I got off at Demachiyanagi on the Keihan Main Line and wanted to visit two more places at Demachi Futaba. When I checked the website, I found out that both places were closed on Wednesdays. I thought that popular longstanding shops often have outlets in station buildings or department stores, so I decided to go to Kyoto Station. I first visited "Mangetsu Ajari Mochi Honpo Kyoto Isetan Store" and bought Ajari mochi successfully. Then I asked about the last place I wanted to visit and found out that it was right in front of me! It was "Ryokusuan Shimizu Kyoto Isetan Store." There were four types of Kinpira sugar being sold here. Although there are more varieties at the main store. The options were "Melon Kinpira Sugar," "Banana Kinpira Sugar," "Peach Kinpira Sugar," and "Pineapple Kinpira Sugar." I chose three items while pondering. The most popular one is the "Peach" flavor. I decided to savor it until it was gone, while my companion couldn't resist chewing it halfway through! The prices were as follows: "Melon Kinpura Sugar" for 599 yen, "Banana Kinpura Sugar" for 599 yen, and "Peach Kinpura Sugar" for 599 yen. After trying all three, I concluded that the most delicious one was the "Peach" flavor. I would like to visit the main store next time to see the shop's atmosphere and try other types of Kinpura sugar. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal.

Located on the first floor of JR Kyoto Isetan, this shop has a parking lot. Established in 1847, it is the only specialty store in Kyoto that manufactures and sells Kinpuku, a traditional Japanese sugar candy. Kinpuku requires over 20 years of training, with 10 years of honey coating and 10 years of shaping with a special tool. The candies are meticulously crafted by skilled artisans. While the main store is near Keihan Demachiyanagi Station, you can also purchase them at JR Kyoto Isetan. I bought the seasonal limited edition "Aerial Watermelon Kinpuku" for 2,100 yen excluding tax. Made from watermelons grown suspended in the air to ensure even sunlight exposure, the candies are infused with the delicious taste of watermelon throughout. It has a refreshing summer flavor, showcasing the artisans' expertise. The rich history behind the candies is evident in their quality. It may be a bit pricey, but the taste justifies the cost. I will definitely go back to buy more.

"This might be the first time for me." Personally, I have often received the Kinpaito from Midori Juan Shimizu, but this time I purchased what is probably my first limited edition Kinpaito in sweet potato and yuzu flavor. Generally, Kinpaito is made using finely crushed mochi rice powder as the core, but the autumn limited edition Kinpaito assortment "Yuyu Shun" that I purchased this time is made with a core of sweet potato and yuzu-flavored Kinpaito (the store called it "Kaku Hiratou"). In addition to its elegant flavor and sweetness, I was also impressed by the unique texture of this Kinpaito, as the core is made of sweet potato. "Specialty Kinpaito shops are no joke" - I truly felt that once again this time. Seasonal items have even more limited quantities compared to regular items, so if you are interested, consider purchasing before they sell out.

My daughter loves Konpeito (sugar candies) and she wanted this Konpeito from Kyoto as a souvenir. She went to the main store around 2 o'clock before and many items were already sold out, which made me anxious. There are two types of boxed Konpeito: Melon and Orange, each 45g, and Apple and Grape, each 45g, in pairs. Ultimately, it's just a lump of sugar, but I tried the Melon flavor. It says to chew, so I chewed it (I was afraid my teeth might break at my age). Hmm, the aroma of the Melon when I opened the bag was amazing, but the flavor while chewing was also amazing. It's truly handmade, with the weight of history, unmatched. It's no wonder it sells out.

I bought some Kinpura sugar from Ryokujuan Shimizu on my way back from cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto. Ryokujuan Shimizu is the only Kinpura sugar specialty store in Japan, founded in 1847. The main store is located in Higashiyama Ward, but you can also buy their products at JR Kyoto Isetan. They offer a variety of seasonal limited edition items, including "Sakura Kinpura sugar" made with salt-pickled cherry blossoms. I also tried their "Ryoi Koji Kinpura sugar", inspired by the green petals of the cherry blossom. The products are beautifully presented and have a subtle sweet aroma and flavor that melts in your mouth. It's a unique and delightful treat.

I watched "Honnoji Hotel" and was planning to buy it when I visited Kyoto. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go to the main store, so I went to Isetan store inside JR Kyoto Station on my way back. The limited edition amaou flavor was already sold out by noon. It is definitely popular. They sell them individually, but the soda and lemon flavors that I wanted were only available in a box of 3, so I shared it with a friend. The box is a nice calming green color. It has the sweetness of gold sugar, but also tastes like soda and lemon, making it very delicious. I would like to visit the main store next time I come.

Established in 1847, this shop is the only specialized store for Konpeito (Japanese sugar candy) in Japan, located on the first basement floor of Kyoto Isetan. The main store in Momoyamacho was featured in the manga "Oishinbo" where Yamazaki and Kurita visited to solve a homework assignment given by Yamaoka. I had been wanting to visit for a while, and finally had the chance after a nearby event. However, when I arrived around 5pm, the individually sold Konpeito was already sold out. The cheapest option available was a set of 6 bags for 3540 yen. Despite the price, I decided to go for it and bought the set. The shop's name, Shimizu, has been passed down through generations of shop owners who have inherited the skills. Upon opening the box at home, I found bags of Konpeito in flavors such as mandarin, melon, strawberry, Kyoho grape, lemon, and natural soda. I decided to try the modern yet retro natural soda flavor first. Each small, blue Konpeito had a refreshing sweetness with a hint of soda flavor. The process of growing each Konpeito from a poppy seed-like core to this stage takes about two weeks. The meticulous work that goes into making these candies truly reflects in the taste. I look forward to savoring the rest of the flavors slowly and enjoyably.

When a local department store hosted a Kyoto specialty exhibition in the past, my son bought some "kinpaito" that he really liked. When I mentioned that I was going to Kyoto to see the cherry blossoms, I asked him to bring back the limited edition "sakuranbo" for me. This flavor can only be enjoyed in April. When I opened the box, I found cute little packages containing beautiful red kinpaito. It is made using only the flesh of cherries, which takes 16 days to make. Although the price of 1950 yen may seem high, it is understandable considering the effort put into making it. My son and I tried it after dinner. I'm not a big fan of cherry flavor, but I enjoyed this one. The subtle scent of cherries and the gentle sweetness of the kinpaito made for an elegant taste, typical of Kyoto.

At the Depachika (basement food floor) of Kyoto Isetan, there is a specialty store from Demachiyanagi called "Kinpindou" that sells traditional Japanese sugar candies. It makes for a great souvenir from Kyoto. In a gourmet manga, there is an important episode that explains how to make Kinpindou, which is the climax of the story. However, by 3 pm, they are almost sold out, with only sets of 10 or the cow-shaped ones left. The cow-shaped ones cost 1700 yen and are made with milk, offering a gentle and not overly sweet taste. Despite the slightly odd cow-shaped box, I bought it as a souvenir.

I used to not really like konpeito (Japanese sugar candy), but after trying it at this shop, my impression completely changed. I realized how delicious konpeito can be. I was not just drawn to it because it's famous. I tried three different flavors - cider, lemon, and strawberry - and each one was interesting. I personally enjoyed the fact that you can't just gobble them all up at once, which gives you a sense of satisfaction. Overall, it was a great experience.

I received this handmade Kyoto Kinpaitō peach as a souvenir, which was purchased at this store specializing in Kinpaitō. I have tried Kinpaitō in the past and it was delicious. This time, the Kinpaitō is flavored with peach, and indeed the peach flavor is strong. The ingredients also list peach, so it is not like those that rely only on fragrance. According to the store, it was established in the 4th year of the Kōka era (1847), and the first generation, Seikichi Shimizu, opened the shop in the same location in Kyoto, Momoyama. The second generation, Shōtarō Shimizu, took over, and from the time of the third generation, Isamu Shimizu, they gradually started making Kinpaitō with ingredients such as cinnamon and matcha. The fourth generation, Seiichi Shimizu, challenged himself to make Kinpaitō using various ingredients, and now they produce around 60 different types of Kinpaitō. Thank you for the meal.

I found a set that includes natural soda, lemon, and strawberry flavors, as requested by the children. The natural soda has a mineral taste, and the lemon and strawberry flavors are subtle. It is a delicious treat that is made by mixing the ingredients over time to create a candy-like texture.