Established in 1689, this long-established store "Honode" is located within walking distance from Ichijoji Station. Nearby, you can find attractions such as "Ichijoji Nakatani" and the entrance to "Tanukidanisan Fudoin." Kyoto is known for its excellent pickles, with "Shibazuke," "Senmaizuke," and "Sugukizuke" being the three major pickles and popular souvenirs. However, this particular store focuses on "Kirarazuke" rather than the traditional pickles. Kirarazuke has a unique history, originating from the Tanabe family who served the aristocratic Oinoue family. The pickles were originally enjoyed by travelers on the difficult path to Mt. Hiei. The store offers Kirarazuke made with carefully selected small eggplants and Kyoto's distinctive white miso, following a traditional recipe passed down through generations. The pickles have a pleasant aroma and a sweet taste, making them a perfect accompaniment to meals or as a tea snack.

After visiting the Mitsui Shimogamo Villa, Manjuin, and Enkoin, I finally came to this shop after a long time! It is a historic long-established store. When you enter the store, there is a tasting corner where you can sit and try the samples first. After tasting, you will be guided to the back where it is hard to refuse to make a purchase of the unique items. This time, I purchased mica pickles for 864 yen and flower cucumbers for 640 yen. The mica pickles are miso pickled small eggplants! The small bite-sized eggplants have a firm skin and a great texture. The miso's sweetness adds to the delicious taste. The flower cucumbers are crunchy and spicy pickles that are perfect for hot weather. Overall, the mica pickles are delicious but a bit expensive. However, the unique taste makes you want to buy them when you are nearby.

On a day off, I went out for lunch. Before that, I made a little detour. I took the Hieizan Railway and found a treat. There was no one taking pictures, but when I got off at Ichijoji Station and headed east on Shirakawa Street, it felt quite quaint. I saw the Ichijoji Sagari Pine for the first time, despite living in Kyoto for many years. The entrance of the shop now serves as a reception area. In the past, there must have been many travelers passing through. Finally, I entered the shop while looking at the garden. They only had three types of pickles: mica pickles, cucumbers, and shiba-zuke. A pack of mica pickles costs over 800 yen. The miso pickled small eggplants tasted just like the ones I used to eat a lot in the past. The mustard pickled eggplants were also of this kind. With improved distribution, pickles have mainly become lightly pickled nowadays, but I think this flavor should be preserved. Maybe it's only available at long-established shops now. I recommend everyone to visit the shop for a touristy experience.

In May 2016, I visited Ho-no-de, a long-established pickles shop in Ichijoji, Kyoto. I bought their famous "kumotsuke" pickles as a souvenir for my family. When we opened it at home and tried it with shochu, it was delicious! The sweetness of miso and the texture of eggplant were exquisite. I also realized that the pickles I bought last time, "shiba-zuke," were still unopened and very sour! Chopping it into small pieces made it more enjoyable. It seems that pickles in Kyoto are often finely chopped, giving them a traditional taste. In November 2015, I visited Ho-no-de again and enjoyed their delicious pickles, including "kumotsuke" and "shiba-zuke." The shop's atmosphere, with its long interior and a courtyard, was very Kyoto-esque. The "kumotsuke" pickles, made with small eggplants marinated in white miso, were sweet and elegant. They were perfect on their own but even better when chopped and mixed with white miso. I haven't opened the "shiba-zuke" yet, but I heard it's also best enjoyed when chopped. Overall, Ho-no-de's pickles are a must-try in Kyoto!

It takes about 2 hours to walk from this shop to Mt. Hiei. Monks have been eating it since ancient times. I had never heard of "Kiraradzuke" before, but it tasted good. It is made by pickling salted open-field eggplants in white miso. It goes well with rice and ochazuke. It seems that you can only buy it here. You can also order it, but only if you have visited the shop or tried it before. It is located north of Kyoto, about 200 meters east of Shirakawa Street, along a slightly wider road, with a large stone at the entrance. It seems to have been used as a substitute for a milestone in the past. As you enter while looking at the garden, there is a small shop at the back. I think it is a Kyoto-like pickled vegetable.

There are many delicious pickled vegetable shops in Kyoto, but there is one shop where you can only buy if you taste and like the pickles. Established in the second year of the Genroku era, Kumomoduki Sawa-no-de is a historic pickled vegetable shop with a charming atmosphere. Their specialty is kumomoduki (kirara) pickles, which are pickled small eggplants. You can sample them in the store and if you like it, you can purchase them. The thumb-sized small eggplants pickled in white miso have a perfect balance of the sweetness of white miso and the saltiness of eggplants, making them delicious. I bought some to take home as it was so good. This alone could make you want to eat endless bowls of rice. You can only buy kumomoduki pickles at this shop, as there are no other branches and they are not sold at events. They also offer mail-order sales, but only those who know the taste of kumomoduki pickles can purchase them. This is a hidden gem of pickled vegetables that only those who know the taste can buy. It's also a recommended souvenir. Check out Yu's blog "Food Analyst Yu's HAPPY Gourmet DIARY" for more information.

Ichijoji Kunbu Tsuke (Kombu Pickles) Specialty Store Honode Date: December 15, 2012 Time: 08:30:00 Theme: Kyoto: Japanese Cuisine I didn't know about this wonderful pickle shop called Kunbu Tsuke, pronounced as Kirarazuke. There is even a stone monument by the entrance. They have miso pickled small eggplants for tasting. If you like it, you can buy some. Next, you proceed to another room, which feels like a theme park. I bought one. My mother and aunt who were with me bought a lot for shipping. The pickles are well flavored with miso, and they go well with rice. It's a great souvenir to receive as well. The exclusivity of being able to buy them only here adds to the appeal. If you ever visit nearby, be sure to try them out. Bon appétit!

Honode-san is a long-established store that has been around since the Genroku era. My family has been buying their pickles for about 40 years now, even before I was born. While there are many pickle shops in Kyoto, it's hard to find one that matches the atmosphere and taste of Honode-san. Their pickled baby eggplants in white miso are delicious and go well with warm rice or as a side dish for drinks. When you visit the store, they will offer you a taste test first before you can purchase them in the back. They seem to offer online shopping now, but in the past, you could only buy them at the store. I don't think they wholesale their products. That's what I love about Kyoto. I travel to Kyoto just to buy these pickles. If you have time, visit Shisendo as well. The souvenir size is 525 yen, and the large size is 1050 yen. They also have even bigger barrel pickles. Those who know about this place are truly lucky - they are happy when they visit the store and when they enjoy the pickles at home. Make sure to get these as a special souvenir when you travel to Kyoto.

This time, I would like to introduce my top recommendation, a pickled vegetable shop in Kyoto. Kirarazuke Shinise Honode is the name of the shop. Kirarazuke is written as 雲母漬け and read as kirarazuke. In the past, monks on their way to the Hieizan Mountain Kingin Temple from the Ichijoji village had to climb a steep slope called Kirarazaka or Chokushi-zaka. They rested at a tea shop along the way, where they were served delicious pickled vegetables, which has been passed down to this day. Honode was established in the Genroku era. According to the shop's website, they have been serving the noble Washio family for generations. The tradition and history of the shop can be felt from the shop and its garden. This is the Kirarazuke pickled vegetable. It is made by pickling small eggplants in white miso, following the traditional method since its establishment. The salted eggplants combined with white miso create a unique flavor and taste. Generally, you can only buy it at the shop or through mail order. Previously, there was no mail order service. Customers are allowed to taste it at the shop and only those who like it can purchase it. It is nice that they do not compromise on their commercial stance. I was touched by their elegance and commitment to tradition. When I got home and ate it with freshly cooked rice, I entered a heavenly world. Oh, it's delicious. If you happen to visit nearby, please try it. It is a recommended delicacy. http://www.kiraraduke.net/ This is the shop's website. If you like, please click on both rankings! Your support is encouraging for the rankings to go up! Thank you for always reading!

The pickles shop located at the foot of Shisendo in Kyoto, called Kumomodzuki Honpo, is housed in a cool building amidst a regular residential area, which may surprise you at first. Their specialty, Kumomodzuki, is a white miso pickle made with small eggplants. Despite its appearance resembling Nara pickles, it is unexpectedly sweet rather than sour when you taste it. Upon checking the ingredients, you'll find that it contains starch syrup, which explains the sweetness. When eaten with rice, it is absolutely delicious. Its sweet and light flavor is so addictive, you won't be able to stop eating it. They mainly sell their products in-store, without much presence in department stores, which is quite rare these days.

Just a stone's throw away from the site of Miyamoto Musashi's duel at Ichijoji, at the crucial junction of Mt. Hiei and the city, lies a very important location in terms of geopolitics. In the distance, Mt. Hiei can be seen, while Ichijoji itself has disappeared and no longer exists. About 100 meters west of there, you will find this shop, which I learned from the shop's owner originally started as a tea house for shrine visitors. They specialize in pickles made using a traditional method passed down through generations. This unique shop could easily be featured on the famous Kansai TV show "Detective Night Scoop" in the segment "Kaede Koeda's Paradise."

If you walk about 15 minutes from Ichijo-ji towards Shisendo, you will see a splendid gate on the left side of Kumomosaka. Upon entering, there is a place where you can taste samples while sitting, such as Kumotsuke and pickled cucumbers. The staff will explain the products to you, and you can taste them before deciding to purchase. In the back of the shop, there is a sales area, which is more like a workshop with products lined up, with no counter or register. They offer both bagged and boxed options, making it suitable for a small souvenir. Kumotsuke is a pickled dish of small eggplants marinated in white miso. The balance of the mild sweetness of white miso and the saltiness of the small eggplants is just right and very delicious. If you generously spread white miso on the small eggplants, it is perfect as a rice accompaniment or a drink snack. Although Kyoto has various types of pickled dishes available, the Kumotsuke here is worth buying. The bagged options come in small (525 yen) and large (1050 yen). It seems that they also offer online shopping, but I personally prefer to taste the flavor in person before making a purchase, which I find admirable.

After eating to my heart's content at a restaurant serving mega-sized portions in Shiga, I crossed over the mountains to Kyoto. I went to Ichijoji to buy the pickles that my family has been buying continuously. It's a quiet and calm shop with a serene atmosphere. The staff there starts by saying, "Please taste it first." The mother and son take care of customers while the stubborn father rests in the tatami room. It seems like they want customers to taste the product before buying it, maybe to make sure they appreciate the taste. This shop seems to have a strong commitment to their unique taste, as they don't wholesale to other shops or sell online. The small bag of Kiraradzuke (cloud mica pickles) for 500 yen is convenient and makes a great gift. I brought it home and it was as delicious as ever! The small eggplants with white miso and bran, with a slightly spicy kick, are great. They seem to have a website now and offer online shopping, but I still think it's best to visit the shop in person for the authentic taste.

During my high school days, I heard about this place from my teacher and decided to visit after ten long years. They asked me if I had tried their food before, and I replied that it had been a while. They kindly offered me a taste test. Surprisingly, I found it more delicious than when I was a high school student. The saltiness that I used to dislike now mixed with a hint of sweetness tasted really good to me. It made me realize that as we age, our taste buds change and we can appreciate different flavors. I remember it used to cost around 500 yen back then, but this time it was around 600 yen. I lamented the fact that prices have gone up as I've gotten older, but I still enjoy savoring each bite at home. The restaurant is located in a peaceful area with a charming old-fashioned townscape.

This year, I sent a New Year's gift to those who have taken care of me. It's called "Kirara-zuke". Such a nice name. It's a small eggplant pickled in white miso. When I was little, I didn't understand the deliciousness of this. The crunchiness of biting into the eggplant, the generous amount of koji in the miso. I want to slap the me from back then who didn't know what was good about it. When you bite into the eggplant, the umami overflows. The white miso with plenty of koji, mixed with a little soy sauce, is a great accompaniment to white rice or as a filling for onigiri. I think it's a taste that divides people's preferences. In the past, you had to taste it in the actual store before the owner would sell it to you, but now you can order it online. With a warm cup of tea and this pickled dish, I could welcome the New Year happily. I'll include a message card saying, "Please try it with some good rice cooked once," and send it to those who have taken care of me.

I always thought there was a nice pickle shop, and this time I had a good opportunity to buy some. I tried the "mica pickles," which are small eggplants pickled in white miso. I'm not from Kyoto, so I don't know the true taste of this pickle. But I imagine it would be good to eat it by cutting the mica pickles in half, placing them on a small plate, chilling them, and serving them with rice in a Kyoto pottery bowl. I feel like it's not something you would eat three or four pieces of at once. On a different note, why are samples always so delicious? Is it because we eat them standing up with a toothpick? Does the pincho effect make them taste even better? If you have the chance to visit the shop, be sure to try the samples. They are so delicious that you'll end up buying something for sure!

Before boarding the Shinkansen bound for Iwate, I visited the Kyoto exhibition at Nihonbashi Takashimaya. There was a slightly old-fashioned shop in one corner of the venue. The shop specializes in pickles, offering only three types of products, with two available for tasting. Established in the Genroku era, Honode-san's pickles are a specialty made by pickling carefully selected small eggplants in Kyoto's unique white miso. The traditional method passed down through generations has been faithfully preserved since its founding. I also tried the pickled cucumber called Hanakyuri, which felt like a refined version of regular cucumbers. This time, I decided to purchase the Cloud Mica Pickles. The small eggplants, about the size of a fingertip, retain a firm texture even after being soaked in white miso. They are slightly firm. Perhaps the eggplants were pre-pickled with salt, as a hint of saltiness remains. While Kyoto's white miso is known for its sweetness, I could taste the saltiness. These pickles would make a great accompaniment to sake when skewered on a toothpick, or paired with a generous serving of freshly cooked white rice. The miso is also delicious, so I'm sure I won't leave any behind. This pickle, with its unique texture and flavor, is so delicious that it's likely to disappear quickly. Although the price is on the higher side, the taste is excellent. Accessibility for reservations - Revisit rate: ★★★☆☆ The delicious taste and the wonderful atmosphere of the main store, as seen in other reviews, make me want to visit when I'm in Kyoto. (Apparently, these products are only available at the main store or through mail order.) Thank you for the meal~.