On Monday at 13:30, head to "Yamatoya" in Jingumaru-tamachi. It's located in a back alley that might be a bit hard to find at first glance. This is the kind of place you'd want to visit if you were a local. Order the "Coffee (Half & Half)". The "Half" refers to the balance between acidity and bitterness. The master carefully grinds the beans right in front of you at the counter and brews the coffee. This is authentic and promising. Arrived in 7 minutes. Took a sip. Delicious. It has a clear, transparent taste with a solid richness, and the balance between acidity and bitterness is exquisite. The cup is generously filled, so you get a good amount. The jazz music playing in the cozy atmosphere of the shop, and the customers quietly enjoying the music and drinks. It's a place to enjoy the music more than conversations. It can also be used as a bar at night, so it's a good place to spend a relaxing time. I heard that Takuzo Tsuno also frequents this place. I thought that I would like to run a shop like this after retiring from work. Thank you for the meal.

I visited Kyoto for a memorial service, and it was a hot and humid day due to the rainy season. I received information about this shop from someone who used to live in Kyoto during their student days and decided to visit. Jazz cafes are rare these days, making this shop quite valuable. However, considering that jazz can be heard in various eateries and supermarkets depending on the time of day, I feel happy as someone aspiring to jazz that it has become so ingrained in daily life. Now, the Yamatoya shop I visited exuded a unique sense of luxury as soon as I stepped inside. Well, this way of writing might be outdated. But the luxury was evident from all around, so it couldn't be helped. First, I took a sip of water, used the restroom to freshen up, and then sat down. The cafe latte I ordered was brought to me. I unfortunately missed the moment when the master ground the beans, but as soon as I took a sip of the cafe latte, I thought, "Delicious!" I usually only drink weak coffee, but I could tell how delicious it was! As a side note, the next day, I had a cafe latte at a certain cafe in Tokyo, but I'm sorry to say it was completely different... I finally realized the difference. The taste was really surprising. And as a casual customer, I boldly requested "Coltrane" and enjoyed listening to it leisurely, feeling very satisfied. The cafe latte, carefully brewed in a lovely teacup, was so delicious that it felt like a waste to drink the last sip. Thank you for the meal. I attended a memorial service in the morning, visited Kiyomizu-dera and Sanjusangen-do in the afternoon, and ended my day at Yamatoya. This was my Kyoto stay, and it was a great opportunity to savor more of Kyoto's charm. I believe the master is quite elderly, so please take care of yourself and stay healthy. I hope to visit again. * I received permission to take photos inside the shop before taking them.

Feeling tired and wanting to take a break, I happened to enter a cafe while passing by. Inside, I found it to be dimly lit with jazz music playing quite loudly. The place was almost full with people, but no one was talking. Some were even sleeping. There was a certain tension in the air, yet a calm atmosphere prevailed. The coffee options included acidity, bitterness, and half & half, each priced at 700 yen per cup. The acidic coffee seemed a bit light at first, but as I continued to drink it, my taste buds adjusted. There were also various other drinks available, including whiskey and alcohol. Despite entering on a whim, I ended up staying for quite a while. Thank you for the meal.

Yamato-ya, a jazz cafe and bar located in Seigoin, Kyoto, is a wonderful place to revisit. They have a great selection of drinks, including alcohol. The jazz music played from the large old speakers with vinyl records has a unique sound. The interior is bright with red carpeting, giving it a different feel from your typical jazz cafe. When you order Vienna coffee, they ask if you want sugar added beforehand. The master carefully grinds the beans and brews each cup with hand drip. It's a great place to spend a relaxing time.

Located at Marutamachi-dori Higashioji-dori Higashiiru, COFFEE & WHISKY YAMATOYA is a hidden gem of a cafe that offers a classical and cozy atmosphere. The coffee is delicious, and the timeless space allows for a pleasant time slip experience. I would recommend visiting in the evening to enjoy some whiskey as well!

Spring blend for 650 yen and cheesecake for 290 yen. Is this a jazz cafe? A large collection of records and vintage speakers that evoke a sense of nostalgia. I've never been to a jazz cafe, but I wonder if they were all stylish like this back in the day. If so, people in the past were really fashionable. Everything in the decor feels carefully chosen, from the red counter to the hanging lights to the tables. There's a sense of unity or a certain standard that everything must adhere to. The fact that the bill is on the back of a shop card is cool. It naturally makes you sit up straight. I wish I had come here during my university days, even though I'm not sure why. It seems like a great place for a date. The cheesecake is pretty good, even though it's small due to the low price. The Spring blend has a nice aroma, but it's oily with a bit of bitterness and acidity, which isn't to my liking. Even when mixed with milk, the acidity remains. I saw that the alcohol prices were quite high on the menu, so I decided to pass. The menu being in the shape of a piano keyboard was interesting. While Ritz Cafe had a modern luxurious feel, this cafe has its own unique charm. It's wonderful and prideful that places like this still exist. I hope Kyoto's cafe culture continues to thrive.

I visited the long-established jazz cafe "Yamatoya" in Kyoto. Yesterday, I talked about a seal engraving exhibition. On the day of the setup, I had lunch with my luggage and passed by Kumano Shrine on the way to the venue. I remembered that there was a jazz cafe nearby. I had been there before and found it very cozy. Although I didn't have time that day, I decided to come with plenty of time on the day of the teardown before heading to the venue. It's called "Yamatoya." It is located a little east of the Marutamachi, Higashioji intersection, down a narrow alley. It's a long-established jazz cafe that anyone who loves jazz knows. It dates back to when I was a student, roughly 50 years ago. The way people used to listen to jazz back then was very stoic. When you enter the cafe, it's very dimly lit. You are overwhelmed by the intense sound. The pressure of the sound makes it difficult to even place an order. While sipping coffee, you would bow down as if prostrating yourself before the god of sound, listening to jazz intently. That was the rule. You couldn't concentrate on reading a book. Nowadays, it's a bit different. There is no flood of barking sounds. It's a quiet and stylish space. When you order coffee, they grind the beans right in front of you. It has a very nice aroma. It's a strong, acidic flavor, which I like. It's very calming. The Klipschorn speakers are playing right by your ear. The sound is very beautiful. I wonder if those speakers were used during the era of intense sound. It has an elegant and mild sound quality. Yet, it still has a sharpness to it. When a record finishes, they play the next one on the adjacent player. There are two players and a McIntosh amp. It's something that audio enthusiasts would love. My heart flutters at the vast record collection. It's a very serene space. The atmosphere is great. I'll come back occasionally. Thank you for a wonderful time. Restaurant Name: Yamatoya Genre: Cafe, Bar Address: 2 streets east from the Marutamachi, Higashioji intersection, Higashiyama, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto Phone: 075-761-7685 Business Hours: 12:00-24:00 Closed on Wednesdays and the 2nd Thursday of the month Menu: Japanese Language: Japanese Thank you.

In mid-October, on the final day of a 11-day business trip across the country, I visited the Kyoto area before heading back to Saitama. I met up with a friend who lives in Ashiya to visit an event at the Kyoto Ceramic Museum, enjoy lunch, and then went to a jazz cafe nearby called "Yamatoya". The cafe, a nostalgic spot for me, had been recommended by my predecessor when I first started working in Kyoto. The place had been renovated beautifully, with records lining the walls and two turntables and a jukebox in the center. The atmosphere was relaxed, with customers chatting and the jazz music playing softly in the background. We had a "Vienna coffee" and reminisced about our dreams of starting a social venture together, a promise we had made over 10 years ago. However, on this day, we avoided discussing those plans, and instead enjoyed the music and each other's company. On a personal note, before deciding on this business trip, I had submitted a resignation letter to the former president of my company, who is also the de facto owner. Despite the company's stable performance during the pandemic, the constant changes in policies and structures due to COVID had led to confusion and burdening the employees, highlighting a major weakness in the organization - the heavy reliance on me to handle almost everything. The flat organizational structure, which was originally intended to allow experts to work freely, had become unsustainable as the company expanded its operations nationally and internationally. The former president's response, like that of other executives, was to reject my resignation and ask for a clearer plan. This decision, along with the pressure from my friend and his wife, who also suggested waiting and staying with the company until retirement, left me feeling both grateful and overwhelmed. As I listened to the jazz music in the cafe, the lyrics of Three Dog Night's "The Show Must Go On" kept replaying in my mind. "The show must go on" - a British proverb meaning "once you start something, you must see it through to the end". As I rode the bullet train back to Tokyo, this phrase echoed in my mind, reminding me to stay committed and persevere.

After visiting Ryōan-ji Temple, I stopped by the long-established jazz cafe "Yamatoya" that I had been curious about. It was a quiet atmosphere with only one customer. The tables and red counter were well-maintained. There were two turntables on the right, maybe GARRARD? Two speakers were neatly placed at the back. It's a great place to enjoy good music. Whenever I come to Kyoto, I always make sure to visit. Oh, and the coffee was delicious too.

When you open the door, you will find a dimly lit jazz café decorated with William Morris wallpaper. The menu, shaped like a grand piano, offers a wide variety of soft drinks, snacks, appetizers, and alcoholic beverages. I decided to try the Campari Soda for 1000 yen. The walls are filled with records, and the soothing melodies of jazz create a pleasant atmosphere. They also accept song requests.

I visited YAMATOYA, a jazz café located in front of Kyoto Kumano Shrine. Unlike the typical dark and underground atmosphere of jazz cafés, this place had an elegant and retro-modern vibe. The highlight was their extensive collection of records, neatly arranged on shelves covering an entire wall. Unfortunately, I couldn't browse through them all as I arrived near closing time. However, I enjoyed a delicious and aromatic coffee while listening to jazz music on their huge speakers.

I went to "YAMATOYA," a long-established jazz cafe in front of Kumano Shrine in Kyoto. Lately, I often find myself thinking, "Let's go to a jazz cafe..." This day, after studying seal engraving in Nishiiin, we had lunch together and then felt like going to a jazz cafe. Looking at the bus route map at the bus stop, I found a route that goes directly from Nishiiin to Kumano Shrine without any transfers. Kyoto's city buses are really convenient. Now I'm heading to "YAMATOYA" in front of Kumano Shrine. When I think of a jazz cafe, "YAMATOYA" is the first place that comes to mind, being a long-established favorite among us since our student days. It's been decades since then, and I barely remember those times, so there's no sense of nostalgia. The inside of the cafe is quiet, with jazz music playing softly. There was only one regular customer sitting at the counter. I was told to sit anywhere, so I chose a table in front of the speakers, right in the middle. I enjoyed the music while sipping coffee. The sound was beautiful, with a rich tone in both strings and wind instruments. I may not have enough knowledge to identify the speakers just by listening or seeing them, but I can tell they are not ordinary. Later, I learned that they are VITAVOX KLIPSCHORN speakers, and the amp is a McINTOSH MA2275 tube preamp. The turntable is a Garrard 401, which even I can recognize. It's a wonderful machine. The music is sharp, glamorous, soft, and not overwhelming. I could listen to it endlessly. The coffee was delicious. This is what a modern jazz cafe is like. Another couple entered the cafe, expressing nostalgia as they sat down. They might be old acquaintances. The music is sharp, glamorous, soft, and not overwhelming. I could listen to it endlessly. The coffee was delicious. This is what a modern jazz cafe is like. The name of the cafe is "YAMATOYA," and it is located in Kyoto, Higashiyama. The genre is a cafe, bar, or live house. The address is 2 streets east of Marutamachi, Higashiyama, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. Phone number: 075-761-7685. Business hours are from 12:00 to 24:00, closed on Wednesdays and the second Thursday of each month. The menu is in Japanese. Thank you for reading.

The sound of the speakers is really good. It's so calming.

I visited after 15 years. The entrance has been renovated. It is still a calming and comforting place. Whenever I come to Kyoto, I will visit this restaurant again.

This is the most popular jazz cafe in Kyoto. When you enter through a narrow alley, you'll see a blue sign and a shade as landmarks. When you gently open the door, the kind master with glasses greets you with a smile. The relaxed atmosphere envelops the interior, and the conversations between the master and regular customers are charming, making it easy to get lost in them. While chatting with regulars, the master will play a rare record from his valuable JAZZ collection on an old-fashioned record player. I still remember the Valentine's Day when he played Chet Baker's "My Funny Valentine."

The food menu is delicious. The ambiance and music are also good.

I had always wanted to visit this place. Although I'm not very knowledgeable about jazz, listening to it here made me feel a bit more sophisticated. The antique furniture, countless records lining the walls, and impressive speakers all added to the ambiance. The music playing, while unfamiliar to me, was likely a classic. I savored a Johnny Walker Black Label on the rocks as I leisurely passed the time. This place, established in 1970, has aged gracefully. I hope it remains unchanged for years to come. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Jazz Cafe - the sound of it. In my younger days, I believe there was a jazz cafe near the Izumi Square in Umeda. The place had a niche appeal, strict rules like no talking and having to keep swinging, and it was too intimidating for me back then. Now that I am older, I listen to Art Blakey every day, but this time, I mustered up the courage to visit a traditional jazz cafe in Kyoto. It's located in a small alley near the Kumano Shrine bus stop, with a white wall and a blue door that gives off an artsy vibe. I entered the cafe, where fast-paced modern jazz piano music was playing. The lighting was dim, with wooden tables, chairs, Tiffany-style lamps, Japanese paintings, and an antique atmosphere. The walls were filled with LP records. I wondered if I shouldn't talk, but seeing customers chatting at the counter put me at ease. I sat at a table in the back, and the owner, who resembled a jazz pianist, handed me a menu. I ordered a hot coffee (acidic) for 600 yen. It was hand-dripped and served in a Wedgwood cup. The coffee had a high acidity but also a balanced bitterness and a deep flavor. The jazz music transitioned to include trumpet and percussion, even songs reminiscent of the New Orleans era. While I don't know about its founding days, the jazz cafe didn't have a niche, maniacal vibe; instead, it had a classical, bar-like ambiance.

Touring to Kyoto. Encountered sudden rain on the way from Kibune Shrine to Kyoto city, took shelter at Gosho Hamaguri Gate for a while. Then headed to YAMATOYA as planned. You can enjoy delicious coffee in charming cups here. There used to be several jazz cafes around this area, but now only this one remains. Whenever I have time during my visit to Kyoto, I always want to stop by here first. I hope they continue to entertain jazz fans in this area.

An elderly couple welcomed us at the counter. They made hand-drip coffee with care, adjusting the bitterness and acidity. They ground the beans with a coffee mill, measured the water temperature, and brewed the coffee slowly. The record played in the background, filling the room with soothing music. The coffee had a rich aroma and flavor, starting with bitterness and ending with a lingering taste. It was a thoughtful experience, accompanied by jazz music. They didn't serve curry or sandwiches, so make sure not to go hungry! Thank you for the meal.

I found a great restaurant after a long time. It's a longstanding jazz cafe & bar located right next to Nana Fukuya, where I usually have lunch. I often come to the Kumano Shrine area once a week for errands, but I always felt like the place was a bit intimidating, so I never went in. On this day, I was exhausted after watching my daughter's school sports festival and I wanted to have some tea alone somewhere, but I didn't have the energy to go to a coffee chain or a trendy cafe. I'm not knowledgeable about music, but I often listen to jazz at home, and I felt the desire to recharge my energy with the power of music, so I gathered my courage and entered the cafe. When I opened the door, "Summertime" was playing. It's a favorite song of mine, so I felt a little relieved. The interior of the cafe is classical with heavy table sets, antique furniture, stained glass, a crimson carpet, and a shiny red counter. Lined up behind the counter are crystal cut glasses and blown glassware. The teacups include Royal Albert, Ginori, Royal Copenhagen, Wedgwood, and more. Everything exudes the genuine taste and sense of aesthetics of the Showa era. It made me feel very comfortable. The service of the owners was subtly courteous and full of dignity. The aura of elegance that they exuded, both in their personality and appearance, was captivating, and although it may be disrespectful to say this to someone older, I was immediately drawn to them. This is rare for me. I ordered a Vienna coffee (650 yen) and, based on the advice of the owner, I chose the "Kyoto snack" from the menu and had Kyoto silk roll (200 yen). The Vienna coffee was brewed in a Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted cup. It was delicious coffee with rich cream, and it was a cup that seeped into my tired mind and body. The Kyoto silk roll was a small confection made by rolling a thin senbei-like dough with yuhei sugar and baking it until it became hard. It had a crunchy texture and a subtle sweetness. According to the owner, Kyoto silk rolls are made and sold in various wagashi shops in Kyoto, each with a different taste. I have been living in Kyoto for a long time, but there is still so much I don't know. Of course, the Kyoto silk roll I had here was very delicious and went well with the coffee. The owner casually engaged me in conversation, and her thoughtful consideration felt so natural and pleasant. I wanted to stay here forever, but unfortunately, the time had come to leave, and I left the cafe with a heavy heart. I have been called an adult for a long time now. What I am seeking now is not a trendy cafe, but a place like this where my heart can find peace. From now on, when I come to this area, I will have coffee here. It seems like I won't have to wander around looking for a place anymore. Thank you for the wonderful experience.