I had some business in Kyoto, so I went there. After having lunch near Heian Shrine, I stopped by a traditional Japanese confectionery shop. The first thing that caught my eye was the warabi mochi. They had three varieties: kinako (soybean flour), matcha, and a black one made with bamboo charcoal. Each piece was large and had a chewy texture, making it very satisfying to eat. When you put it in your mouth, it almost melts as if turning into liquid due to the heat. I think it would be even more delicious if you could eat it slightly chilled.

I walked around Kyoto on an unseasonably hot summer day and ended up stopping by here when I started feeling dizzy. Naturally, I ordered the Shujaku parfait, a cold menu item. When it arrived shortly after, I took a bite. What is this, it's incredibly delicious. It's not just about the heat, everything from the ice cream to the warabi mochi to the black syrup is delicious on its own, and when combined, it creates a sense of happiness. The cashew nuts topping it off also do a great job. I'm grateful to the hot sun that led me to discover this parfait.

During a recent trip to Kyoto, I visited this establishment at my husband's request. Since there was no parking available, I left him with the kids in the car and went in alone. The high-quality warabi mochi was exceptional, and I will definitely be coming back for more. Due to the pandemic, there were no tastings allowed at the time, but now that masks are no longer required, I was able to sample almost all the different types of sweets they had to offer. I indulged in tasting all the varieties and was completely satisfied. My husband also wanted some sweets, so I picked out a pack of "Crunchy Wasabi" for him, along with two colors of warabi mochi (kinako & matcha) for takeout. The restaurant has a rating of 3.31 on Tabelog based on 27 reviews.

While staying at THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA, I happened to come across this place on the way to Heian Shrine on Jingu-michi, so I decided to stop by before visiting the shrine. The weather was nice and hot, so having ice cream was a treat. I tried the Suzaku Parfait for 880 yen, which came with three types of warabi mochi - kinako, matcha, and bamboo charcoal. It also had vanilla ice cream and matcha ice cream! When you pour black honey on top, it tastes amazing! There were plenty of nuts mixed in as well. It's my kind of dessert. It's a great deal for 880 yen! Thank you very much!

I had a craving for shaved ice, so I ordered a shaved ice parfait. The shaved ice was on a different level compared to what you can get from a street vendor! The strawberry syrup was sweet but not too sweet, with a refined taste, and the ice was perfectly crunchy. The famous warabi mochi was also delicious as expected. The vanilla ice cream was tasty, and everything in it was satisfying. I was truly pleased. ♡

Soft and jiggly! This is a shop near Heian Shrine that sells warabi mochi, tea, and bean sweets. You can take them home or enjoy them in the cafe inside. They have three types of warabi mochi: matcha, kinako, and bamboo charcoal, and you can sample them before choosing. They are all delicious, so I ended up getting the assortment of three. They all have a soft and jiggly texture and are very tasty. The cafe menu includes warabi mochi, ice cream, drinks, and a limited edition Suzaku parfait at the Heian Shrine branch.

On the way back from enjoying the autumn leaves, I passed through the torii gate of Heian Shrine, crossed the Niomon Street, and headed straight down Jingumichi Avenue. On my right, there was a shop offering samples of warabi mochi. I always passed by without trying, but this time, with my seniors, I decided to give it a try. We went inside the shop and they offered three types of warabi mochi: normal, matcha, and black sesame. I chose matcha and black sesame, and they packed them for me right there. The warabi mochi was so soft and chewy, with a refined sweetness that was different from the overly sweet ones you find in supermarkets. At first, I thought the taste was a bit bland, but as I kept eating, I became addicted to it. They also had various types of bean snacks, which I also bought as souvenirs. Next time I come to Okazaki, I'll definitely buy some warabi mochi to take home. Kyoto may have Yatsuhashi, but warabi mochi is also delicious!

I happened to come across a shop near Heian Jingu Shrine and decided to drop in because I love warabi mochi. The freshly made warabi mochi comes in three different flavors, allowing you to taste a little bit of each, which I thought was great. It was incredibly delicious!! The customer service was very polite and the interior was lovely. I definitely want to visit again whenever I come to Kyoto!

Black honey vanilla and matcha soft serve.

Explore the Heian Shrine, take a leisurely walk, and then relax at a tea shop where you can enjoy matcha floats, affogato, parfaits, and more. You can also buy snacks like okaki and warabi mochi to take home as souvenirs. They offer samples so you can find your favorite to take home as a souvenir! I was intrigued by the black warabi mochi made with bamboo charcoal, so I bought it and enjoyed it as a snack at home. It was delicious, so I would love to buy it as a souvenir again!

Minezaki Do Heian Jingu Store is located to the right when walking south from the Otenmon gate of Heian Jingu. In addition to souvenir sweets, the store has a cafe space where you can enjoy sweets. The Suzaku Parfait (864 yen) is one of the parfait menu items offered by this store. In addition to matcha and vanilla ice cream, it also includes bracken rice cake, mugwort daifuku, and beans scattered at the bottom. This parfait allows you to experience a variety of Minezaki Do's main products in one cup, making it a great deal. The black syrup is served separately and can be added to your liking just before eating. With the crunchy texture of the beans, the smoothness of the bracken rice cake, and the chewiness of the mugwort daifuku, along with the creamy ice cream, this parfait offers a delightful mix of textures. It is rich in matcha flavor, making it a good choice for tourists from overseas. It was a perfect parfait for the summer, being cool and refreshing.

Knocked out by the sign of "Melting Warabi Mochi." This place, "Warabi Mochi Shop Han," suddenly appeared like a comet on the west side of Jingu-dori. Wait, Sagano, Arashiyama...that's a bit suspicious! The naming is supposed to be in Okazaki. The crimson wallpaper looks like a tiger's face roaring. It reminds me of the vermilion torii gate at Heian Jingu. Inside the shop, the four guardian gods, Genbu, Seiryu, Suzaku, and Byakko, are depicted. They offer four types of warabi mochi: sakura, kinako, bamboo charcoal, and matcha. My favorite is surprisingly "sakura." The cut warabi mochi in the package of the four gods is perfect for takeout or hospitality. The eat-in area is perfect for casual hospitality inspired by Kyoto. Azuki matcha and yuzu sakura...a phrase I heard in Nagoya. Kyoto should learn from Nagoya's proactive attitude. The boldness in the packaging is reflected in the "Bassara"-like paintings, which differ in elegance and boldness. The shop displays three wonderful photos of elegant Kyoto, including Arashiyama, Heian Jingu, and Nanzenji. Both are beautiful. It will be interesting to see their evaluation in three to four hundred years. Now, what about a thousand years from now...? The owner of the former "Marui" kimono shop in Kyoto, located on the northwest corner of Muromachi Sanjo Kawaramachi street, was the son-in-law of the Okumura family, who owned a kimono and obi shop. He is known as "Keyan," or Hideki Kimura. He is also said to be the producer who brought Kenji Sawada, not Tamura Kenji, to this world. The shop's interior, featuring the distinctive four gods he painted, is eye-catching with its crimson and gold colors. It's perfect for taking home the popular warabi mochi from the bean confectionery shop. Now, which flavor will you like the most? It's something to look forward to. Maybe sakura is good for spring...

After visiting Toji Temple, I wanted to have some tea before heading to the Shippo Memorial Hall. There are not many cafes around Heian Shrine. It was Sunday at 12 o'clock and there were no customers. I ordered a matcha parfait and bracken rice cakes. The parfait had cashews, half of a bean daifuku, bracken rice cakes, matcha and vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream. The bean daifuku was stuck to the ice cream and had hardened, which was a bit disappointing. The ice cream and bracken rice cakes were average. It was nice that the black syrup was served separately so you could pour as much as you like. The bracken rice cakes came in three flavors: regular, matcha, and black sesame. The bracken rice cakes were warm, soft, and delicious as they were freshly made. You could also adjust the sweetness by adding your desired amount of black syrup. I think the matcha I make at home is tastier. There were many bean snacks and Yatsuhashi samples to enjoy. Oh, it was a shame that the tea was cold. The air conditioning was too strong and made it a bit chilly.

One of the major tourist spots in Kyoto, near Higashiyama, I was planning to have tea, but was so impressed by the sample of warabi mochi at the storefront that I ended up going inside. The front is a shop, and the back is a tea house. There were plenty of seats available. The staff were very friendly and had lovely smiles, which helped me relax both mentally and physically. Before ordering, they served me roasted green tea and black beans. Tea from a tea shop is so delicious that I wouldn't mind paying just for that. I ordered a set of three types of warabi mochi and matcha, and an iced green tea float. Both were very reasonably priced. The taste, needless to say, was impeccable, with a rich and elegant flavor. The sweetness was not overwhelming, which was perfect. When sightseeing in Higashiyama, I highly recommend taking a break at this place!