It was Labor Thanksgiving Day, so it was quite empty and a hidden gem. The view is also nice, and you can relax, so I recommend it. You can grill your own dumplings on a shichirin, which is delicious and looks great in photos, so it might be fun for girls. I tend to relax and take my time here.

Enjoying the wonderful scenery of Maruyama Park in Kyoto while grilling your own delicious rice cakes. The "Hokuhoku" rice cake set for 1400 yen (excluding tax) includes rice cakes grilled on a charcoal brazier until they have a nice brown color, then you can dip them in sweet soy sauce or red bean paste. It was truly delicious and comforting to grill the rice cakes on the brazier and enjoy eating them.

During the cherry blossom viewing season, I visited Kodai-ji Temple and Maruyama Park, so I made a detour to eXcafe which I couldn't go to in Arashiyama. It was quite crowded due to the cherry blossom season, and I had to wait for about 30-40 minutes. The waiting area is a terrace with benches where a considerable number of people can sit, which was convenient. I read in reviews that if you sit by the window, you can see the cherry blossoms in Maruyama Park, but unfortunately, I was not seated by the window. From the seats by the aisle, I couldn't see any cherry blossoms through the window, so be aware of this. Perhaps because there were always people waiting, the service inside the cafe was quite mechanical, and when I wanted to change seats, I felt a bit hesitant to ask. As for the food, I ordered grilled rice cakes and matcha set cooked on a charcoal grill, and warabi mochi with hot coffee separately. Honestly, they look good in photos but the taste didn't quite suit my palate. It seemed more like a cafe focused on being Instagrammable rather than having a strong emphasis on taste. However, the coffee was delicious, so it seems they pay attention to the quality of their coffee beans. I would consider going back just for the coffee.

I also often saw this shop on Instagram. I was recommended by the rickshaw driver to this shop in Maruyama Park, which was relatively empty. I was able to enjoy the cherry blossoms in bloom by the window! The dango (sweet rice dumplings) were really delicious when freshly baked, chewy and fun to eat with miso sauce and sweet bean paste. The soy milk matcha latte was also delicious, it was a great time.

I visited a shop I wanted to go to while sightseeing in Kyoto. I went around lunchtime on a weekday and was able to enter without waiting in line. I ordered the "Hokuhoku Odango Set". It came with 3 plain and 3 matcha-flavored rice cakes. You can grill them yourself and eat them at your own pace. It was fun to grill them. I ate them with sweet red bean paste and savory soy sauce-based glaze. Both were delicious. The slightly bitter matcha tea went well with the rice cakes! Six rice cakes were just the right amount. Thank you for the meal ⭐︎

I visited during a weekday around 4 o'clock. I stopped by after visiting Hara Ryoukaku and Tatsumi Daimyojin. The shop mainly has a counter and can accommodate about 6 people, so you may have to wait depending on the time. There are various menu items, but most customers were ordering desserts that are cooked using this shichirin grill. There were no male customers... The staff at the shop were straightforward in their customer service. The grilled dumplings and mochi cooked on the shichirin were delicious, and I was able to spend a relaxing time. The matcha was a bit weak in foam. I enjoyed some sweet treats and felt both my mind and body being healed. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal! 🌸

Last November, my husband and I visited Kyoto and took a walk from Kiyomizu-dera to Yasaka Shrine through Sannen-zaka. We were looking for a place to rest and came across this cafe. Located behind Yasaka Shrine, in Maruyama Park, this cafe offers a terrace with a great view of the pond. We enjoyed a beer on the terrace. I recommend relaxing here on the terrace facing the pond. Next time I visit, I would like to try their coffee or sweets. The total cost for two Ebisu beers was 1320 yen. The photos included are of Kiyomizu-dera and its surroundings.

A stylish Japanese cafe next to Maruyama Park. You can order a set of dango and roast them yourself on a shichirin, accompanied by matcha. It's a Kyoto-style experience to enjoy roasting the dango while overlooking the pond in Maruyama Park. The set comes with 6 dango, which is quite filling. They come with anko and mitarashi sauce for dipping. Many customers are dressed in kimonos, adding to the traditional Japanese atmosphere of the cafe!

I checked the guidebook and visited the Yasaka store. There seem to be several branches. The atmosphere of the staff at the Yasaka store was very nice and welcoming. The rice cakes are eaten while grilling, but there are individual differences in the amount of charcoal, so some people may find it easier to cook than others. It's best to pay attention to the heat level while enjoying them.

During my trip to Kyoto in April 2022, I wanted to take a break a little earlier than lunchtime. I wasn't in the mood for a heavy lunch, but I wanted a small treat. I was craving something sweet, while my mother wanted a beer to enjoy. The famous weeping cherry blossoms in Maruyama Park had already turned into green leaves, but the double-flowered cherry blossoms in the park were still in full bloom. There is a cafe on the outskirts of the park, which I vaguely remember as a traditional coffee shop from before. However, this time I decided to try excafe for the first time, as I have visited their Arashiyama branch before. It was a Saturday, so I was prepared to go elsewhere if it was crowded, but we were seated promptly by the window with a nice view of the greenery in Maruyama Park. My mother ordered a beer, while I opted for the Tenryuji Temple Parfait with matcha set. The parfait was filled with matcha ice cream, roasted green tea ice cream, bracken-starch dumplings, and shiratama rice balls, providing a variety of flavors in a Japanese-style parfait. The matcha ice cream could have been richer for my taste, but overall, it satisfied my craving for a matcha parfait. The cafe had a fragrant smell of roasted goods, indicating that many customers opt for the dango set. I also recommend trying the "Kyoto Black Roll" that I had at their Arashiyama branch before, as it was delicious. The cafe is a good place for a break with decent food, although I wouldn't wait in line to visit. If the timing is right, I would consider coming back again. [Bill] Tenryuji Set @1540, Kura no Kahori @880, Total @2420 (incl. tax)

I stopped by a cafe at the entrance of Maruyama Park for a little break. I sat at a window seat where I could overlook Maruyama Park and after a while, my order arrived. There were many customers inside the cafe making dumplings. The aroma of the freshly baked dumplings filled the air. I enjoyed the smell of the dumplings being cooked while sipping on matcha tea.

Located within the grounds of Maruyama Park, right next to Yasaka Shrine, eXcafe Gion Yasaka opened its doors on August 1, 2021. From inside the cafe, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Maruyama Park and its pond garden. It's a luxurious experience to have tea time while taking in this scenery! Whether it's the cherry blossoms in spring, the lush greenery in early summer, or the autumn leaves, every season is beautiful. The staff are also wonderful, making it a great place to spend time. On this day, I tried the Matcha Latte HOT for 650 yen (tax included). It was sweet and comforting on a cold day. I will definitely visit again.

On the second day of sightseeing in Kyoto, we visited the popular Yasaka Shrine and Kodai-ji Temple before taking a break at this shop on our way back to the hotel. It's a new and clean shop, which is apparently very popular in Arashiyama. Most people seem to order the mochi set where you grill the mochi yourself, but since we had already eaten a lot at the hotel buffet in the morning, we opted for the other popular item - the black roll cake and matcha set. The black sponge cake is said to contain bamboo charcoal, but it tasted like a delicious regular roll cake. The cream inside was light and easy to eat. I wish the matcha was hotter though, as it was lukewarm. My husband just ordered a white ball matcha latte, which came in a matcha container but had red bean paste and white balls hidden inside, giving it a zen-zai flavor. It was quite memorable and overall, it's a nice cafe with a great view to relax in.

On the way back from Kiyomizu-dera, we stopped by here. Arashiyama Honten was crowded, but this place was quite empty. We ordered the Harimaen matcha & kuromaru set. While the taste was average, considering the location near Maruyama Park, we were satisfied even with the higher price. Thank you for the meal.

Share a parfait set and a dango set. The parfait included matcha ice cream, hojicha ice cream, whipped cream, sweet red bean paste, shiratama (mochi balls), warabi mochi, and a type of Niki's fresh hachitai (eight-layered) senbei. It was more like a dish of ice cream with toppings rather than a traditional parfait, which was perfect for me as I'm not a big fan of parfaits. The standout was the matcha ice cream, which had a rich and luxurious taste, likely made with a generous amount of matcha. As it suddenly got cold, having the dango was a great addition. The dango were self-grilled and served with sweet red bean paste and mitarashi sauce for dipping. The yomogi (mugwort) dango had a strong and delicious yomogi flavor. This was a truly elegant experience, especially while enjoying the view of Maruyama Park. The restaurant was empty, but with its great location, it will surely become popular again once tourists return.

In Arashiyama, there is a popular hidden cafe called "eXcafe" with a new branch called "eXcafe Gion Yasaka" that opened on August 1, 2021, in Maruyama Park. As of September 6, 2021, the cafe is temporarily closed due to the prevention of COVID-19 spread. The new branch is located near Yasaka Shrine, opposite Chorakukan, surrounded by greenery, creating a serene atmosphere at the foot of Higashiyama in Kyoto. The cafe is situated within Maruyama Park, a nationally designated scenic spot, offering a fantastic borrowed landscape view. We enjoyed a relaxing time on the second floor of the traditional Kyoto townhouse with a spacious seating area for 72 people. The menu includes items such as chewy rice cake set with sweet red bean soup, parfaits, and Kyoto black roll. We tried the summer limited shaved ice, which was surprisingly large and topped with white rice cakes, sweet red bean paste, matcha warabi mochi, and ice cream, making it a delightful treat. Although the ice itself was not very fluffy, adding condensed milk made it taste like delicious ice cream. The coffee was also excellent. We also ordered the Tenryu-ji Temple Parfait set, which came with a drink, featuring organic matcha and roasted green tea ice cream in a generous portion, along with plenty of warabi mochi and a generous amount of sweet red bean paste. The dessert was delicious, and the beautiful garden surroundings provided a perfect place to relax and enjoy these amazing sweets at a reasonable price. It's truly a hidden gem that can soothe your tired body in between sightseeing activities.

I wonder if the shop that serves freshly baked rice cakes in Kyoto only has counter seats. The clean and tidy interior made me feel the Japanese atmosphere of Kyoto. I ordered what I wanted and after waiting for a while, a small charcoal grill and rice cakes arrived. I was told that I could grill the rice cakes to my liking and enjoy them. It was a day when I could finish eating freshly baked rice cakes by myself. It tasted a bit delicious. The green tea that came with it was also delicious. I enjoyed it thoroughly until the end.

It was located in a quiet place away from the crowds, so I was able to relax. Everything looked delicious, but I chose the anmitsu. The rich matcha flavor paired well with the moderate bitterness of the black honey. There are table seats, but there are also sofa seats, making it easy for families with children to enter.

Eating freshly baked hot and chewy rice cakes with both sweet soy sauce and sweet bean paste, along with matcha tea, gives you a feeling of being in Kyoto and leaves you feeling very satisfied.

Our self-grilled dumplings on a charcoal grill are very popular. You can enjoy two flavors, mitarashi and anko. It's perfect for Instagram. In the summer, cold matcha tea is the best. When it's sunny, you can enjoy the view of the garden.