I visited Ikkyu-ji Temple and enjoyed matcha tea and Zen meditation. It was a quiet and peaceful atmosphere with few people on a weekday afternoon. I had a relaxing and pleasant time. There were no menus or prices listed, but the staff kindly informed me when I asked.

I visited Ikkyu-ji Temple in Kyoto-tanabe for sightseeing and took a break. There were few foreign tourists and it was a quiet temple. They said "Good" because Ikkyu-san said it, so they made a Good Zai! It's about a 10-minute walk from Kyoto-tanabe Station. It's not too far to get lost, but I felt like climbing a hill from the station. It was a beautifully maintained temple, but it was so cold. I wish I had come during the autumn leaves season. It would be nice if they showed an anime of Ikkyu-san like Tezuka Osamu Memorial Hall in Takarazuka. I had Amazake and Ikkyu Udon at Amazake to Ikkyu. The Ikkyu Udon was delicious with mochi. The Amazake was a delicious, grainy Amazake. It was especially delicious in the snow. I felt like I was going to freeze to death if this shop wasn't here.

One Kyukusan, also known as the monk Ikkyu Sojun, escaped and lived in Shuonan Ikkyuji Temple in Kyoto after the Onin War. I had always wanted to visit, and in the fall of 2018, it became the location for the "Let's Go to Kyoto Campaign." Before it gets too crowded, I decided to visit and discovered the limited edition Ikkyuji Natto sugar candy made by Tsuruya Yoshinobu. Ikkyuji Natto, conceived by Ikkyu Sojun, is a fermented food different from the usual sticky natto. There is also the Daikokuji Natto, which Ikkyu Sojun is said to have popularized during the reconstruction of Daikokuji Temple. Both are quite salty as is. To turn them into sweets! I couldn't help but be curious, so I bought it. But when I brought it home, my family didn't quite get it, mistaking it for the sugar candy on the Buddhist altar. It took a while before I dared to open it. But when I finally did... it was even more delicious than I had imagined! It had a soft cookie-like texture overall, with a harmonious blend of sugar, wasanbon (Japanese sugar), sweet bean paste, and kudzu flour mixed with Ikkyuji Natto, resulting in a delicately sweet and salty finish! I couldn't help but feel the skill of Tsuruya Yoshinobu. It was truly an inspiring delicacy.

I went to see the autumn leaves at Ikkyu-ji Temple. It's beautiful. Ikkyu-ji Temple is the temple where Ikkyu-san, famous for his wit, spent his later years. The specialty is the unique aroma? taste? of Ikkyu-ji Temple natto. It is sold at the shop. Across from this shop, there is a resting place. If you have visited the temple, you can have tea, coffee, or Zen meals here without a reservation. However, you need a reservation for the Zen meals. These Zen meals are served in a special area that is usually not accessible with just a visit, making them even more special. You can enjoy the Zen meals while looking at the garden. There are four types of Zen meals available by reservation: 1) Morijo Bento for 1,850 yen, 2) Ikkyu-ji Bento for 2,260 yen, 3) Shokado Bento for 3,400 yen, and 4) One Soup, Nine Dishes Zen Meal for 4,700 yen. Since it was my first time, I had the fourth option. It's quite a variety of dishes. It fills you up, and being Zen, it's good for your body. The balance of flavors, from light seasoning to strong seasoning, is good. I also had some sake. It was Sapporo's Chitose Tsuru, a rare find in Kyoto. While enjoying a little bit of it, I spent a relaxing moment in casual clothes.

"January 2013 revisit" On January 27th (Sunday), there was an event called "Ikkyu Zenzen's Day" at Ikkyu-ji Temple. Did you know that 'Zenzen' is a food that Ikkyu-san first ate? [It is said that Ikkyu Sojun first ate it and exclaimed "Zenzen" due to the deliciousness of this food, hence the name.] From Wikipedia. So, at Ikkyu-ji Temple, I dedicated a vow ema for the year and listened to the priest's sermon, practiced zazen, and enjoyed warm zenzen. Instead of the usual coffee corner, we had it in a separate building, and the sweetness of the red beans was elegant, and there was quite a lot of it, but even though it was after lunch, I ate it all up. Along with the zenzen, instead of the usual salted kelp, the famous 'Ikkyu Natto' is served here. I've had a connection with this temple for a long time, and there's always this 'Ikkyu Natto' at my parents' house, but to be honest, I never thought it was delicious. But, it was different on this day. It goes really well with the zenzen! I was surprised. I heard that it's also delicious in porridge, so I'll get some when I go back home next time. I want to visit during the cherry blossom season next. Thank you for the meal. "November 2012 visit" This is the temple where Ikkyu-san spent his later years until his passing. It has a very beautiful garden, and the autumn leaves are beautiful, so I have visited many times. The leaves of the street trees have started to color quite a bit, so I wondered how the maple leaves at Ikkyu-ji Temple were doing. I stopped by on my way back from Costco. I parked my car in the parking lot (parking fee is 300 yen) and walked up the slope to the reception. I really like this slope. The maple leaves were still only slightly colored... I paid the admission fee of 500 yen at the reception and headed to the main hall. There are statues of Ikkyu-san in his later years and his childhood. There is also a bridge that says "Don't cross this bridge." I especially like the "Hojo Garden" in the Hojo. It's a temple that is quite empty whenever I go... I like to relax while looking at the garden. This time, I had coffee for the first time at the cafe corner? There was also matcha and zenzen. The coffee was 300 yen per cup with a Tirol chocolate. It had a very nice aroma. When I looked closely, it said "Shuon-an Ikkyu-ji Temple" on the Tirol chocolate. I wonder if they make it here? Anyway, it's a wonderful temple, so if you are nearby, please stop by. Oh, there is a specialty here called "Ikkyu-ji Temple Natto," but it's more like a seasoning than natto. ["Ikkyu-ji Temple Natto"] About 500 years ago, Ikkyu Zenji retransmitted the manufacturing method from China. Unlike the stringy natto, it is fermented using koji mold and is called temple natto. It is a preserved food rich in amino acids that is completed by sun-drying for one year. (Excerpt from HP) It's a fermented food that is popular now. When I went to a French restaurant nearby, they also served dishes using Ikkyu-ji Temple Natto. Thank you for the meal. I'll come back to be healed again.

"Suki suki suki suki suki, suki~ ai ishiteru♪" Who can guess the theme song? Hands up! 🙋‍♀️ Yes, thank you to everyone from the same generation. It's Pekoeri. Now, this time I have something a little different to introduce. Previously, a My Reviewer mentioned that they could review restaurants in temples and markets, but for some reason they couldn't review the in-flight meals on a certain international airline. I remembered this and decided to do a search on Tabelog, and I found this. It's true, as the reviewer said, temples are listed... I must go there! So, for the first time, here is a temple review by Pekoeri. In May, with beautiful fresh greenery, I went hiking with a friend to Amnanibe Mountain in Kyoto Tanabe. We walked the hiking course from JR Kyoto Tanabe Station to Amnanibe Mountain. Along the hiking course is the "Shuonan" temple, also known as "Ikkyu-ji". This is the hermitage where the famous Ikkyu Zen master spent his later years with a very young wife. ...I'm envious. Admission fee is 500 yen. It's a small temple, but you can see wonderful views during the seasons of fresh greenery and autumn leaves. It's a hidden gem, highly recommended. You can have matcha tea in the temple's rest area. Of course, it's Tanabe tea (Tanabe is a tea-producing region. Local production for local consumption ☆). The matcha tea sweets are Ikkyu-ji natto-filled dried sweets and Ikkyu-ji natto. As for the dried sweets (well), the Ikkyu-ji natto is um... intense! It's like eating a super intense miso ball. However, it's not too salty to eat! It's more like the matured umami that spreads through the rich miso... you can enjoy the deep umami of fermented foods. It's perfect with rice. It might also be good for ochazuke. By the way, even if you don't enter the temple, you can also purchase just the natto at the place where you pay the admission fee! However, my rating this time, including the atmosphere of the temple, is ☆×3.5. It might not be worth visiting here just for the natto! I think it would be nice to enjoy the small but flavorful temple together... ==========="

Shuon-an Ikkyu-ji in Kyotanabe is a famous temple that was re-established by the witty monk Ikkyu-san (Ikkyu Sojun Zenji). I had always wanted to visit after seeing the statue of Ikkyu-san in front of Nittanabe Station. Finally, on a still early spring holiday, I was able to visit with a friend. It is about a 15-minute walk from both Kintetsu Nittanabe Station and JR Kyotanabe Station. If you'd like, please take a look at the map photo for directions. Upon passing through the main gate and walking up the approach, there is a reception desk for visitors. After paying the entrance fee of 500 yen, turning right leads to Ikkyu Zenji's grave. A sign from the Imperial Household Agency states that Ikkyu Zenji was a prince of Emperor Go-Komatsu. Further along, there is the entrance to the Hojo (abbot's quarters) on the right. You can enter the Hojo from the abbot's quarters and enjoy the view of the garden from inside the building. It is a peaceful and calming moment. Back at the abbot's quarters, you can purchase souvenirs. We tried the Ikkyu-ji Natto there. The appearance is like wet sweet black natto, with a strong aroma of aged natto mixed with soy sauce, which may be a taste that divides preferences. As soon as you put a piece in your mouth, the strong saltiness makes your taste buds contract involuntarily. Then, a rich, complex umami flavor spreads throughout your mouth. Finally, I realized that this taste is the same as the Daikoku-ji Natto I had during my last trip to Kyoto. Upon reflection, Ikkyu Zenji also served as the head priest at Daikoku-ji. It's not surprising that the temple natto of the same lineage is passed down. By the way, this temple natto is also called Kyuki to distinguish it from regular natto because it does not produce strings. It is quite salty to eat as is, but it seems suitable as a seasoning substitute for soy sauce and as a side dish for alcohol. However, in the case of an old man like me, if I were to drink alcohol with Ikkyu-ji Natto as a side dish, I might end up drinking too much (sweat). It seems that you can also enjoy a vegetarian bento box at this famous temple. As we left the temple, my friend and I talked about coming back to try the vegetarian cuisine when the season changes. --- Items received --- Ikkyu-ji Natto (800 yen)