Today, I visited Fushimi-Juukokubune in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto Prefecture. The weather was nice, and the cherry blossoms were gently falling, creating a beautiful scene. Fushimi-Juukokubune is a restored boat from the Edo period that used to transport sake, rice, and passengers along the Yodo River. The boat now carries 20 passengers on a 50-minute round trip, offering views of sake breweries and a row of willow trees. After the boat tour, I visited "Kokurayamasou Fushimi Store," a shop inspired by the concept of the "One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets." The shop had a refined atmosphere, and I tried their "Kokura Yama Shunju Mini Bag" snack, which was inspired by the themes of the seasons, nature, and beauty found in the One Hundred Poems. The snack had a mild flavor and was enjoyable to munch on. Overall, it was a delightful experience.

It was a day when they were selling great deals on household items without any sorting. On the way to a sake brewery in Fushimi, I noticed a line, but it seems like everyone knows about this place. It's a shop that sells delicious rice crackers, which I also love. Of course, I lined up and was able to buy them in about 30 minutes. It's located very close to the popular tourist spot Teradaya.

As a souvenir from Kyoto, the takeout options are individually wrapped and colorful, which is nice. The variety of flavors was also great, and it was well received. I tried a few myself, and the vibrant appearance and taste were both good. It's a pretty suitable snack for souvenirs.

When it comes to Okurayama Villa, their senbei is famous, but their chocolate is also delicious. They have small senbei coated in chocolate, similar to kaki no tane, with flavors like sakura and traditional chocolate mixed together. It's a perfect snack to enjoy.

I was treated to lunch by a relative at Izumiotsu station. After parting ways, I planned to go to Fushimi. I tried to take the Keihan train to Nakashoji station, but the train stopped for about 20 minutes due to some kind of accident and wouldn't move. Because of that, I missed the opportunity to visit Teradaya by just 10 minutes. It seems that Teradaya closes at 3:40 PM. It was disappointing after coming all this way. I took a short stroll and found a lively shop. The entrance was beautifully designed in a Japanese style. Inside, they were selling rice crackers. They were packaged in the same patterned bags that you often see in department stores. Since rice crackers are light, I decided to buy them as souvenirs. There were various shapes and flavors, all with a light and crispy texture that seems suitable even for those with dental issues. It looks like you can enjoy different shapes and flavors while eating them.

I went to buy strawberry bousse! ＼(^o^)／ In the sake brewery town of Fushimi, Kyoto, what souvenirs should I get? I also bought pecan nuts. Here, it was written as "pekan nuts". I also bought sake rice candy, but be careful not to bite into it as it sticks to your teeth. It's a hassle if your dental filling comes off. I also bought a box of Suzu Castella. It's similar to Suzuyaki from Shingu. The strawberry bousse was delicious. I thought of it as a souvenir, but I ended up eating it all in no time before reaching home. ＼(^o^)／ If you have time, please visit Princess Cinderella's blog too! 🌟 https://pricin.exblog.jp/28034863/

While living in this town, it was my first visit to this restaurant located in a beautiful spot by the Uji River diversion that the locals have maintained well. Despite it being a holiday, the restaurant had quite a few customers. The hina arare with chocolate rice crackers reminded me of traditional snacks like Toyosu. The opinion on the bell-shaped castella cake seems to be divided between those who like it and those who find it just okay. I fall into the latter category. If you like it, be sure to try it. Overall, I found this restaurant to be on the pricier side.

It is located across from the famous Teradaya. It is a large store with many staff members. The sweets are broadly divided into rice crackers and Japanese sweets. The rice crackers seem to be more famous, but they look quite ordinary. The prices are reasonable and the portions are generous, making it convenient for gifts. So, my attention is drawn to the Japanese sweets. The recommended item by the staff is the Suzu Castella. It seems to have quite a few repeat customers. I bought a bag of Suzu Castella and two dorayaki as usual. I thought Suzu Castella would be like baby castella for children, but it was completely different. It has a moderate sweetness and a moist softness, making it suitable for adults with a slight hunger. The dorayaki also has a soft castella and a moist red bean paste. It is small but delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by both items. I am now a confirmed repeat customer for Suzu Castella.

The 1,600 yen course at Gurayama Shunshu is perfect for souvenirs!

Yoshino loves rice crackers, so after having lunch at Maguro Garage, I was told by my companion that there is a shop nearby called Kokurayamaso, a famous high-end rice cracker and senbei shop in Kyoto. The shop is beautiful and offers a wide variety of products, not just rice crackers and senbei, but also sweets like Mimasaka. Customers can even enjoy a complimentary drink service. I was so excited by the selection of rice crackers that I had a hard time deciding which ones to buy. Eventually, I chose three types: Natsuogurayama Shunshu, Meigetsu Senbei, and Teikas Favorite. Each one was delicious and elegant in flavor. Kokurayamaso's rice crackers are always consistently tasty. According to my companion, there is also a Kokurayamaso rice cracker cafe in Nagaokakyo City. I definitely want to check it out. Thank you for the meal!

It seems that this place is often used for gifts and has quite a few stores. I receive gifts from here often due to work, but honestly, I'm tired of it. This time, I received a small pack of "Ogura Mountain Spring and Autumn" with 8 different types of rice crackers. The taste is... I prefer the regular rice crackers sold at the supermarket. It's not a surprisingly good taste. They also have specialty items like chocolate-coated persimmon seeds and rice crackers with a soy sauce flavor wrapped in sweet senbei. I'm not a fan of either. Well, if it's on the table, I might have a little bit. I still prefer Kame** Seika's snacks.

I went to Fushimi in Kyoto. I went on a sake brewery tour. Fushimi has many interesting shops. As I was walking to see Teradaya, I stumbled upon Okurayama-so! I didn't know there was an Okurayama-so here. It's a Japanese-style shop with a calm atmosphere. They use 100% domestically grown rice. They have established the Okurayama-so Farm in the Tanba region spanning Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures, where they grow their own rice. It feels safe and secure. And it's delicious. The taste is just different when you eat it. I have visited a few times and tried various snacks. Every senbei is great. They are all delicious. I enjoyed them with tea. I need to go back and buy more.

Visited in early February 2015. A long-established rice cracker and senbei specialty shop in Kyoto, "Kokurayamaso". They have expanded their chain stores mainly in the Kansai region, including outlets in department stores. This Fushimi branch is one of them. Located near the tourist spot "Teradaya" in Fushimi, which is associated with Ryoma Sakamoto. When I strolled around this area a few years ago, I don't remember seeing this shop, but it seems they opened in September 2012. I happened to be in the area for sightseeing, so I decided to stop by here as well. I visited on a Saturday afternoon around 2 pm. The premises have a parking lot and a spacious store space, making it convenient for buying souvenirs on the go. The main items are rice crackers and senbei. I usually receive Kokurayamaso's rice crackers as gifts rather than buying them myself. This time, nothing particularly caught my eye, but I was intrigued by the dorayaki (Mitake)! Besides rice crackers, they also had a variety of sweet Japanese confectionery. I noticed they were selling chocolates for White Day as well. They had something called "Koiiro Omohimeshimeshi," which are arare-sized rice crackers coated with several types of chocolate! I decided to cherish the first item that caught my attention and bought two dorayaki to take home. There were three flavors, but since I had already bought red bean paste dorayaki from another store, I skipped the "red bean" flavor.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kyono Mikasa Saga Arashiyama Kokurayaki <White Bean Paste> (\129, February 2015) "White bean paste made from Hokkaido hand-picked beans with a unique flavor and rich texture" A Mitake with white bean paste made from hand-picked beans inside. Size is about 8cm in diameter, 3cm thick, and weighs 69g (actual measurement). The package contains a deoxidizer. The dough has a moist and fluffy texture. It has a gentle flavor of eggs and the richness of honey, resulting in a taste similar to castella. The white bean paste is plump and has a smooth texture. The flavor of the hand-picked beans is rich, and the sweetness is elegant. A delicious treat as expected! Enjoy the Mitake with hot Japanese tea for a warm experience. Kyono Mikasa Saga Arashiyama Kokurayaki <Chestnut Bean Paste> (\172, February 2015) "Chestnut-flavored bean paste made from strained and whole chestnuts" A Mitake with chestnut bean paste inside. Size is about 8cm in diameter, 3cm thick, and weighs 68g (actual measurement). The package contains a deoxidizer. The dough has a moist and fluffy texture. It has a gentle flavor of eggs and the richness of honey, resulting in a taste similar to castella. The chestnut bean paste made from chestnuts, sugar, and agar is plump and has an elegant sweetness. With whole chestnuts, the flavor of chestnuts is rich. The not overly sweet dough does not interfere with the rich chestnut flavor, which is great. Enjoy the luxurious taste of chestnuts with this Mitake!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As expected from a long-established shop, the service from the staff at this store was very polite and pleasant, making shopping a pleasant experience. I also noticed that they have an eat-in space here! You can enjoy what you purchased right away, and there was a self-service vending machine-like setup for making tea. The window seats offer a view of the river, providing a cozy spot for a short break. I would like to try using this space next time! It's been a while, but I think I'll buy some rice crackers to take home (bitter smile).

I stopped by on my way back from seeing the autumn leaves in Fushimi, Kyoto. The shop is beautifully designed and the staff are all very polite and courteous. They have a wide variety of rice crackers to choose from. I wasn't sure which one to get, but I decided to go with "Saga-no" because the name sounded very Kyoto-like. When I gave the rice crackers as a souvenir, the conversation went like, "Oh, you went to Kyoto!" "Yes, I did." "Oh, you went to Saga-no!" "No, actually I went to Fushimi..." "What the heck!" The taste of the Saga-no rice crackers is delicious! They have a sweet and salty flavor reminiscent of "potapota-yaki" (a type of rice cracker), along with a fragrant aroma. They are crispy and easy to eat because they break apart easily.

It's a gift. - "Omoisomeshi" Kaki no Tane is sometimes nibbled as a side dish for shochu, etc. What is sold here is Kaki no Tane coated with chocolate. If it's chocolate, I often nibble it as a side dish for wine. So, what if they are combined? When you eat it, the flavor of chocolate slightly wins, so I think it goes better with wine. The taste is quite sweet and spicy Kaki no Tane ♪ There are flavors like matcha, strawberry, milk, bitter, and I still prefer strawberry☆ When you open the cylindrical container, it is divided into small portions in triangular tetra packs. This is also convenient. I think it will definitely be appreciated as a souvenir. Thank you very much♪ Ogurayama-so is a famous shop for okaki and other snacks. The Fushimi shop used to be located along Route 24 near Nakashimajima, but it has moved a bit closer to Teradaya along the road. The black-painted building also has a mysterious atmosphere reminiscent of the end of the Edo period, perhaps to match Teradaya. I plan to take a look inside the shop at some point☆

On December 14, 2013, my relatives from Kyoto brought me a gift from the usual place, Kogurizanso in Kyoto, as a New Year's greeting. However, this time the contents were different from the usual package, as it was the 2014 New Year's package. I decided to wait until New Year's to enjoy it. Thank you as always for the delicious treats. On July 13, 2012, it was my birthday. I realized how much I have aged... When I returned home, I found a gift from my relatives. It was a set of sweets from Kogurizanso, one of my favorite shops in Kyoto. The packaging was beautifully done, and I was surprised to see it wrapped in a furoshiki. The set included 7 types of rice crackers and snacks, as well as 5 types of jellies. It was a luxurious and delightful summer gift. I plan to enjoy them slowly and share more photos as I go along.

I often use this store for buying souvenirs and gifts like Omiyage. This time, I visited to buy Oseibo. The store has a refined Heian-style atmosphere. There were several other customers, so it was quite busy. After placing my order for Oseibo, I had to wait for a while. Usually, they serve tea while you wait, but it was crowded this time, so I understood. The Oseibo was ready, and a female staff member carried it to the parking lot for me. I felt grateful as she was carrying large items with both hands. Along with the Oseibo, I also bought some items for home, which are as follows: - Ararezutsumi (8 pieces for 525 yen): This snack consists of two types of arare (rice crackers) wrapped in a senbei (rice cracker). The senbei has a Kyoto-style pattern with black sesame seeds. The arare is surprisingly soft and has a sweet and crispy taste, complementing the savory flavor. - Omohisomeshi (6 bags in a small box for 1,050 yen): Inspired by a love poem from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, this snack features small arare coated in premium Belgian chocolate. The white and red chocolates symbolize the flowers of love. I have a funny habit from childhood of licking the chocolate coating first before eating the inside, and I did the same with Omohisomeshi. Inside, there was a tiny persimmon seed, and I realized how thick the chocolate coating was. My image of Omohisomeshi was slightly shattered by this experience.

There are many types of rice crackers and senbei, and the store is very clean. I often buy boxed products here as souvenirs. For home use, there are also affordable products in bags that I always purchase together. They have a good shelf life and are delicious, so the recipients are always happy when I send them. And what makes the sender happy is the easy-to-buy price! The taste, quantity, and packaging all do a great job for the price paid. Around Valentine's Day, there is a product called "想ひそめし," which is a kind of persimmon seed coated with three types of chocolate, arranged for Valentine's Day. It comes in a pack of 10 small bags for 630 yen, so isn't it reasonable? I sent it to my colleagues and it was very well received. I have heard that there are long lines on the day of sale for cracked senbei, but I don't know when that day is and I have never encountered it... It must be quite a bargain. The staff are also very polite, and there are two parking spaces in front of the store, so it's okay to buy a lot.

Ryoma Sakamoto's favorite inn, Teradaya, is located near Kokurayamaso, an antenna shop-like store. The nearest station is Naka-jima Station on the Keihan Line. I happened to have work nearby and was invited by a friend to stop by after having lunch in the area. The parking lot was quite spacious, making it convenient for those coming by car. The store seemed new and very clean, offering a variety of familiar rice crackers, dorayaki, and even chocolate-coated rice crackers with a slightly Western twist. I had always thought they only sold rice crackers in small bags, so it was a pleasant surprise. Although I didn't plan on buying anything (since you can find similar items in department store basements), I decided to purchase a chestnut dorayaki and enjoyed it in the eat-in space. The self-serve tea was just average, nothing special. The dorayaki was tasty but nothing extraordinary. Despite the store's size, there were many staff members, which may have contributed to the slightly disorganized service due to the lack of customers. Overall, it could be a convenient place for a casual break after visiting Teradaya or Fushimi sake breweries.

Located in the middle of Nakashima Island in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, and the main street of Takeda Kaido, Kokurayamaso Fushimi Store is a place where you can park a few cars. I bought several items such as rice cracker senbei and bonchiage, which are known in the market, and ate them at home. Each of them had a unique taste that was different from the rice crackers sold in supermarkets. Although they are a bit more expensive than the ones sold in stores, I personally think they are worth the price. Once you start eating them, you won't be able to stop.