#Uji Kinji#It was so hot that I finally gave in and got some shaved ice#As expected in Kyoto, the matcha flavor was rich...!#Lots of red beans, which I was happy about☺︎#It might be a bit much for one person, sharing is recommended#They also serve warm tea, which is nice (lol)#I had a hard time choosing because the anmitsu looked so delicious.

I purchased a fluffy matcha. I had been curious about it since the first day, so I decided to buy it on my way home. Surprisingly delicious. The matcha has a light bitterness and a refreshing cold sweetness. It was like a perfectly chilled, delicious matcha with just the right amount of sweetness. It's a collaboration product between Tsuruya Yoshinobu Irodo and Tsujiri. It seems like you can also enjoy it in the store.

I'm in Kyoto right now. My daughter couldn't come with me this time, even though it's spring break, but she specified this as the souvenir she wanted. I arrived at 8:40 because the opening time was 9:00, but it turned out they actually opened at 10:00. So I had to wait outside and ended up people-watching. Finally, at 10:00, I entered the shop. The display window had beautiful jellies lined up, sparkling. Each box was over 1000 yen, quite expensive. The texture was crispy on the outside with sugar coating and moist inside. According to my daughter, achieving this color is a skill. It's like a jewelry box filled with sweets. Not really my taste, but my daughter loved it, so it's all good. And I'm sure young girls would love it as a gift from a guy. Thank you for the meal!

I usually don't use Kyoto Station's Hachijo exit, but this time I happened to come out here. Since I had never been here before, I didn't know what was where. While I was wandering around, suddenly this Kirby here said hello to me! My daughter loves Kirby. "Hey, it's Kirby!" "‼️" These products were made to commemorate Kirby's 30th anniversary. The dried sweets, homemade monaka, all of them are cute. This time, I chose the homemade monaka. If it's Tsuruya Yoshinobu, it's a safe bet! My daughter purchased this with her own pocket money.

Tsuruya Yoshinobu, located on the Hachijo-guchi side of Kyoto Station, also has outlets in Tokyo. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the one in Tokyo closed down. I used to love this shop, which was even inside the Tokyo National Museum. I ordered a set of wagashi (Japanese sweets) and matcha tea, which I really enjoy from Tsuruya Yoshinobu. I asked if I could just get the wagashi without the set, but they said it was not available. It seems like they have a specific concept for their store. I regret not taking the time to look at the displays in the shop, as they are also worth seeing. The matcha tea was delicious, as expected, but the additional tea they served separately was surprisingly good too. Thank you for the meal.

I love sweet red bean paste, but I usually avoid chunky paste and prefer smooth paste. However, I discovered a cute wagashi with chunky paste here! I can't drink matcha, so I had coffee, while my friend had green tea... so it must be matcha, right? We can't tell the difference haha. The wagashi was delicious, but we finished it quickly... we tried to cut it neatly and eat it elegantly haha. It had a subtle sweetness and was really delicious. Maybe some people find it too sweet, but I liked it!

I tried to go to Inoda Coffee for a 30-minute break at Kyoto Station, but there was a long line. I gave up and went to this place instead. I had a green tea parfait with Amaou strawberries, which was similar to white bean paste and rice cake. It had strawberries, rice cake, sweet red bean paste, green tea ice cream, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, green tea jelly, gold flakes, and a small monaka wafer. I was tired, so the combination of green tea ice cream, rice cake, sweet red bean paste, and strawberries was amazing. The sencha tea they served was also just right. Thank you for the meal.

At Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit, I discovered the eye-catching Kohakuto from the Kyoto confectionery "Tsuruya Yoshinobu" ✨ The stores where it is sold in Kansai are here, and it seems to also be available at Toranomon Hills and Shibuya Hikarie in Kanto. With a cute pastel-like appearance, you can enjoy stylish flavors such as mint, rose, chamomile, jasmine, and lavender ✨ Easy to eat with a mild sweetness, yet you can fully taste each flavor and feel elegant. In addition to Kohakuto, the Yuhei-to and bite-sized monaka were also very cute! 🌸

♡【Tsuruya Yoshinobu IRODORI】♡ Kyoto❤︎ Kyoto Station♡ Zenzai ¥935♡ This shop is located near the Shinkansen platform at Kyoto Station^.ˬ.^ I went there with the intention of trying traditional Japanese sweets, but they were sold out by around 2:30 pm due to a delay in the Shinkansen schedule ( ˆ꒳​ˆ; ). So, I ordered zenzai (sweet red bean soup) instead (՞ ܸ. .ܸ՞)︎♡♡ I was curious about the difference between zenzai and oshiruko (sweet red bean soup with rice cakes), so I looked it up. Zenzai typically consists of rice cakes or shiratama dango topped with a sweet red bean paste without much liquid. In Kansai region, zenzai refers to a dish made by diluting smooth red bean paste with water and sugar, then simmering it until thick, and turning it into grainy red bean paste. Interestingly, in Kanto region, what is known as zenzai in Kansai is called different names like Kameyama or Kintoki. The chopsticks with a crane mark and finely shredded salted kelp that come with the zenzai enhance its flavor and richness ( ｰ̀֊ｰ́)و♡ The zenzai tasted even better when eaten immediately after adding the kelp. This combination is truly a match made in heaven⸜(*˙꒳˙*)⸝ Enjoying a sweet treat in a relaxed atmosphere near the station is pure bliss⸝⸝o̴̶̷̥᷅ ̫ o̴̶̷̥᷅⸝⸝ If you want to experience this feeling, give the zenzai at Tsuruya Yoshinobu IRODORI a try!♡ Name: Tsuruya Yoshinobu IRODORI Reservation: Not available Access: Directly connected to JR Kyoto Station (Located in the Kyoto Station building complex The CUBE on the 1st floor in the Kyoto Meika Hokkan 1 area near the JR ticket gates) Distance from Kyoto Station: 88m Business Hours: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Closed on: No regular holidays ♡#TsuruyaYoshinobuIRODORI

The journey has come to an end. I take a break at a traditional tea house in Kyoto Station. After indulging in quite a bit of food and drink that day, I opt for fruit mitarashi dango. I choose black honey over white honey. The dish arrives - the black honey is rich and sweet. It might be just what I need to soothe my tiredness. (By the way, I walked 38,000 steps that day). I gather my strength here and start preparing to head home. Thank you for the meal.

Located right by the Shinkansen ticket gates in Kyoto Station Building, this shop offers both merchandise and eat-in options, making it very convenient. It can get crowded, but you can usually find a seat. Around 12:30 on a holiday, there was one group of customers already seated, and more customers kept coming in. There are about 20 seats for eating in, but the spacing between seats is narrow. If you are concerned about COVID-19, it may be best to avoid this place. [Ordered Items] Green Tea ¥770 This green tea is not sweet, but it comes with white honey on the side so you can adjust the taste to your liking, which is nice. However, the green tea itself is a bit weak or watery. I tried a sip of my companion's "Kyoto Fluffy Houjicha" and it was really delicious! Plus, it came with a monaka for the same price as the green tea. I wish I had ordered that instead. Thank you for the meal.

Japanese confectionery shop at JR Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit Asty Road. It is located right in front of the Hachijo Exit. I later found out that Tsuruya Yoshinobu is a nationwide chain. They offer takeout and a cafe space. This time, I used the takeout service. I purchased the IROMONAKA (2,700 yen including tax). It is a style where you fill the easy-to-eat bite-sized monaka with your choice of sweet bean paste. There are three types of sweet bean paste available: red bean, smooth sweet bean, and matcha. You use the included wooden spatula to fill the monaka. It's fun to do while enjoying the treat. Revisit: I will definitely come back if I have the chance. Thank you for the delicious treat.

On the 3rd day of my trip to Kyoto in April 2022, I took a break before boarding the Shinkansen at the Hachijo Shinkansen Exit. I found a cafe & shop at Tsuruya Yoshinobu nearby. I ordered matcha and wagashi for 1000 yen (excluding tax). The wagashi I chose came with a fluffy matcha confection called Hanashobu-Kyo for 700 yen. The matcha was served cold with a small cream-filled senbei. Usually, the shops around this area are full and I can't get in, but it was lucky that it was empty between cherry blossom season and Golden Week.

On this day, I stopped by on my way back from Nara to Kyoto to Tokyo. It's outside the JR ticket gate, on the first floor of Kyoto Station, near the Shinkansen ticket gate, so it's convenient! Since it was still not crowded due to the pandemic, I was able to enter quickly and get my order right away, which was very helpful. What I ordered: - Souffle Hojicha Latte: It was a fluffy and sweet hojicha latte. It might surprise you with its sweetness compared to the natural taste of hojicha lattes from Starbucks. It came with a Japanese sweet. It was delicious. I wonder if there is a Tsuruya Yoshinobu with a cafe in Tokyo too? I should look it up!

Tuesday 16:05 at Kyoto Station Tsuruya Yoshinobu. It was crowded when I arrived, but suddenly three groups left around the same time I sat down, so it became quite empty. The location in front of the Hachijo exit is very convenient for adjusting your time before boarding the Shinkansen. I ordered green tea and a small serving of anmitsu for 1,100 yen. In many tea shops in Kyoto, when you order green tea, they often serve sweetened tea, but here they serve unsweetened green tea with white honey on the side. As someone who prefers unsweetened tea, this made me very happy. It's definitely a high point. I don't usually eat anmitsu, but I always feel like having some when leaving Kyoto. You can choose between black honey and white honey for the anmitsu. The interior of the shop is bright and clean, and the staff are polite and smiling, making it easy to visit alone. Both the anmitsu and green tea were delicious and satisfying. The small size of the anmitsu was just right, any larger would have been too much. The people around me seemed to be enjoying their desserts like zenzai. Thank you for the meal.

Around 3:00 pm, I visited "Tsuruya Yoshinobu IRODORI" at Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit by myself. I enjoyed traditional Japanese sweets and matcha at the cafe attached to the retail space. Established in 1803, it is a long-established Kyoto confectionery shop. The "IRODORI" I visited this time is located right in front of the Hachijo Exit of the Shinkansen Kyoto Station, with a variety of colorful products displayed, attracting attention with their beauty. Items such as pastel-colored dried sweets called "Kohakuto," "Uhei-to" candies, and "IRODORI Yokan" would make great souvenirs. Now, I would like to introduce some of the menu items at the cafe space. There were also collaboration drinks with Gion Tsujiri. *All prices include tax. ■ Kyoto Fluffy Houjicha (Hot/Ice) 770 yen This is a collaboration menu with Gion Tsujiri. It contains fluffy foam made with Tokushima prefecture's Washinbon sugar. It comes with a sweet treat. ■ Kyoto Fluffy Matcha (Hot/Ice) 770 yen This is a collaboration menu with Gion Tsujiri. Made with Tokushima prefecture's Washinbon sugar and Kyoto's Uji matcha, it comes with fluffy foam on top. It comes with a sweet treat. ■ Matcha Tea 770 yen ■ Vanilla Shake with Strong Matcha 770 yen ■ Green Tea 770 yen ■ Matcha Parfait 1,100 yen ■ Strawberry Matcha Parfait 1,210 yen ■ Seasonal Cream Anmitsu 1,045 yen ■ Seasonal Anmitsu 990 yen ■ Seasonal Wagashi and Matcha 1,100 yen ■ Zenzai 935 yen [Dishes Tried] ★ Seasonal Wagashi and Matcha 1,100 yen Choose one from four seasonal wagashi options: "Ume Miyabi," "Haru Emashi," "Fuku no Haru," or "Ume Kaoru." Admire the delicate shapes and calm beauty, with motifs like plum blossoms, daffodils, and water lilies. I chose "Ume Miyabi." Admire the beauty of a single plum blossom, then savor the soft sweetness and the texture of the "konashi." Enjoy the transition from the lingering sweetness to the pleasant bitterness of the matcha. [Overall Impression] I have also included some of the shop's products in the photos, so please take a look. The sweets are incredibly beautiful and charming. The level of traditional Japanese sweets is truly high. Next time, I would like to visit the main store in Nishijin or the cafe-style store "tubara cafe" in Imadegawa Horikawa. Thank you for the meal.

I ordered the seasonal sweets and matcha set at "Wakamatsu" in Kyoto Station. I stumbled upon this place when I wanted to take a break and relax at Kyoto Station. Despite the intimidating image of tea shops, I found this one to be approachable and welcoming. I was excited to try the matcha as my first meal in Kyoto. I could choose from 4 types of sweets to accompany the matcha, all of which were cute and perfect for New Year's. The matcha had a nice balance of bitterness and a gentle taste that was easy for anyone to enjoy. Among the sweets, I chose "Wakamatsu" because it had whole bean paste, which complemented the matcha well. The green color of the sweets was charming, and the distinct sweetness of "Wakamatsu" paired perfectly with the matcha. The texture of the whole bean paste added to the enjoyment, creating a moist and flavorful experience. Thank you for the meal!

I had some business in Kyoto, so I decided to stop by here to kill some time. Even though I was already full, I couldn't resist getting something sweet, so I ordered the "Uji Shigure" dessert. My companion got the "Kyoto Fuwawa Hojicha" with a fluffy whipped float on top. It came with a mini monaka. The dessert had vanilla ice cream, two pieces of shiratama, and a heap of sweet red bean paste. It was my first time eating Uji matcha in a while, and it was delicious. Simple shaved ice like this might be the most delicious after all.

In a store located on the first floor of the South Exit of Kyoto Station building, there is a cafe space as well. The cafe was quite popular, with all the waiting chairs filled up. It's convenient for adjusting time as it's close to the Shinkansen ticket gates. In the retail space, there are colorful sweets like amber sugar, yuhei sugar, and mochi that you wouldn't typically see at Tsuruya Yoshinobu. There were limited edition sweets available, so I decided to get one. I tried the following item (excluding tax): - Konchikichin 180 yen I enjoyed it at home with Japanese tea. It's a sweet with a moist and chewy skin filled with sweet bean paste. It has just the right amount of sweetness and is delicious, but I wonder how it differs from the classic Tsubaratsubara... When it comes in a box, the wrapping paper with the picture of a float from the Gion Festival is beautiful. Normally, it also comes with a talisman for warding off evil that you can attach to the dumplings. Next time, I want to try the cafe. "Miyako no Taki" on the same floor was interesting as it changed shape with water and lighting.

Matcha and seasonal wagashi set. There are various types of wagashi depending on the season, and you can choose one. When you place your order, they prepare tea for you, and they brought a fragrant roasted tea. The wagashi had a moderately sweet and gentle taste. I was a little bothered by the fact that the matcha wasn't prepared well. There is a store in Takashimaya in Nagoya, so it's an easy place to visit. Thank you for the meal.