For me, Arashiyama is not about the Togetsukyo Bridge, the bamboo forest path, or the Sagano Scenic Railway, but about "Aitowa." The name "Aitowa" contains meanings such as "What is love?" "Love and environment," and "Love eternal." The English spelling used is "aightowa." About ten years ago, the owners of Aitowa, Mr. Takayuki Mori and Mrs. Sayoko, were featured on TV. I became interested in their ideals and concepts after reading Mr. Mori's book. I have wanted to visit Aitowa in Arashiyama ever since. Finally, I was able to visit this time. It was still 10:30 in the morning, and as a sweets lover, I planned to have a wonderful tea time. However, since I hadn't had a proper breakfast, I was feeling hungry, and I decided to have a meal to avoid getting sick in the scorching heat. There were two meal sets available - pilaf set and pizza set. I chose the pizza set. I couldn't resist adding some sweets as well before finishing the pizza. There was an exhibition of the doll artist Mrs. Sayoko at the hotel next to Aitowa, and it was the last day of the exhibition. There was a pond adjacent to Aitowa with beautiful lotus flowers blooming. The staff at Aitowa told me that just a few years ago, the pond was dirty, but with the help of the local community, they cleaned it up and planted lotus flowers. They said that people started being drawn to the pond to see the beautiful lotus flowers only about two years ago. It took me ten years to visit, but thanks to that, I was able to see the beautiful lotus flowers.

【Cafe inside the private residence of doll artist Sayoko Mori.】The cafe is located in a tourist area in Sagano, near the Torokko Arashiyama Station, on the way to places like Jozan Komyoji Temple and Rakushisha. It is part of Mori's doll exhibition room and workshop. Established on April 5, 1986, this cafe is said to be the first indoor completely non-smoking food and drink establishment in Japan. The last visit was about 5 years ago, and despite not being featured on food review websites, it is worth mentioning. 【Visit Details】Last visit was for sightseeing purposes. 【Number of Visits/First Visit】3 times. First visit was about 20 years ago. 【Ordered Items and Prices】"Hot Coffee" (around 400 yen?), companion ordered "Cake Set" (around 700 yen?). ① Key Points to Convey about this place: - A quiet cafe where you can enjoy the atmosphere of Sagano at the foot of Mt. Ogura. - Even better for those who love dolls. ② Taste Impressions: - The coffee, which I believe was from "World Coffee" in Kyoto, was delicious. It had a pleasant aroma and tasted good. ③ Service Impressions: - The service from the staff, particularly the mothers, was quiet and warm. They were not intrusive, which was nice. ④ Atmosphere: - The atmosphere of the cafe is the most noteworthy aspect. It is located near Torokko Arashiyama Station, with a modern concrete interior. There were terrace seats and a cozy, white and wooden interior. It was quiet and luxurious during my visit. ⑤ Value for Money: - The prices seemed reasonable and not overly touristy. ⑥ Other Notes: - The cafe's name "Aitowa" translates to 'What is love? Love and harmony. Eternal love.' Interested individuals can refer to the website for more information. - The cafe menu includes coffee, tea, various lattes, cake sets, toast, pilaf, and snacks. They also sell sweets at the counter. - I have only ridden the Sagano Torokko train once as it was established after I left Kyoto. It is still relatively new, and this area is within biking distance from my home.