I visited in June 2020. The place is located in the basement of Kyoto Isetan department store. They have a pickles section where you can find a variety of pickles. They used to offer samples for tasting, but due to COVID, there are no samples now. I tried the Mizunasu pickles at home, and they were delicious with a crunchy texture. This is also a seasonal item. Highly recommend trying it.

In September 2019, I saw a Fuji Co. commercial where Yasue Yamaguchi said, "I want to eat Shibazuke," and I learned the word "Shibazuke." Due to various reasons, I purchased the following products at the Isetan in Kyoto Station's basement pickle section: Shibazuke (finely chopped) for 691 yen. It was served for dinner one day and since it is finely chopped, it is easy to eat. It would definitely be a great accompaniment for ochazuke. Mixing it with natto adds a nice texture accent, similar to "shoboro natto." With this, you wouldn't need any other side dishes. Thank you for the meal.

Traveling to Kyoto for 1 night and 2 days, with a tight schedule for both sightseeing and training. The trip is part of the Kyoto Brand certification, so I picked up some popular Kyoto souvenirs. - "Nama Shiba-zuke" - One of Kyoto's top three pickles, with a traditional taste of perilla leaves and a strong aroma. - "Yuzu Scented Daikon" - Refreshing yuzu flavor with a crisp texture, perfect for pairing with drinks.

< Souvenir Series 5 > Returning from Nagoya to Kyoto Station and before boarding the bus to Itami Airport, I looked for souvenirs. There are so many charming souvenirs to choose from in Kyoto. - "Nama Shiba-zuke" (pickled eggplant) for 594 yen: The famous "Doi no Shiba-zuke" selected in Kyoto is a specialty. I remember the purple shiso fields at Ohara Village I visited before. This pickled eggplant is made with Ohara's specialty finely shredded red shiso and salt. I bought some for myself and for my friends. It is a traditional dish made by fermenting eggplants with red shiso and salt in a wooden barrel with a heavy stone on top. The naturally fermented lactic acid gives it a real color and flavor.

A perfect way to end a day trip of eating around Kyoto is to buy some pickles that can last for a while from a department store. When in Kyoto, it's fun to try pickles here and there. I found pickles that are perfect for sharing and can be stored at room temperature. Plus, there are 7 pickles in a pack for exactly 1000 yen including tax! It's like a lucky bag, so you can't choose what's inside.

When it comes to Kyoto, pickles are a must, and my favorite among Kyoto pickles is the Shibazuke from Doi Shibazuke Honpo. It goes so well with rice that I can eat multiple bowls of rice with it. The balance of sourness and saltiness is exquisite. This pickle is the epitome of the phrase "good seasoning"! This time, I bought the chopped Shibazuke and the ginger-flavored side dish Kyoto pickles (Suguki) from this shop. You can choose while tasting, so it's nice to be able to pick your favorite. I found the ginger-flavored side dish Kyoto pickles (Suguki) through the tasting. It's not as simple as Shibazuke, but it's been arranged with ginger to make it more of a side dish. It's really delicious! I ended up devouring rice alternating between Shibazuke and Suguki. Thank you for the meal!

I visited the store in Isetan in the evening on December 12, 2016. It is located in the Kiyomizu-zaka area. I tried the pickled burdock and it was delicious, so I decided to buy some pickled burdock and seasonal Senmaizuke on my way back. The burdock has a gentle and delicious flavor. Among the various Senmaizuke I have tried, this store's was the most refreshing and tasty. Everyone has different preferences, so I think it's good to find pickles that suit you. Since it is directly connected to Kyoto Station, I recommend this store.

When I visited Sanzen-in, I tried the Shiba-zuke here as a sample and I just had to have it with rice at home, so I begged my husband to buy it. It's just pickled cucumbers, but why is it so delicious!! It made me appreciate vegetables and salt even more. This time, I bought the Shiso Cucumber (432 yen) at Doi-chan. They have various types of Shiba-zuke like fresh shiba or chopped shiba, each with a different taste. There are also samples available, so you can find your favorite flavor. With white rice and miso soup, having Doi-chan's Shiba-zuke on the table is more than enough!

When it comes to Kyoto, you have to try some pickles, right? That's why I visited "Doi Shibazuke Honpo" at JR Kyoto Isetan. The pickles here have a perfect balance of acidity, red shiso flavor, and just the right amount of saltiness. I love their shibazuke pickles so much that I always end up finishing a bag in no time. The bite-sized cucumbers have a pleasant crunch, and the pickles leave a delicious aftertaste. Another favorite of mine is the "Ginger-flavored side dish Kyoto pickles - Nukadzuke Daikon." Although the quantity is small, the strong flavor of the nukadzuke is so impactful that even a small amount makes you want to eat more and more rice.

When it comes to pickles in Kyoto, Senmaizuke, Shibazuke, and Suguki are known as the three major pickles. "Doi Shibazuke Honpo" was established in 1901, and their "Shibazuke" pickle, made with finely chopped red perilla leaves, eggplant, and salt, is a popular pickle. On a return trip from Kyoto to Tokyo, I stopped by "Doi Shibazuke Honpo JR Kyoto Isetan Store" and bought Kyoto pickles as souvenirs. [Doi Shibazuke Honpo Pickles] *Comments are written on the photos. ◆Kyoto pickles ☆Doi's Shibazuke ☆Senmaizuke ☆Hannari pickled daikon radish ☆Red Senmaizuke ☆Suguki chopped ☆Taste of mibu greens ☆Sato gobou ◉Pickles have been used as preserved foods in Japan since ancient times. In Kyoto, blessed with abundant groundwater, various vegetables are grown, and pickle culture has flourished. Senmaizuke is a pickle made by salting thinly sliced Seigoin turnips, a winter tradition. Additionally, Shibazuke made with finely chopped red perilla leaves from their own farm in Ohara is not only vibrant in color but also has an exceptional taste.

(2022/10/09: Visit) This is a long-established pickle shop that has been in business for over 100 years since 1891, with its main store located in Ohara, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. This time, I visited this shop located on the basement floor of "JR Kyoto Isetan". Isetan has gathered selected pickle shops from all over Kyoto on the basement floor, so you can find all kinds of pickles from Kyoto without having to visit each shop individually. It's truly convenient! In addition to their famous "shibazuke" pickles, they also had "senmaizuke" and others, but I decided to pass on daikon pickles due to a traumatic experience with the smell of daikon pickles on a train last year. Instead, I purchased their "Shiso pickled cucumbers" and the limited edition "Mild Shiso pickled cucumbers". As expected from a shop with such a reputation, they were delicious without a doubt!

I purchased these items at JR Kyoto Isetan when I visited Kyoto. I happened to hear about them from a salesperson at the store and decided to buy them. You can also purchase them at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi in Tokyo. I bought the basic barrel-aged Shibazuke, which is a mixture of eggplant and cucumber without any added flavors. It has a good crunch and a strong flavor of perilla leaves. It goes well with rice and makes for a great side dish with sake. I also bought the ginger-flavored Kyoto pickles, which are chopped Shibazuke. They are versatile and go well with tofu and other ingredients. I personally prefer the barrel-aged Shibazuke for its texture, but the ginger-flavored pickles are also delicious. Eating pickles with rice is always a delightful experience.