Along the Toji-dori street, before reaching the East Gate of Toji Temple, you will find a shop called "Tsukudani-ya." I had never visited before, as I thought it was a souvenir shop. This time, I went there for the first time upon a request from my mother-in-law. I bought the "Shiitake and Kombu" 180g for 430 yen. I also purchased the same item. The price was reasonable for this type of tsukudani, and the taste was good. The staff at the shop were polite and kind. They also had a smaller size available, around 80g for about 300 yen (depending on the product). Thank you for the meal! (⌒∇⌒)

I visited this shop during the three-day weekend in September. It is located right in front of the East Gate of Toji Temple, where the bus stops. It's a small shop, but they sell various types of konbu tsukudani such as matsutake mushrooms, sansho pepper, and shishamo. The prices are very reasonable and easy to buy, so I ended up buying three different kinds. I have given them as souvenirs to foreigners before, and they were very pleased.

On my way back from Kyoto to Osaka, I decided to stop by Amekyu for the first time in a while. The shop is located on the east side of Toji Temple, with a quaint and traditional Kyoto-style appearance. They sell simple and reasonably priced items like tsukemono, which even locals come to buy. Today, I purchased my favorite matsutake kombu and a delicious snack, shishamo kikurage. I actually intended to buy pickled kombu, but ended up getting the shishamo kikurage by mistake. Matsutake kombu comes with two small slices of matsutake mushroom, and the subtle flavor of matsutake blends well with the kombu, making it my favorite. As for the mistakenly purchased shishamo kikurage, it is a perfect match for drinks. Even though I intended to buy pickled kombu, I actually love shishamo kikurage as well. The kombu at this shop is thick and allows you to fully savor the flavor of the kombu. It feels like eating sashimi made of kombu in the form of tsukemono.

On the way back from Toji Temple, I visited a charming shop without knowing what kind of shop it was. It was early in the opening hours, but the elderly couple kindly assisted me. I was looking for some sweets to bring to my nephew, so I decided to buy Ramune candies (200 yen). The packaging of the Ramune candies was simple, but they had different flavors and a fizzy texture that my nephew really enjoyed. The shop had a charming atmosphere, and I hope it continues to thrive in the future.

When I went towards Toji Temple, I suddenly remembered this place☆ I had it before and it was delicious, so I decided to stop by and buy some matsutake kombu. I found the shop around here... There was a small size available in front of the store, so I thought, "This will do just fine~☆" And it was only 220 yen! I thought it was so cheap! I bought it and headed home. Alright, let's eat it with rice♪ I took a picture and tried it, but hmm...? It's delicious but somehow different... I checked the wrapping paper and sure enough, it was shiitake kombu... Shiitake (lol) I didn't look carefully... Oh well! I continued to eat it, and it was cooked sweet and savory. At first, I thought it was sweet when I started chewing, but then the saltiness came through. Shiitake... It emits a different mushroom aroma and tastes delicious (lol). It feels a bit spicy when you eat a lot of it, but it goes perfectly with rice. It's great with sake too♪ It's much better than the mediocre ones. It's not bad at all, I'm satisfied☆ Thank you for the meal♪

On November 16, 2016, we departed from Shizuoka and reached Kyoto in no time with lots of chatter and excitement! Our first stop was to visit the Great Buddha at Toji Temple! (Or so we said, but actually, we wanted to do some shopping at "Ameku" store (^_^)a) However, we learned something new at that moment! "Many shops in Kyoto are closed on Wednesdays!" What a surprise! "Ameku" store was closed, of course "Toji Mochi" store was also closed. We regained our composure, wandered around Toji Temple, offered our prayers, and chanted "Namu"~~ The next day, before catching the Shinkansen back home, we made a comeback! The store was open this time! We bought various souvenirs for our Irish friend who didn't join us this time and for the neighbors. The taste was... we have repeated it many times already ♡ Needless to say, it's a must-visit shop for our "Kyoto trip" (*^▽^*)... In April 2015, on the way to Toji Temple, the final destination of the "Nara Kyoto Buddha Statue Tour," we discovered this shop! It blends in so well with the old houses that we almost passed by the store's appearance (lol) It's not a trendy "Japanese modern" store. At first, my companion was hesitant and skeptical about making a purchase... "Tanba" and "Matsutake"! Of course, we bought various things (lol) There are various types of kelp. The small packs are affordable and perfect for Kyoto souvenirs! Kelp simmered in soy sauce, salted kelp, these kinds of things are best from the Kansai region. I heard that the "Matsutake slices" were foreign products, but you shouldn't have high expectations at this price (lol) Buying it was a great decision! It was well-received by the recipients. When we went on the "Kyoto Autumn Leaves Viewing & Yudofu Trip" in November, my companion, who was grumbling so much last time, when he heard that we were going to the Hojo Market at Toji Temple, said he wanted to stop by the Matsutake kelp store... After visiting the Hojo Market at Toji Temple, we made sure to visit it again! Since I couldn't find my companion, I called him on his mobile phone and found out that he was already shopping at "Ameku" store (bitter smile) Because he's Irish, he's asked questions by foreigners walking down the street, and he interprets while saying, "This is delicious." What was that last time? (laughs) Nishiki Market Kyoto... Instead of rushing through the crowds and looking for "famous shops," it's better to take your time and browse in small shops in the city center. P.S. On May 21, 2016, I visited the Hojo Market at Toji Temple. I bought antiques, ate Toji Mochi, and of course, went to "Ameku" store! On market days, the area around the store is bustling! As usual, my Irish friend had already made his purchase (￣ ￣) I also bought several small "Matsutake kelp" packs... Just like the dumpling shop in Kurama and "Ameku" store, the shops that are full of handmade charm and conduct "business" are heartwarming (*^_^*)

In Kyoto, a few meters east of the East Gate of the famous Toji Temple, there is a traditional shop selling simmered dishes. The simple and unpretentious storefront exudes the charm of Kyoto. The shop is prominently labeled as "Matsutake Kombu Honpo," indicating their specialty in matsutake mushrooms and kelp. They offer a variety of products perfect for rice accompaniments, such as shiso kelp, shredded mountain pepper, dried young sardines, pickled ginger, and more. The friendly elderly woman and her husband run the shop, which was previously managed by different owners. They offer samples and I purchased the following items: - Matsutake Kombu (180g) for 590 yen: A slightly sweet and subtly salty dish made with high-quality kelp from Hokkaido, infused with the flavors of matsutake mushrooms. - Shredded Mountain Pepper (mini size) for 370 yen - Dried Young Sardines and Black Fungus (80g) for 220 yen: A slightly sweet shredded mountain pepper with a strong flavor, and a crunchy texture of dried young sardines and black fungus that pairs well with rice. The shop also sells a variety of other products and offers nationwide shipping. They have mini sizes available at affordable prices, making them great souvenirs. If you visit Toji Temple, be sure to stop by this shop for a casual and enjoyable experience.

Amekyu's pickled kikurage mushrooms from Kyoto make a delightful souvenir. They are incredibly delicious. They go well with rice, but today I had them as a snack with alcohol. The texture of the kikurage mushrooms is great, with a satisfying chewiness and rich flavor, making them a perfect snack. Thank you for the meal.

This is a specialty store for simmered dishes located in front of the Toji Temple (east side). This time, we tried a set of three types of simmered dishes. The first one is "Kyara-buki," which is made by softening and giving a good texture to wild vegetables while preserving their flavor. It is rich and flavorful. The second one is "Shiitake Kombu," made with premium Shiitake mushrooms and thick Hokkaido kelp, cooked with a special secret method to bring out a unique taste with reduced salt. The third one is "Kukkikko Shigure," made by using only the stem part of wakame seaweed and cooking it with shiitake mushrooms. When you think of Kyoto, you may imagine a subtle taste, but these simmered dishes were rich and truly "simmered." The taste was so strong that it made me worry about my health while eating (laughs).

Rich and sweet flavor profile.