In the first place, chocolate is generally associated with sweetness! So it's okay to be sweet, that's what makes chocolate chocolate... Huh? Not that sweet? Well, that's something you'll understand once you taste it - different types have different flavors, which is pretty obvious. The shop is located deep inside Hanami Koji on the right side. I was taken there by someone else, so I just followed along. You can eat inside the store. I bought three types for souvenirs: Matcha Terrine, Monaka Ka O, and Cha no Ka. I chose to have them delivered by cool delivery because they would melt if I carried them around. The rest I intended to consume on the same day. The shop's most popular chocolate changes its design every day! There are diagrams to explain the taste, so I guess they know chocolate inside out. It costs a little over 500 yen per piece, so it better be delicious. But it was delicious, thank goodness. We shared the bite-size pieces together, as there are various flavors. This is how it went... The first chocolate I tried from the souvenirs was the Matcha Terrine. It's quite sweet, but really delicious - the intense matcha flavor gives a pleasant bitterness along with the sweetness. Then, um, the Monaka Ka O was a bit different from my taste. I preferred the Cha no Ka, which is a matcha cookie with white chocolate in between - very tasty. With so many varieties, I'm sure everyone will have a hard time choosing. Thank you for the meal.

Gion's chocolate shop. It's actually a branch of Marbretagne. How do you read it? It's Kakao. This shop, known for its expensive chocolates and famous matcha terrine, offers delicious Kyoto Ippon chocolates. They are small but tasty. They have a short shelf life of about 3 days, so they can be shipped to other regions. You can buy different types of chocolates every day at this shop, and you can also create assorted chocolates for chocolate lovers. However, each piece costs around 500 yen, so it can quickly add up to over 10,000 yen, which is scary. On this day, the total bill ended up being around 20,000 yen. One of the best deals is the Chocolat Chou for 130 yen. It has a mild sweetness and goes perfectly with coffee. Thank you for the meal!

I had plans to visit Gion Shijo, so I stopped by this chocolate shop. The shop was filled with beautiful chocolates in the showcase! Apart from chocolates, they also sold various other items. I didn't eat chocolate, but I had the Chocolate Financier (they bake it in the shop!) and the Chocolate Choux Cream for eat-in (used the bench inside the shop), totaling ¥453. Both were delicious, but I highly recommend the Chocolate Financier! The chocolate was rich yet had a light texture that I loved. Also, if you eat in, the staff will ask, "Would you like us to warm it up?" It was amazing when warm and crumbly! The taste was incredible for this price! Next, I bought chocolates with Kyoto patterns on them! Thank you for the meal.

I tried the chocolate cream puff at "Kaka 365 Gion Store" in Gion, Kyoto. The pastry was thick and chewy, while the chocolate cream was rich and delicious without any overpowering taste. And all this for just 130 yen, it's very reasonable! I also bought a limited edition chocolate bar as a farewell gift.

I visited Kagaya 365 to purchase souvenirs for my trip. The shop is located in a tranquil tea house district in Gion, where customers are constantly coming and going. While there is a small space for dining in, the main focus is on purchasing souvenirs. Personally, I am fond of their "monaka cookies," so I bought two boxes of 10 pieces each this time.

This is also a souvenir from my family's trip to Kyoto. At first, I didn't know what it was and tried it, but it turned out to be delicious. The texture is like an old Morinaga confectionery called "Nubo." It's a unique snack with chocolate inside the monaka. It's small, so I'm afraid I'll eat it all quickly... haha. I enjoyed it. Thank you for the meal.

I purchased it for Valentine's Day. The store was crowded with customers buying the same thing. It was fun to choose one chocolate at a time from the 30 varieties and receive a detailed explanation. There were also flavors unique to Kyoto, which made the recipient happy!

I went to Kengon Shrine in Kyoto to get the last Nobunaga stamp of the year. I stopped by Gion and had a snack at Maarlbranche Kaka-san. [Summary] North Mountain Madeleine [Chocolate] 324 yen. I was able to enjoy it just baked. It was fluffy, light as a feather, and disappeared quickly without any change in texture. The richness and depth of cocoa intertwine with the refreshing sweetness of sugar. Despite its rich taste, the aftertaste is refreshing and delicious.

Maaruburanshu Kaka A 365 is a chocolate specialty store with its main store in Kitayama. I've been curious about it because I love chocolate, so I visited the Gion store near Hanamikoji. In a corner of a machiya in Gion, there is a calm and elegant shop. When you enter through the noren curtain, you will find a spacious and beautifully designed space. There is a resting area where you can see a small garden, and on the ceiling, there is a motif like a calendar made by someone from Ishikawa Prefecture. I was aiming for Kaka A 365, but they were sold out, so I purchased Bonbon Chocolat "Kyo no Sora," which features 30 charming crests inspired by the sights of Kyoto. 427 yen each, total 922 yen including tax. When I got home and tried them: - Gion bean to Bitter Caramel: The caramel's rich sweetness surpasses the chocolate in this two-layered cocoa and caramel combination. - Goyama bean to Milk: Although it has a fruity cocoa flavor, it also has a considerable bitterness and a restrained sweetness, making it somewhat bitter. Both chocolates have a thin, crispy chocolate coating on the outside and a soft, ganache-like texture on the inside. They may seem slightly small, but they offer the enjoyment of choosing crests and have a rich flavor, making them premium chocolates with elaborate craftsmanship.

At Maaru Blanc, I bought souvenirs. Tea sweets are the snacks I always end up buying whenever I go to Kyoto. The "Okoicha" is a delicious combination of carefully selected Uji tea and white chocolate. And the first time I tried the "Mukujutokoreto" chocolate. It uses peanuts from Chiba prefecture. I chose the bitter flavor, so there is a nice balance of bitterness and guilt-free enjoyment.

After enjoying a delicious lunch at Yamaji-san, I decided to stop by the neighboring "Maruburanshi Kagaya 365" shop. They have chocolates for every day of the year... I couldn't help but look for a birthday treat! I ended up buying a set of 6 recommended chocolates. The flavors were: Gion - Bitter Caramel, Ginkakuji - Bitter x Honey, Nijo Castle - Milk x Kinako, Kinkakuji - Milk x Milk, Kyoto Imperial Palace - White x Mont Blanc, Ebisu Shrine - Bitter & Bitter. The chocolates were not only visually appealing but also rich and delicious. Thank you for the wonderful meal! (๑>◡<๑)

The chocolate shop along a very Gion-like street (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o))) is known for its matcha langues de chat cookies, which I really like to get as souvenirs. So, I had high expectations for this shop. I decided to buy something that can only be found here. I chose items that can last long: - Monaka-ka-o (3 pieces) for 648 yen, 12 pieces for 1296 yen - Horo-horo Chudokureito (Yuzu) for 830 yen The Monaka-ka-o cookies are individually wrapped, making them perfect for sharing. The outer shell is crispy, and the inside Gianduja chocolate is not too sweet, with a strong almond flavor. Delicious! I found out that "Horo-horo Chudokureito" is actually pronounced as chocolate. It was indeed crumbly chocolate. There are different flavors, but I couldn't resist and ended up trying them all. This time, I chose the white chocolate yuzu flavor. White chocolate can sometimes leave an oily aftertaste, but this one was so good that I could eat it endlessly... It was even better when eaten chilled. After purchasing, they offered lemon water for us to enjoy, so we took a little break and relaxed.

At the Tool du Chocolat, the chocolate SNS of Mitsukoshi Isetan, I purchased the Bonbon Chocolat from the Chocolaterie Kaga 365, a popular patisserie in Kyoto, which I had already posted about. I bought individual pieces, each named after a place or landmark in Kyoto. The store has a very traditional Japanese appearance. The bonbons are quite large. You can choose based on flavor or location. It's fun to see names of famous places in Kyoto. While a bit pricey, they offer a tea-flavored bonbon as well. You can also buy a set of bonbons with just tea flavors. The store's name includes "365," and they have a different chocolate for each day of the year. Normally, you can only purchase chocolates on the day of your visit, but for occasions like weddings, you can place an order for a specific date. They also have a map of Kyoto with bonbons placed on it, which is quite interesting. Here are the items I bought: - Kifune Shrine Milk x Chai - Togetsukyo Bridge Milk x Cashew - Keage White x Honey Lemon Sparkling The flavors are somehow related to the locations, with Keage currently offering a summer flavor. It has a sparkling effect, similar to cotton candy or a Baskin-Robbins ice cream topping. The Cashew from Togetsukyo Bridge is a popular item from Marbureansh. It's a pie-like treat that's both delicious and a good deal. I remember it being a limited release at the Kyoto Isetan store. It sells out quickly. Combining Cashew with chocolate is genius!笑 The cross-section is shown in the last photo.

"Enjoying every day of the year in the Kyoto style with 'Kaka-a's way of life.' The chocolate here is surprisingly delicious, offering a variety of flavors that melt in your mouth. The matcha terrine is rich in cocoa yet not overwhelming, providing a satisfying end to the meal. A must-visit spot in Kyoto. Thank you for the feast. Marublanche offers a dish that truly embodies the quality and deliciousness of Kyoto."

I suddenly felt like eating TenTenYou's ramen again, so I went to Kyoto. I found out that there is a chocolate specialty shop called Ma Blanc in Gion, so I visited. [Summary] Monaka with Chocolate (3 pieces) for 648 yen. Each monaka is about 15x10mm in thickness and 40mm in length, individually wrapped with chocolate inside. The monaka is crispy on the outside and has a moist and smooth chocolate stick inside. The crispy rice texture of the monaka and the rich and milky almond chocolate match well and taste delicious. It can last for about two months.

I finally visited the main store of the famous Kyoto shop malebranche, which specializes in chocolate. The exterior and interior were both lovely, and I felt like staying there forever. I had been eyeing the stick chocolates, dorayaki, and chocolate cream puffs (exclusive to the main store), as well as seasonal limited edition items, which I purchased. I enjoyed the exclusive cream puff in the store, and the moist and smooth chocolate cream was incredibly delicious, making me want to have a second one. When I tried the sweets at home, each of them was unique and tasty. I am completely satisfied with my chocolate and matcha-filled experience. Both malebranche and KAKAO-san have amazing package designs that make me want to reach out and grab them. If you have the chance, I highly recommend visiting this stylish chocolate specialty store in Kyoto. (*´v`)

After strolling around Gion in Kyoto, I returned to Hanamikoji and decided to buy some chocolates from Kagaya. I first relaxed inside the shop with a cold treat, a Matcha ice cream for 350 yen and a Matcha ice pop for 232 yen. They were both rich and delicious! After a nice break, I chose to buy a box of 8 chocolates from the showcase. Each chocolate had a unique name based on famous locations in Kyoto. The prices were around 350 yen per piece, except for Samidori which was 650 yen. I brought them home for snack time. Personally, I found the Up Kamo Shrine (Bitter x Pistachio) chocolate to be the most delicious.

I went to the Marublanche chocolate specialty store in Gion, Marublanche Kaka 365 Gion store to find chocolates that can only be bought there. The theme is "365 days of living with cacao," offering a variety of chocolates that allow you to experience Japan's four seasons and lifestyle. There are 365 different patterns of chocolates available, with a limited edition pattern each day (2 pieces for 972 yen). The "Kaka 365" chocolates are known for their smooth melting texture and freshness, achieved by minimizing heat processing. The chocolates sold on the day are only of that day's pattern, but commemorative patterns can be reserved in advance. There are also 30 chocolates under the theme "Today's Kyoto," featuring patterns inspired by Kyoto's tourist spots. One of the treats is the Matcha Terrine for 1200 yen, a rich cake made with matcha terrine, matcha, and dark chocolate ganache. The Matcha Terrine was delicious, so I bought plenty as souvenirs for everyone.

This is my second visit this month. This time I brought a friend along. I purchased three types of sweets that I didn't buy last time. I didn't hesitate to put the limited edition chocolate apple pie in my basket (laughs). The matcha sweets are very delicious with a moist and rich matcha chocolate. It's best to eat them with a fork because they stick to your fingers. One piece provides a high level of satisfaction. The dorayaki has a thin layer of chocolate inside, giving a subtle chocolate flavor. The texture is chewy. The apple pie has a strong cinnamon flavor typical of apple pies. It also has chunky apple pieces and is delicious. Chocolate-filled apple pies may be rare. They are all so delicious and cute that I end up buying them even though they are a bit pricey. I will definitely stop by again when I visit Gion next time.

I found a chocolate specialty shop online that I was determined to visit. I used Google Maps to find the shop, but the surrounding area was eerily quiet, making it difficult to approach. I mustered up the courage to open the door, and was warmly welcomed by a smiling staff member. Inside, there was only one other female customer. I purchased a box of "Today's Sky," which is a collection of 30 different flavors of bonbon chocolates, as well as matcha-flavored langues de chat called "Tea Sweets," and a chocolate-filled monaka called "Monaka Cocoa." The names of the sweets were all very charming. The bonbon chocolates were each named after shrines in Kyoto, and the staff recommended the "Kyoto Imperial Palace," a Mont Blanc-flavored white chocolate. You can customize the bonbon chocolates by choosing your preferred flavors one by one, but it was a tough decision. After making my purchases and paying, the staff kindly consolidated my items into a large paper bag, which made it easier for me to move around afterwards. The small gestures of kindness and warm smiles were very much appreciated. I plan to invite a friend to visit the shop with me next time. Thank you very much.