I visited the Imai Kaei Kaho store, located in the B1F of JR Kyoto Isetan in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, on the east side of Shio-koji-dori, south of Karasuma-dori. It is just a 1-minute walk from JR, Kintetsu, and subway Kyoto Station, making it easily accessible from public transportation. There is also a shared facility parking lot for those traveling by car. I purchased a set of Imai Kaei Kaho sweets this time. The set includes rice cakes, Imai Kaei's Senbei (red bean paste, white miso paste), and une scones (plain, matcha). Each item has a refined taste and was delicious. The small sizes make it easy to enjoy. This is a new challenge by the traditional confectionery craftsmen. Imai Kaei Kaho is a brand born from the creative ambitions of craftsmen. The craftsmen have continued to preserve the culture of the traditional store for over 300 years. Through various collaborations and encounters, craftsmen create new Japanese sweets that have never been seen before. It is a new and enjoyable world that does not fit into any framework, with the "technique" and "sense of beauty" that traditional Kyoto sweets have continued to protect at its core. It is a new sweet from a traditional store that is tailored to modern times. I would like to visit again when I have the chance. Thank you very much!

First Visit 202307 (No.4696) 1. Purpose of Visit - Selected as the 5th shop on the first day of a Kyoto trip 2. Shop Information - Genre on Tabelog: Japanese sweets, desserts - Opened on December 5, 2018 - A new brand of the long-established Japanese confectionery shop "Sasaya Iori," which has been in business for over 300 years in Kyoto - Expresses a beautiful meeting of contemporary and nostalgia in a new style of Kyoto sweets - Representative confectionery of "Sasaya Iori" is a dorayaki like a Japanese-style roll cake - Business hours: 10:00-20:00 - Closed on days following the facility - Takeout only store 3. Crowdedness on the day - No previous or subsequent customers around 14:20 on a weekday visit 4. Customer service - Handling according to the manual 5. Purchased item - Amber Palette "Blue Sky Sketch" 1,080 yen The product specifications change depending on the season, but it is a delicious product that evokes the summer blue sky~♬ Thank you for the meal.

Kyoto Souvenir: These sweets are made by Kyoto confectionery artisans at Ihei Kadoya, showcasing traditional techniques. Made with a commitment to old-fashioned methods, they are handmade and can only be purchased in Kyoto. I bought the Maru Mochi, wishing for everything to be rounded and settled in a full circle.

In May 2019, I went on a trip to Kyoto and decided to buy some souvenirs before heading back. I went to JR Kyoto Station where I found a new brand from Sasaya Iori called Juyodai Iheie Kashiho. The staff was polite and helpful, and I purchased a matcha cheesecake as a souvenir. The cheesecake had two layers, with a rich matcha mousse on top and a creamy cheesecake below. I only bought this flavor this time, but I would love to try others in the future.

I purchased a set of 10 white miso and chunky red bean mochi from the new brand by Iori Sasaya. The mochi were small in size but packed with flavor, true to the reputation of the 10th generation. The chunky red bean filling was especially delicious. Although they were maiko-sized, I personally prefer mochi with a bit more filling to savor in each bite.

"Oh, so this is also part of the Iori family," I thought as I visited the new brand store by the nearly 300-year-old Kyoto confectionery shop, Sasaya Iori. This shop, called "Juroku Ihei Kaho," aims to showcase a variety of confections that do not fit into traditional Japanese or Western categories, while still utilizing the unique beauty and craftsmanship of Kyoto sweets. I personally enjoy Sasaya Iori's sweets and have tried many of them, but the confections available at this store were completely new to me. I purchased a few items from there this time. - Mochi with red bean paste wrapped in soft mochi, topped with poppy seeds and lightly baked. It is said to be a revival of a cherished old confection from Sasaya Iori. The dough was softer and more mochi-like than I had imagined, with a pleasantly sweet red bean paste inside. It had a more elegant flavor than its appearance suggested. - Small bite-sized "Maiko-san's Ochobo-kuchi" monaka from Juroku Ihei Kaho. It comes in two flavors: grainy red bean paste and white miso paste, both with a simple yet refined taste. Personally, I think the white miso flavor, which exudes more of Kyoto's essence, is suitable as a souvenir for those far away. - Une Scones, bite-sized scones. The plain scone comes with strained red bean paste, while the matcha scone has grainy red bean paste mixed into the dough, resulting in a moist and crumbly texture with a hint of Japanese flavor. I didn't purchase them this time due to time constraints, but they also had chilled desserts like cup puddings. I'm interested in their casual design packaging, so I would like to try those out next time I visit.

"I bought 'warabi mochi' and 'hiyashi mitarashi'. Both were delicious with just the right amount of sweetness. There seems to be a variety of other products available, so I would like to try a different snack next time."