pieces of strawberry flavor for 1050 yen. The Yūko flavor was named after the protagonist of the novel "Gobancho Yukirō" set in Kyoto, depicting a pure love story and the beauty of the mountain village. The author, Mr. Mizukami, allowed the use of the character's name for this sweet. Nama Yatsuhashi is made by steaming a mixture of rice flour, sugar, and cinnamon, folding it into a square, and filling it with sweet bean paste. The spicy aroma of the cinnamon flavor paired perfectly with the sweet bean paste. The sweetness of the cinnamon, the bitterness of the matcha, and the refreshing taste of the strawberry all symbolize the elegance of Kyoto in these delicious traditional sweets. My family was delighted with the souvenir. Thank you for the meal.

I received this from a junior girl. It seems she went on a day trip bullet tour. Being young is nice, isn't it? The crispy eight-leaf pie is simple and delicious. It's not too sweet. It's a popular souvenir, right? Princess also loves it. There are various flavors of eight-leaf pie, but I still prefer plain. When you come to Kyoto, it's a classic souvenir. The dough is soft, with a harmony of peppermint flavor and sweet bean paste. The bean paste is not too sweet, just right. It's indescribable. Once you eat one, it's so delicious that you end up eating two or three pieces. I don't buy it for myself, but I bought it for my company or people who have helped me.

In front of Arashiyama Station, there is a shop selling delicious Yatsuhashi. They have a variety of cute packages to choose from, making it hard to decide. I tried the crispy Yatsuhashi and it was delicious. If you ride a rickshaw, you can get a special package with a rickshaw design on it. It was fragrant, crispy, and really tasty. I want to try more varieties. Arashiyama Station also has a display of Yuzen fabric in big tube-like containers (probably for a limited time), which is beautiful and adds to the enjoyment.

I have not visited the store myself, so I have rated everything except for the taste as 2.5. I received this as a souvenir from a friend. Although the image of Yatsuhashi is strong, this time it was cinnamon cookies. The cinnamon flavor is very strong, just like cinnamon, with a strong aroma and taste. However, it is not bitter, so even those who are not fans of cinnamon may find it surprisingly enjoyable. The texture is light and crispy, making it quite addictive. It came in individual packaging with 3 pieces. I think it would make a great new souvenir from Kyoto.

One popular Kyoto souvenir is Yatsuhashi. I recommend the two-layered mochi called "Yuko," which has sweet bean paste inside. While it may not be exceptionally delicious, there are various flavors available now such as matcha, strawberry, and chocolate. It might be a good idea to choose matcha for older people, strawberry or chocolate for women and young people. You can also try samples in front of the store, which can be fun to compare different flavors.