Sunday evening visit. Note that there may be occasional changes to the regular holiday and the entrance is a bit hard to find. It's a standing counter with a friendly master and regular customers. They seem to sell sweets from a famous nearby Japanese confectionery shop. I paid 1500 yen for coffee and Japanese sweets. The cat-shaped monaka is cute.

Google has a high reputation, but it is also expensive. The sweets are either nerikiri or black sugar mochi, and the drinks are either latte or sake, both priced at 1000 yen each. Therefore, the minimum cost is 2000 yen. As expected in Kyoto, it may seem expensive to those from the countryside.

■ Shop Description On Sundays, a traditional shop called "Shougetsu" and "Jukou" offer freshly made Japanese sweets by reservation only, while the owner himself bakes natural buckwheat taiyaki. When you visit, you can enjoy pairing the available Japanese sweets with locally sourced sake or coffee curated by the owner, or have matcha prepared by the matcha specialist. This cafe with a single counter made of a solid wood plank has no menu. You can chat with the owner while enjoying drinks and food that he serves. Therefore, make sure to have enough time on hand. You can also bring your own sweets for free, and they will provide you with a plate and help you arrange them. ■ Order Details During my visit, the Japanese sweets available were plum-shaped fresh sweets and bracken rice cakes. The drinks included matcha, coffee, and sake. I was intrigued by the matcha specialist, so I ordered bracken rice cakes and matcha, and later I ordered a strong tea. ◆ Impressions The matcha specialist explained four types of matcha, and I chose the strongest one as it seemed to pair well with the bracken rice cakes. The matcha specialist also recommended the strongest matcha with the bracken rice cakes, so I followed their suggestion. The bracken rice cakes had an elegant appearance with a gentle sweetness, which paired well with the bitter matcha. It was my first time trying strong tea, and it was delicious... I didn't know the proper etiquette for drinking it (the three-and-a-half sips rule)... I hope it's okay since it's not a formal tea ceremony.

I would like to take a break and have a coffee in the northern part of Kyoto while doing the stamp rally of the sixteen shrines. I casually stopped by KissaCo, a stylish coffee shop with a counter-style seating. The atmosphere was calm and the master was friendly and knowledgeable, making the experience enjoyable. Surprisingly, there were many illustrations by CLAMP, and they even had collaborations. It's such a wonderful space that makes you want to stop by again.

It was a fun place and the alcohol was delicious. The payment method was advanced and good. I drank Koyaraku Ulong Tea (Gabaron Tea?) Kapakapa and I was already gone. It's like Touhou Bijin Tea, like Kinzen Tea. The alcohol was Chimera and Twin Spica. Chimera, which uses multiple yeasts, has a complex and bizarre taste. When you put it in your mouth, it tastes like sweet fruits, then warms up and becomes a strong sake flavor, but the aftertaste leaves a floral and light scent in your mouth. Twin Spica is no good. It's a drink that ruins people.

Nestled in a quiet corner of the temple town near Daitoku-ji Temple, a quaint café and sake bar called "Kitsune-an" connects Kitaoji Street and Kitayama Street in Kyoto. The theme here is the fusion of traditional Japanese sweets, lattes, and sake, with the friendly male owner providing attentive service in a serene atmosphere. The café features a unique dragon-shaped standing counter, with avant-garde artwork on the walls blending harmoniously with the Japanese ambiance. With limited seating, including benches for children, it's recommended to visit with ample time as the owner operates the café alone. During my visit in mid-April 2019, I enjoyed a beautifully crafted Café Latte (700 yen) paired with a delicate Wagashi from Juho (600 yen) featuring cherry blossom petals. The latte, made with milk from Yamada Farm in Kyoto, was delicious, using decaffeinated coffee beans from Circus Coffee nearby. The modern art pieces displayed in the café were created by the artist Maruno Nishimura, adding to the unique charm of Kitsune-an. I also purchased the artist's collection "kitsch." Despite the short visit, it was a memorable experience at Kitsune-an, offering a distinctive atmosphere different from typical cafes. Located near attractions like Daitoku-ji Temple and Imamiya Shrine, Kitsune-an is a must-visit spot to enjoy a special time blending art, culture, and flavors.

The shop seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of place. I found it interesting, but honestly, the cafe latte I had wasn't that delicious, and the tea and strawberry daifuku were just okay. It's a standing-only shop, but I personally liked the vibe!

Located a little off the beaten path in a town near the famous Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto, this establishment stands quietly, connecting Kitaoji Street and Kitayama Street in the "Shin-Omiya Shopping Street." With a theme of pairing traditional Japanese sweets with sake, matcha, and lattes, the interior of the shop is adorned with a Japanese ambiance, featuring only a counter space. The owner personally prepares each drink, so there may be a wait, making it a standing café and sake bar where you should allow some extra time when visiting. Since its opening, I have occasionally stopped by, and on this day, they were operating in two shifts for their anniversary. On a drizzly afternoon, upon arriving at the storefront, I could see through the glass door that the counter was filled with people. It was my first time seeing such a full house. The special set for the anniversary consisted of Jasmine tea paired with Kin no Inari Mochi (1000 yen). The fox-shaped sweets were made of mochi and white miso pumpkin paste by the Kyoto confectionery artist, Chinu Nagawa. The Jasmine flavor paired well with the natural aroma, leaving a lasting impression with the silhouette of the fox. The place was packed that day, so I had limited conversation opportunities with the owner, but I felt compelled to offer a celebratory gift. In return, I was served sake, marking the occasion of the Choyo no Sekku, also known as the Chrysanthemum Festival, which I had visited last year (2017) as well. It was a memorable moment, reminiscing while looking at the scene in the picture. Next to me, a stylish couple entered, revealing that they were travelers from the Kanto region. Intrigued by the place on their way to a Michelin-starred kaiseki restaurant in Kamigamo, they decided to stop by. As mentioned earlier, the owner meticulously prepares each drink, so there might be a wait, unlike typical cafes. I recommend savoring the time and space, including the wait, as a unique way to enjoy the experience.

Located a little way from the "Shin-Omiya Shopping Street" that connects Kitaoji Street and Kitayama Street, this quaint establishment stands hidden in the gate-front town of the famous Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto. The theme here is the combination of traditional Japanese sweets, sake, matcha, and lattes, all meticulously prepared by the sole proprietor, which may take some time, so it's best to visit leisurely with plenty of time to spare. It serves as a standing cafe and sake bar. I visited in the late afternoon of late August 2018 after occasionally returning since September 2017. Inside the shop, there were photo panels that were not there before, adding a unique atmosphere, with the host, a man dressed in traditional Japanese attire, welcoming me warmly. The interior of the shop is enveloped in a Japanese ambiance, with only a counter for seating. Natural light streams in, and as the day progresses, the colors of light and shadow deepen. For first-time customers, there is a detailed explanation of the menu, which includes options like cafe latte, sake, matcha, and Japanese sweets such as "Neko Manju" and new items like matcha latte and "Otome no Anmitsu." After waiting for the previous customer to be served, I ordered a summer junmai sake called "Aosora" with a dessert called "Otome no Anmitsu Autumn Version," a matcha latte with a "Maneki Neko" manju, and a special aged sake called "Heian Kaiko" from Yosanomusume Sake Brewery. The combination of Aosora sake and Otome no Anmitsu, made with "Oyatsu Aoi" sweet bean paste, apricot jam, pear compote, and agar, was delightful. The matcha latte, made with milk from "Yamada Farm" and matcha, was a rich and harmonious blend. The Heian Kaiko sake, a sake brewed with sake, had a slightly unique taste, with a sweet and elegant flavor typical of aged sake. Surrounded by the unique atmosphere of the place, I felt relaxed and at ease, with a friendly and welcoming demeanor from the host even for first-time customers. The conversation with the customer standing next to me added to the pleasant and relaxed atmosphere on this evening in late August 2018. As mentioned at the beginning, the proprietor prepares each drink individually, so there may be some waiting involved, which sets this place apart from typical cafes or coffee shops. I recommend taking the time to enjoy the nuances of the space, including the waiting time. Next time, I plan to visit on the Choyo no Sekku, also known as the Chrysanthemum Festival, which falls on a day when the number nine aligns with the sun, marking a special occasion that I have reserved in advance. With that, I left the shop, looking forward to my next visit.

Hmm, this place has a stylish feel to it, as well as a vibe reminiscent of old Japanese folk tales. It's a mysterious little shop with lots of fox figurines and other ornaments, as well as plenty of traditional Japanese sweets. I tried the café latte and monaka, and they were simply delicious.

In a quaint Japanese house, we enjoyed standing café at "KissaCo" on Kitaoji Street in Kyoto. They serve delicious monaka with white bean paste accented with sansho pepper and a refined sweetness red bean paste. The inviting cat figurine that fills the monaka after ordering was a nice touch. The crispy monaka shell paired with the moist bean paste was delicious.