Today, I visited Tsudarou in Kyoto for lunch. I opted for the 5000 yen mini course, which included a variety of dishes. The restaurant is located in a prime area in Gion Kabu, with a historical building and a welcoming atmosphere. The dishes included herring roe and yuba, shiitake mushrooms with fish paste, grilled mackerel, matsutake mushrooms, red konjac, sesame-flavored peppers, chicken teriyaki, miso-glazed tofu, roasted chestnuts, a mini conger eel hot pot, sashimi, fried dishes, crab salad, sushi, and a dessert of chestnut ice cream and red bean paste. The standout dish was the grilled eel, which was incredibly juicy and flavorful. Overall, the meal was delicious and the service was excellent. I look forward to visiting again for dinner.

I enjoyed a course meal at the counter seat. The main dish was conger eel, and I also enjoyed seasonal ingredients like shrimp and saury. I paired the meal with wine, which complemented the dishes well. The restaurant's ambiance, with its Taisho-era building and carefully selected tableware, added to my overall satisfaction.

Various dishes showcasing the flavors of summer in Kyoto, along with a delightful assortment of Kyoto vegetables. The grilled seasonal fish, kamasu, was exceptional. To finish off the meal, a light and flavorful ginger and thin fried tofu rice dish. The dessert featured a delightful combination of the king of seasonal fruits, cherries, and melon.

Pre-appetizer: Mountain yam, seaweed, conger eel, cherry tomatoes in a bug cage Eight-piece dish: Shrimp, lotus root, edamame, cherry tomatoes, sweet potato, eel sandwich, cucumber, frog eggs, quail egg yolk, konjac, ginger sashimi, octopus simmered in soy sauce, octopus eggs, clothing to wear, sweet potato in plum wine Soup: Conger eel and wheat gluten Sashimi: Conger eel, bonito, grilled squid Grilled dish: White sea bream with myoga and takuan Simmered dish: Daikon radish, burdock root, eggplant Finale: Conger eel sushi roll Red miso soup Dessert: Sweet red bean jelly, muskmelon, cherries

Visited "Tsudarou" in Gion Shijo, a Japanese restaurant along Hanami Koji Street. This time, we visited for a second party. Hanami Koji Street has a charming atmosphere with traditional Japanese houses, red lanterns, and green noren curtains. The restaurant seems to be renovated from a tea house. Upon entering, we took off our shoes and were escorted to our room upstairs, where tatami mats, chairs, and low tables were arranged nicely. The lighting with incandescent-like bulbs created a cozy ambiance. The temperature was pleasant and the ventilation was good. As it was a second party, we focused on enjoying drinks similar to a bar setting. We sat on the second floor, where we could hear the sound of a flute. We ordered champagne for a toast. The atmosphere was so nice that the drinks went down smoothly. We enjoyed some tasty kaki no tane (spicy rice crackers) as a snack while savoring the night in Kyoto. We also had white wine, which was easy to drink and delicious. The staff was polite, contributing to a relaxing experience. Overall, it was a great night. The food was delicious. We will definitely come back. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I visited Tsuda-ro for the second time this year. This restaurant is located in the famous Hanamikoji street, known for its traditional kaiseki cuisine. The building has been renovated while preserving its original charm as a tea house since the Taisho era. The first floor features a bar counter and a tatami room overlooking a courtyard through shoji screens, while the second floor offers a view of Hanamikoji street. The restaurant's logo, depicting an eel and a catfish facing each other, reflects its origins in serving river fish in Yamashina. Today, I enjoyed a lunch course starting with yomogi tofu, followed by fresh caviar, appetizers, soup, sashimi, simmered dish, and rice. Each dish highlighted the quality of the ingredients with traditional Kyoto flavors. The bar counter, made of a single keyaki wood slab, serves drinks during the evening. It must be charming to dine on the second floor while watching guests in yukata, geisha, and maiko passing by Hanamikoji street in the summer. While there is a trend of entertainment-style restaurants with visible cooking at the counter, I appreciate the traditional charm of places like Tsuda-ro. Thank you for the delicious meal today.

When it comes to Hanami Koji in Kyoto, it is a representative flower district of Kyoto, but this shop is a renovated tea house. It may seem intimidating at first because it looks like a tea house, but it is just a regular shop. The counter is a single wooden piece without any joints, and you can enjoy the Kyoto atmosphere by looking through the shoji at the inner courtyard. Each dish is carefully prepared and does not disappoint. There is a second floor with a room facing Hanami Koji and another tatami room, which can accommodate a large number of people when combined. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I went to Tsudarou for lunch after a long time. I made a reservation early because a friend from Fukuoka was also coming. We reserved a tea room with a view of the inner garden. The lunch was Japanese cuisine typical of Kyoto. There were various dishes like appetizers and side dishes, but overall it was good. The atmosphere was nice, so it was all good. However, it was a bit disappointing that we couldn't hear explanations about the lovely plates and dishes from the staff. I hope next time they can tell us more about them.

Located south of Hanami Koji Street from Shijo Street, this restaurant is surrounded by old Japanese houses on both sides. Upon entering the charming building built in 1913, visitors are asked to remove their shoes at the entrance and are guided upstairs. The interior design is quite elaborate, as the building was originally a waiting area that was purchased and transformed into a restaurant. The traditional Kyoto townhouse atmosphere is very much evident. The dishes are served in high-quality Japanese and Baccarat tableware. I opted for the "Hamono Jyukushi Zan" set menu (¥7,150 including tax) featuring summer delicacy conger eel, along with a beer (¥1,100 including tax). The dishes included Conger eel marinated in vinegar, refreshing green plum jelly, boiled conger eel, seared conger eel served in an ice-filled container, conger eel hot pot, conger eel and vegetable tempura, conger eel sushi, and dessert consisting of water agar jelly, Shine Muscat grapes, pear, and kiwi. While I enjoyed the variety of conger eel dishes, I wished the texture of the conger eel was firmer.

I wanted to experience the real Kyoto, so I chose this Japanese restaurant along Hanami Koji. We were guided to a tea room that remains unchanged from the past, and enjoyed a wonderful meal while admiring the beautiful garden. It was a delightful experience where we could savor the traditional Kyoto with our eyes and mouths. ♡

Cultural heritage-level Japanese architecture lines the streets of Kyoto's Hanamikoji. These Japanese buildings are known as Kyoto machiya. One of these buildings is the Tsudarou restaurant. Built in the Taisho era, the beautiful facade that time has created suits Kyoto perfectly. Inside, there is a solid atmosphere with a spacious counter offering both traditional seating on tatami mats and chair seating. Beyond the inner garden, there are tatami rooms available. On this day, I visited during lunchtime. The main purpose of visiting this restaurant was to meet the ultimate chef that I had always wanted to meet, Mr. Horii. Mr. Horii is the mentor of Tsunomori Sakashiba, who is my favorite Japanese chef in Tokyo. I was very interested in meeting Mr. Horii, who has deep knowledge and excellent skills that have nurtured Sakashiba. He was calm and had a very lovely smile. - Omakase course (5,000 yen + tax) - Beer (1,000 yen + tax) - Tea (500 yen + tax) Tsudarou is a traditional Japanese restaurant, so they can also arrange for geisha entertainment from Gion. Details about arranging geisha entertainment are clearly stated for reference. The current owner of the restaurant is a curator of a Kyoto art museum, and their collection is outstanding. On the right side of the entrance to Tsudarou, there is a gallery called "Mahora." This gallery showcases and sells the owner's collection of paintings, jewelry, cloisonné, and more. The collection of Middle Eastern gold items and ivory artworks left me in awe.

Visited Tsudarou, a former tea house located along the Gion Hanamikoji street in December 2019. The restaurant operates in a precious Japanese house from the Taisho era, which is said to be a rare structure in the neighborhood. They offer two lunch options: a set meal for 3,000 yen and a mini-course for 5,000 yen. I opted for the mini-course this time. The ambiance inside the restaurant, with a view of the garden, is serene and allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of Hanamikoji street. The mini-course included: appetizers, anago (conger eel) hot pot, sashimi (tuna, firefly squid), fried taro and sweet potato, crab rolled with egg, rice dishes (shimesaba sushi, Oma tuna sushi), homemade anmitsu, sake lees ice cream, and coffee. Each dish was beautifully presented and delicious, with highlights including the tender sashimi and flavorful anago hot pot. The dessert of homemade anmitsu and sake lees ice cream were also delightful. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of wines and has a spacious area on the second floor where geisha and maiko performances can be enjoyed. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience in a historic setting.

The restaurant has been in business since the Taisho era, so the interior has a nostalgic atmosphere. The staff are very polite and provide excellent service. I had the lunch course, and the food was delicious, especially the chawanmushi which had a cheese-like flavor and was exquisite. The only downside was that the portion size was a bit small, but I was quite satisfied overall. I would like to come back for dinner next time!

The daughter of my senior in the flute club is having a solo exhibition in Kyoto. Surprisingly, my senior in the string instrument club lives in Hyogo Prefecture. It's been decades since we last met! A small alumni gathering. But even when I look at old photos, I can't remember. I remember their names though. With string instruments, many people only meet during ensemble rehearsals. Tsudarou, which used to run a tea house since the end of the Edo period, relocated to Hanami Koji in the early Taisho period. I ordered the lunch set for 3,000 yen (excluding tax), which included small dishes, tempura, simmered dish, soup, steamed egg custard, and rice. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I attended a dinner party hosted by a newspaper company. It was a great experience in a stylish setting on Hanamikoji. Having a luxurious meal in the middle of the day is rare for me (usually I eat in between work or wait until I see a scenic spot during my travels). The meal started with an eight-course kaiseki, consisting of about 7 dishes. The dashi had a refined taste typical of Kyoto cuisine, and the balance of flavors was one of the highlights. I also learned about the history of the building and the noren, so I would like to visit again if I have the chance.

Finally, I was able to have a satisfying meal at a restaurant that truly captures the essence of Kyoto. The lunch hour was a bit off, so it was very quiet and peaceful. Every dish I tried was flawless and delicious. The green plum-like fruit I had at the end turned out to be some kind of peach, I think? It had a wonderful peach aroma that filled my mouth with flavor. The service at the restaurant was also impeccable. I would love to visit again.

I wanted to experience traditional Japanese parlor games, so I visited this ryotei to entertain my guests. The staff were very experienced and there was a bar on the first floor that could be used as a waiting area. The food itself was nothing particularly memorable, but it was consistently good in a classic ryotei style. What surprised me was the wine list, which included great options like Puligny-Montrachet and Burgundy wines. The geisha were charming and made the night a delightful experience.

For my first dinner during my business trip to Kyoto, I visited Horumon Chiba, and for the second dinner, I went to this bar. The atmosphere is amazing, as it used to be a tea house! I was surprised to see someone playing the shamisen inside the bar. The sommelier recommended various drinks for me. You can visit alone, so if you want to enjoy a different atmosphere while drinking, be sure to visit here! I will definitely come back. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

The staff were friendly and I had a great time. The food was delicious too!

The atmosphere was very nice, and the warm hospitality of the staff was wonderful. Each dish was made with care. We used it for my husband's 60th birthday celebration with our family. They even created a special moment for dessert to celebrate, which made it a very memorable experience.

My wife and I went to a traditional Kyoto restaurant right in the heart of Gion, and she was delighted. We splurged a little and reserved the "lunch set (3,000 yen)", which included sashimi soaked in kelp broth, rich sesame tofu, chawanmushi with cheese, and crispy tempura. I'm not an expert, but all the dishes were carefully prepared with unique touches, making it clear that this was a historic ryotei, not just an ordinary Japanese restaurant. Considering the quality of the meal, I found it to be reasonably priced. Dining at a place like this really enhances the joy of a trip to Kyoto.