I decided to go to Senkoin for lunch, so I chose Serio to eat before heading out. Since it was a weekday, there was only one other group of customers besides me, and once they left, I had the place to myself. I couldn't decide between the Senso Bento or the Yudofu, but since I had eaten too much breakfast at the hotel, I went with the Yudofu. It was delicious, the view was great, and I was able to relax and enjoy my meal.

I visited the restaurant Ryusei located in Ohara Sanzenin. I had the Yudofu Gozen for ¥2420 (tax included). The portion was a bit small, but it might be just right for women. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere with heated floors, allowing you to relax. The Yudofu was also delicious.

After visiting Sanzenin, we stopped by this restaurant. We were told that we could be seated right away if we chose the terrace side, and indeed we were able to find seats relatively quickly even though it was midday. We ordered the Yuba Gozen and everything was delicious. The hostess? provided great service and we had a pleasant time. Thank you very much.

At the midway point of the slope of the Serio Sanzen-in Temple in Ohara, Kyoto, there is a shop that seems to embody the essence of Kyoto. When I went to see the hydrangeas and moss in June, I tried the Kyoto Yuba Meal, which had a rich and delicious taste. The other dishes were also healthy and satisfying, with a wide variety of options. The Sanzen-sou Bento features mountain vegetables and Kyoto vegetables harvested in Ohara, all deliciously seasoned. There is also an inn available. It seems to have received a Michelin star for several years, although I am not sure about that.

I came here for the first time in about 3 years, with my elderly mother and husband before, but today I came alone. The atmosphere here is great, with wide windows where you can feel the four seasons. The menu is a bit unclear on what the main dishes are, but that might be typical of Kyoto cuisine. If you want to enjoy the feeling of Kyoto, I recommend this place. It has table seating, but be careful as there are many steps.

"Kyoto Ohara Sanzen-in Ryokan 2018 Michelin 3-star entrance through the curtain from the entrance Kyoto's historic building Garden Inside feels the history Pillars Onsen is a little narrower than I thought.... The food was quite expected and I may have set the bar too high, but I still had a somewhat expected, but not everyday, experience in space and time. I hope this information is helpful."

On May 3, 2021, feeling suffocated by the daily grind, I decided to take a stroll in Ohara in search of some refreshment. Despite it being Golden Week, the lack of people made it hard to believe. I quietly explored the fresh greenery of Sanzenin Temple, then had lunch at a restaurant nearby. I ordered the Sanzen Bento set with Kyoto-style yudofu (tofu hot pot) from Shimogamo. The bento box was filled with bamboo shoots, mountain vegetables, and other Kyoto-style dishes, exuding a truly Kyoto-like atmosphere. It may be a typical tourist spot menu, but my stomach has been sensitive lately, so I appreciated this gentle meal. Enjoying lunch leisurely amidst the dazzling fresh greenery and refreshing breeze, my mood started to brighten a bit.

The deep autumn. A day for strolling around Sanzenin. I was intrigued by this restaurant right next to the Sanzenin Monzeki, which has been featured in the Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka for 9 consecutive years. It is actually a historic inn with hot springs. I was able to get a table relatively quickly around 1 pm on this day. I waited a bit for a table on the terrace, which I preferred. Although I was curious about the prominently displayed sign outside for the "Limited Quantity Sanzen Bento" (3,600 yen), I ended up ordering the following on this day: - Yudofu Meal (2,200 yen) - Bottle of beer (735 yen, plus 5% service charge) The classic Kyoto cuisine was delightful. The setting, view, and atmosphere made the 2,200 yen well worth it. The pond with large carp surrounded by vibrant red autumn leaves was a beautiful sight. If I have the chance, I would love to stay overnight and relax in the hot springs. Bon appétit!

In mid-November, there was a big traffic jam on the narrow road due to cars of people coming to see the autumn leaves at Sanzenin. The temple itself was spacious and had a nice view. We had lunch here, and although it was a bit pricey as it is a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) with meals, the food was delicious and well-prepared. The cooked rice and pickles were subtly tasty. The matsutake mushroom steamed in a pot had plenty of pike conger eel and a good broth. It was a satisfying meal overall.

It's a very nice place near Sanzenin Temple. The bento boxes look delicious but you need to reserve in advance. I went there without a reservation and could only choose from curry udon or one other option. Personally, the curry udon was decent but the tempura was a bit disappointing... maybe it was fried too long? It lacked crispiness and was hard to finish. Also, instead of dipping the tempura in tempura sauce or salt, they suggested dipping it in the same curry broth as the udon, which I found interesting but didn't really suit the tempura in my opinion. The location and atmosphere are great, but charging around 1700 yen for this experience is a bit much, hence the 3 stars. However, Kyoto never disappoints when it comes to pickles, which were delicious. And the shiso jelly was unique to Ohara and had a refreshing taste that I really enjoyed.

At the end of February, I went on a 2-night, 3-day business trip to Kyoto, Nara, and northern Kinki region. Upon arriving in Kyoto, we decided to have lunch before heading to Nara. Despite the tight schedule, I expressed my desire to eat something typical of Kyoto, so a staff member from our Osaka office recommended a restaurant called "Serio." Reluctantly, I agreed to go with him to Daigo, even though I felt it was out of the way. The restaurant was known for being empty during the winter weekdays, and indeed, there were no foreign tourists. I felt a mix of emotions, as I had visited "Serio" twice before with my ex-girlfriend. Despite wanting to try something different, the only option available that day was "Yudofu." Eventually, I ordered the usual "Sanzensou Bento" from the three-tiered lacquer box. The presentation was exquisite, and the dishes, featuring Kyoto vegetables, were delicious. However, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this bento was meant to be shared with a woman. After the meal, I skipped visiting the nearby "Sanzenin" temple and headed to Nara with a sense of unease. On a side note, the day before, there was news about the government considering closing schools nationwide due to the coronavirus outbreak. I had already planned for our Osaka office to shift to remote work, similar to our Tokyo office, to prioritize employee safety. That night, I shared this plan with my colleague, who initially opposed it but eventually helped coordinate the transition. By the time the Prime Minister officially announced the school closure request two days later, all preparations and work schedules had been arranged. It was impressive to see how my colleague took charge and efficiently managed the situation.

Whenever I come to Ohara, it's a must to have lunch at this restaurant. The elegant and relaxed atmosphere makes it one of my favorite places. I always order the adorable Sansou Bento with Yudofu for ¥3800. The taste is refined with a delicate Kyoto-style broth, and the Yudofu is incredibly delicious. This is my favorite restaurant that I visit at least once a year.

From Sanzenin in Kyoto to Hozenin, a popular inn and traditional Japanese restaurant. The spacious interior is very comfortable. For lunch, they offer Yudofu Gozen, Sanzen Kusa Bento, and Yudofu Gozen. I chose the safe option of Yudofu Gozen. The Yudofu had a smooth texture and decent flavor. The Yudofu Manju and mushroom mixed rice were delicious. Overall, the food was decent and safe.

Located in front of Sanzen-in Temple, Seriou-san is a ryokan specializing in cuisine. We had lunch there and it was quite busy with customers. Luckily, we were seated at a table with a view of the garden. My wife and daughter ordered the "Sanzen Kusa Bento" while I had the "Yudofu Zen" set. The "Sanzen Kusa Bento" was beautifully presented in a three-tiered box, showcasing Kyoto-style dishes. The "Yudofu Zen" included a main dish of hot tofu, simmered mushroom rice, and other side dishes. The deep-fried yuba with sauce was particularly delicious. We will definitely visit again.

I had lunch at Seriou in front of Ohara Sanzenin. I ordered the cheapest dish, the Yudofu set for 2,200 yen without hesitation. Honestly, everything was not bad, but there were no surprises, just average dishes. We were surprised when a big pot of Yudofu was served for each table of four. I thought it would be served in individual small pots. Oh, there was a surprise. We counted as we ate, and each person had 8 small tofu blocks measuring 2cm x 2cm x 4cm, totaling 32 blocks in the pot. In the end, we laughed about it, so it was actually quite fun. The restaurant also offers accommodation and has a decent level of hospitality. Overall, it was a good restaurant.

A restaurant inn right next to the Sangan-in approach. The atmosphere was excellent, and the staff were nice and calm. A cute bento box was brought out. It was exciting to see. The food inside was not bad, but it was cold and a bit disappointing.

I visited Sanzenin Temple and had lunch here. I had checked this place out on Tabelog beforehand. The restaurant had indoor table seating, shoeless seating, and a terrace where you could take off your shoes. I chose to sit on the terrace and enjoy the view while eating. I could see mountains in the distance, and the area around Sanzenin Temple was full of nature. Since I was wearing a sleeveless top and felt a bit chilly, I ordered warm yudofu. They brought a stove to my table to keep the tofu hot until the end. The meal included dishes made with yuba, which made me feel like I was enjoying traditional Kyoto cuisine. It was nice to be able to try a variety of dishes little by little. I was traveling alone, but the restaurant was easy to dine in alone.

I stayed at a Michelin-starred inn while visiting Ohara for sightseeing. I chose a room with a view of the garden. It was nice to see the chubby koi fish from the garden! I also enjoyed soaking in the hot spring. In the evening, I had a kaiseki dinner, and although I thought the portion might be small, it turned out to be quite... (bitter smile) The presentation was beautiful, and even though there were ingredients I wasn't familiar with, they were cooked deliciously, and I was very satisfied! The timing of each dish was good, and the staff were friendly and approachable, maybe a bit too friendly (laughs). Next time, I would like to try the Sanzenso bento lunch. The photos are from the latter half of the evening kaiseki dinner and the breakfast the next morning.

I had lunch at a ryokan restaurant that has been awarded one Michelin star, located right across from Sanzenin in Ohara. Despite it being a Sunday, Ohara was surprisingly empty. I was the only customer at the restaurant. The menu had about four options, and I chose the Yuba Kaiseki because I wanted to try Kyoto's yuba. The yuba mochi was delicious and chewy. There was yuba in the simmered turnip and shrimp dish, as well as in the simmered white fish. The sweet white fish with daikon and dashi roll was tasty. The tender octopus dish was delicious. The yuba was, of course, delicious. The seared sesame tofu with yuzu sauce was flavorful and had a texture similar to seared Shirako. The fresh yuba was the best. The mushroom rice, miso soup, and pickles completed the meal. It was fun trying different yuba dishes.

The autumn leaves at Sanzenin Temple are beautiful♡ The landscape is so perfect that it almost looks like each fallen leaf was arranged with tweezers. After taking a leisurely walk and feeling a bit cold, it's time to warm up with some food. Although the restaurant seems to have a lot of seats, having a Michelin one-star rating means you can expect good quality. I was worried about getting a table since I didn't make a reservation, but I was seated in about 10 minutes. It seems like they only accept reservations for groups of 10 or more. The tatami rooms without sunken kotatsu tables can be a bit chilly, but the tables are large and spaced out well. There are foreigners sitting next to me and even on the terrace, despite the cold weather. Why do white people like sitting outside? I ordered the Yudofu set meal (2200 yen). It's perfect for warming up! The warm Yuba dumpling is served first, with a delicious broth and fragrant kudzu. The simmered beans, rolled omelette, udo flowers, namako soup, rolled kelp, yuba, and pickles are all meticulously prepared. The Yudofu hot pot is generously filled, and even after eating, there's still more left. Thanks to this meal, my stomach is warm and cozy. I'm glad I chose this. It seems like they also have accommodation facilities here. The morning in Ohara must be nice too~♡