JR Kyoto Isetan store in the station building at Kyoto Station. This is a shop located in the food section on the basement 2nd floor. They sell bento boxes and Kyoto-style side dishes. It's takeout only. It's not common to see this type of shop in Tokyo, where shops from all over the country gather. It's fun to find these kinds of shops when traveling! In addition to bento boxes, I bought various Kyoto-style side dishes. For locals, this may be just a regular deli shop, but the taste is definitely different from Kanto region. They also have items like "nuta" that you won't find in Tokyo deli shops. The prices were reasonable and good. Eating at a proper Kyoto side dish restaurant can get quite expensive. At night, it can cost around 3,000 yen, right? This time, I bought various items here and ate them with my friends in the hotel room. As I get more used to traveling, I start buying discounted local products at department stores at night. With the savings, I can afford to eat expensive items listed in guidebooks for lunch. Eventually, I'll also go to inexpensive local restaurants for lunch. I think I'm at an intermediate level now (laughs). I also bought Kyoto beer and enjoyed various side dishes in the hotel room for less than 1,000 yen per person. It was satisfying. Bon appétit! by Sunao

It's been a while since I went to Isetan for a bento box. Lately, I've been in charge of cooking on Friday nights and weekends, so I decided to get a bento box from Isetan for a change. It was quite crowded, but I managed to get the "Meibutsu Atsumori Shimizu" bento box for 994 yen (tax included) for myself, and the "Mackerel Saikyo-yaki and Obanzai" bento box for 972 yen (tax included) for my wife. The mackerel saikyo-yaki bento box had mackerel marinated in white miso as the main dish, along with dashimaki, kamaboko, spring rolls, and various obanzai side dishes. The rice was flavored with bamboo shoots, giving it a seasonal touch. The "Meibutsu Atsumori Shimizu" bento box was more like a snack, with grilled salmon, mackerel saikyo-yaki, and various obanzai dishes. The overall taste was on the rich side, with a soy sauce flavor typical of Kyoto. The yuba and bamboo shoot stew were particularly delicious, with a good dashi flavor. The mackerel saikyo-yaki also had a light miso flavor that was quite enjoyable. The spring rolls were light but surprisingly flavorful. Overall, the bento boxes were tastier than expected, especially considering the price. They would be perfect for those looking to bring a Kyoto-style bento box on the Shinkansen. With a variety of options and affordable prices, it's definitely worth buying.

I chose this shop in the basement of Isetan to buy a snack for the train ride back from my day trip to Kyoto. It's pronounced "Kyogian". They offer a selection of traditional Japanese dishes like simmered vegetables, fish, and salads. Surprisingly, they also have sesame dumplings. As a time service, they included a small pack of rice (usually at an additional cost). Since it's a bento box, the flavors are on the stronger side, which is understandable. The bento box was vegetable-focused and healthy.

I wanted to buy some Kyoto-style side dishes, so I bought this pack with a variety of items. I tried some as a snack, and was surprised to find that the flavors were actually quite strong. I had always thought Kyoto cuisine was more subtle in flavor, so this was unexpected. The company that makes these dishes is known for their tsukudani (preserved food simmered in soy sauce and mirin), so maybe that's why. (This is just my guess, so it could be wrong.) They also included a serving of white rice as a nice touch. Overall, there were some dishes I liked and some that didn't quite suit my taste, but I think it's good for Kyoto beginners who are unsure of what to try.

I stayed at a hotel near Kyoto Station, so for dinner I bought a bento box from the department store basement. It was from Kyoto Aoi-an at the JR Kyoto Isetan on the 2nd floor underground. I got the luxurious Goshiki bento box (bean rice, grilled mackerel with miso) for 900 yen. The main dish was grilled mackerel with miso, which had a subtle flavor making it easy to eat with the bean rice. The winter melon stew was refreshing, the carrot garnish was vibrant, and the shiitake mushroom roll was juicy with a hint of dashi. The taro stew was also lightly seasoned. The edamame was quite soft, not my favorite texture. The dark item is eggplant stew, which was enjoyable with its broth. The kimpira burdock root had big lotus roots in it and a rich flavor that paired well with the rice. The pickles were different, turns out they were pickled black fungus, crunchy and enjoyable. Overall, the bento had a variety of items and felt festive. It was perfect for a relaxing evening drink.