A small shop located near the Philosophers' Path, not far from Ginkaku-ji Temple. It has a simple yet tasteful atmosphere. I stopped by for a short while before dinner. Many shops around here close early, so it's hard to find a place to relax in the late afternoon. The menu, other than coffee, has a Kyoto cafe-like vibe.

Swim Pond Cafe for the second time. Today, I was tempted by the cheesecake but I resisted and just had coffee milk. It was delicious with plenty of milk and coffee in two layers. It was a hot day and the drink was very refreshing. The cafe has a quiet atmosphere with only a counter inside. I like to come here when I want to relax by myself. The light coming in from the door brightens up the white-themed interior during the day, creating a lovely space.

The café serves café au lait and hot dogs. The hot dog sausages are made from meat from a well-known butcher. The bread is fluffy but has a strong flavor. The ingredients show attention to detail. The hot dogs are spicy with plenty of pepper. The café au lait uses a dark roast blend. They offer a variety of coffee types and also sell coffee beans. It's a relaxed café where you can see most of the preparation process. The atmosphere is calm and time seems to pass slowly. There are only counter seats available. This time, there were three solo customers, each enjoying their time. The cheesecake and toast also looked delicious.

I had heard about this shop and wanted to visit, so I made the effort to go a little out of my way to get there. The nearest station is Keage Station, but it's recommended to take a bus because it's a bit of a walk, about 30 minutes. I visited on a Saturday right after they opened. There was one group of regular customers, who seemed to be regulars, already there. The shop is small with only counter seats. I chose a seat, placed my order, and paid at the counter at the end. They only accept cash. I ordered the cheesecake (¥500) and an iced cafe au lait (¥550). The cheesecake looked perfect in shape and color, and the taste was rich with a strong cheese flavor. They open at 8 am, making it a great cafe for morning activities. The couple running the shop were kind and attentive. I would definitely like to visit this shop again.

Swimpond, a first-time visitor to the cafe. The interior, predominantly white, is very lovely with sunlight streaming in. The cafe is run by a couple and has only counter seats. They ordered cheesecake and iced coffee. The cheesecake was moist, smooth, and rich, paired perfectly with the deep-roasted iced coffee. As a cheesecake lover, I was thrilled with the cheesecake! The cafe has about five seats, so it's a place where you can quietly enjoy your time, and the owner seems reserved and wants to maintain a calm atmosphere. I liked the wooden counter and stainless steel accents. Thank you for the meal.

During my stay in Kyoto, I visited this cafe for breakfast. It's located in the Jodoji area and just opened in November 2019. The interior is simple and bright, with only six counter seats. The owners, a couple, run the place. I was planning on just having coffee, but my gut feeling told me to try the breakfast set for 650 yen, and it was the right choice. I chose the Ethiopian White Nile (medium roast) coffee, which had a fruity and elegant aroma. The toast was surprisingly delicious, made with "Alchisunal" bread, and served with a boiled egg. Another customer praised the breakfast, and we ended up having a lively conversation. The owners used to run a trout farm and farm in Gifu, then moved to Kyoto to open this cafe as their retirement plan. The cafe's name, "Swim Pond," is inspired by the trout pond. Their son runs a coffee shop called "Mie Pump" in Tottori and taught them everything about coffee. The friendly atmosphere and delicious breakfast made my day. I would love to visit again.

Mie Pump Coffee has now relocated to Tottori. They have opened a café opposite their previous roasting facility. The café has a simple, unassuming interior with no prominent signs, but it exudes a good vibe. They offer only paper drip coffee, a few types of juice, toast, and sweets. I tried the single origin Colombian coffee, which was rich and flavorful with a unique taste that was both substantial and refreshing. The cheesecake I had was firm with a strong cheese flavor that paired well with the coffee. They also sell coffee beans, and the café is run by the Mie Pump family. I recommend it to coffee lovers.

Stylish interior, delicious cheesecake.

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