I will secretly share a hidden trick I heard from my coworker at work (lol). I was able to buy Doamochi from Demachi Futaba without waiting in line at Kyoto Station! I knew that you could buy them at JR Kyoto Isetan or Daimaru Kyoto store if you line up at a specific time in the afternoon, but I found out about this new method and decided to investigate. It just so happened that I hit the jackpot! The sales started at 11 am, right before my Shinkansen to Tokyo, so I was able to easily buy some as souvenirs for my daughter (and for myself, of course, lol). The availability seems to be limited to certain dates and times, so I wanted to share this information without causing any inconvenience to others, hence why I am posting this after the fact. I'm sorry for the delay. Nevertheless, the Doamochi was delicious and I am very satisfied! I would like to give my praise not only to the Doamochi but also to the store. The staff's thoughtfulness in noticing that I had been waiting before the sales started and getting me ready promptly was much appreciated! I will definitely be buying souvenirs from this store again.

Just outside the west exit of JR Kyoto Station (second floor), I decided to check out "Kyomeika - Kyoto Famous Sweets and Dishes" as I had some time before my train. I stumbled upon my favorite, "Honke Nishio Yatsuhashi." I love Nishio Yatsuhashi because they offer various types at a reasonable price. I always buy three types. Each type costs 250 yen for a pack of 5. So, what should I buy? Since it's autumn, I first chose chestnut flavor. Next, I went for the traditional black sesame. Lastly, I picked the chocolate banana with a Western twist. A good balance, right? I'll enjoy them with tea at home. They all taste delicious, but my favorite is the black sesame. I think the traditional Japanese flavor goes best with Yatsuhashi. Bon appétit. Autumn 2019.

I thought I could only get the warabi mochi from Osamu, which is not available at the department store, but it's convenient to have it here. I have purchased it several times. Since tonight's dinner is at a restaurant near the station, I also bought some items for parking ticket. Purchased items: Yamaie Yaki @432 x2 - Soy sauce flavored rice crackers. Ebi Salad @432 - For my friends. Husband's snack - Refreshing and easily consumable. Mame Shibori @594 - Cute small box of slightly wrinkled black bean sweetened beans. For friends: Osamu's warabi mochi @367 x5 - Convenient in a can. For friends and home use. Our regular souvenir - Excellent for storage. *The freshly made warabi mochi we have in Kyoto's Japanese cafe is different in softness and taste, but I think this product allows you to enjoy the simple taste of warabi mochi itself. Total: 4319 yen. You can easily gather various items in small quantities, making it convenient to avoid forgetting to buy something.

It is convenient when you want to add or remember something for souvenirs.

Due to it being a gift, I used it for special occasions. It's common etiquette for a food blogger. After all, I didn't go there on my own. Yatsuhashi is a type of senbei shaped like a koto (Japanese harp). It's made by baking a mixture of steamed rice flour, sugar, and cinnamon powder. There's also raw yatsuhashi where the dough is folded in half and filled with sweet red bean paste. It's a specialty of Kyoto. I didn't know there was senbei too! I've been to Kyoto many times but didn't know. Kyoto not only excels in traditional Japanese sweets but also in Western sweets and bread, reaching a national level. Personally, I rank Kyoto as the second best prefecture in terms of food, following Fukuoka. Third place goes to Hokkaido. I won't mention the lowest ranking prefecture (laughs). The shop seems to be near the JR Kyoto Station ticket gate. But I haven't been there. So, it's not a usual visit. Anyway, I tried it at home. I had one with matcha sugar. I ate it over two days, so on the first day, I had it as is. The soft dough with a hint of sweetness from the red bean paste is a great harmony. It's not too sweet, so even those who don't like sweet things should try it at least once. On the second day, I sprinkled matcha sugar on it. Oh, the rich matcha flavor adds an extra touch. Philosophers have Sartre. I haven't studied philosophy much (laughs). This goes well not only with tea but also with black tea or even coffee, like Ariana Grande. It's Ariana Grande, right? Anyway, when I visit Kyoto next time, I'll make sure to enjoy not only Kyoto kaiseki cuisine but also traditional Japanese sweets. After all, as a Kyoto reviewer, I need to visit both. Thanks for the great gift.