It was during the Obon holiday. I visited the Saitomikan with excitement after reading about it in a magazine, but it was closed for the holiday. I entered a random open shop, but it was nothing special, so I wandered around Pontocho looking for somewhere else to drink. Just like in life, I don't always follow the straight path, I like the side roads, so I ended up taking a detour and instinctively tried to enter this shop. However, it was full and I couldn't get in. Normally, they would say "We're full, sorry! Please come again another time!" from behind the counter, but the owner came all the way to the entrance, bowed his head, and handed me his business card. He seemed like a tourist, not even sure if he would come to Kyoto (I'm 29 years old ♡). I was deeply moved. Especially in Kyoto, there is a strong image of not welcoming first-time visitors. It must be a great shop. I decided to visit again for sure. And yesterday, about a month later, I revisited the shop. When I opened the door, that owner greeted me with a kind smile. The small shop was full of customers. I'm a lowly person, so I have a habit of peeking at what other customers are ordering. In the entire shop, everyone was enjoying the salt-grilled saury with sudachi on top. It's nice to have seasonal items! The menu is not extensive, but it's sufficient. As you can see in the posted images, it's full of seasonal items. I quickly finished my beer and decided to switch to sake. I ordered sashimi of whelk, gurnard, Kyoto-style fried small taro, black soybeans, grilled conger eel. The whelk was crunchy, the gurnard had a sticky texture with a great sweetness. Unfortunately, there was no sashimi of Pacific saury. The Kyoto-style fried small taro had a Japanese-style dashi aroma in the coating, giving it a light finish. The soybeans showed freshness through their texture. The conger eel was grilled crispy and served with fresh wasabi. It goes well with sake. By the way, the sake selection includes recommendations from Kyoto and all over Japan, with tasting sets available, which is also delightful. Finally, I ordered the specialty, mackerel stick sushi in a half portion. It was incredibly thick, with fragrant wood buds sandwiched between kelp and mackerel, showing meticulous work. It's not a formal restaurant, but a casual one. A place I'd like to become a regular at. By the way, as mentioned in other reviews, I am also curious about the owner's femininity... I will definitely go back.

I went to Shishikura for the first time in 2-3 months at the beginning of December. Normally, by December, the number of tourists coming for autumn leaves decreases, and there are fewer people walking around Pontocho on weekends. However, this year the autumn leaves were falling late, so even on the first weekend of December, Pontocho was crowded with tourists at night. Shishikura is located on 17th Street, and when we visited on this Saturday around 6 pm, we were the first customers. Usually, we would be served small dishes like vegetables as appetizers, but on this day they were cooking oden for reserved customers and shared it with us as an appetizer. About 30 minutes later, other customers who arrived were served the usual small dishes as appetizers, so it seems we were treated specially because we are regular customers. I am grateful for that! When I come to Shishikura, I usually order the same dishes. First, I had a sashimi assortment with about 4 types of weekly seafood, which was very delicious. Next, I had the classic duck roast. After that, I had the Snazuri fried dish shown in the photo. Normally, I would order tempura after this, but since the oden appetizer was filling, I ended with a dashimaki. This was my first time ordering dashimaki at Shishikura, and it was very delicious with a fluffy texture and a dashi flavor typical of Kyoto. Oh, on that day, I noticed they were boiling something in a large pot when I visited, and as shown in the last photo, red-boiled Matsuba crab, which is in season, was ready. It seemed to be prepared for reserved customers. Well, I had no chance to try it. This visit was already in December, so I thought my next visit would be after the New Year. I said my end-of-year greetings and left the restaurant. (Visited in June 2011) Although it may be a bit difficult to find as it is located in the middle of 17th Street in Pontocho area, the owner is friendly and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere. The menu consists mainly of dishes using seafood, with seasonal fish and in summer, you can also enjoy Pacific oysters. Every dish is very delicious. The duck roast is also recommended. The tempura assortment is comparable to a specialty shop, and the rice ball tea porridge at the end is exquisite with grilled rice balls topped with dashi. There are not many types of sake, but they gather recommended sake from all over Japan each month, all of which are worth tasting. With 4 counter seats and 2 table seats in the tatami room, it is a cozy place where you can enjoy conversations with the owner at the counter or savor the food with a small group in the tatami room. 15th Street is a narrow alley, which may be a bit intimidating, but it is a street with many famous restaurants, so please give it a try!

Today I visited Shishikura with a friend. The friendly head chef and female staff members were charming. It's the season for delicious beer. The menu is quite seasonal and diverse. We enjoyed dishes like rock oysters, octopus sashimi, whelk, young sweetfish tempura, grilled stingray fin, rolled omelette, and deep-fried small taro. The food was delicious, and I was surprised by the head chef's wide range of stories. I had so much fun that I lost track of time. It might be nice to try the chef's omakase in addition to the menu. By the time we left, we felt like regulars who had been coming for years. That might be the charm of Shishikura (laughs). Thank you for the feast.

The narrow alley connecting Pontocho and Kiyamachi is filled with numerous famous shops. Kyoto shops may give off an image of being unwelcoming to first-time visitors, but in reality, only a few select shops have a strict "regulars only" policy. However, just entering these alleys may give off an unwelcoming vibe to newcomers. This particular shop is also enveloped in that atmosphere. However, once you step inside... you'll be greeted by an incredibly friendly owner who loves to chat endlessly. The shop itself is small, with a counter seating of 5-6 and two raised tatami seating for 4 each. It may seem a bit messy and have a rustic charm, but that's part of its charm. The food here is really good. From the small appetizers to the main dishes, everything packs a punch of flavor. The menu mainly focuses on fish dishes, but the chicken and other side dishes are also excellent. This place is a hidden gem. They offer a variety of sake, mainly focusing on Japanese sake, and the selection may change according to the season. However, the pricing of the drinks is a bit on the higher side compared to the reasonable food prices. If you enjoy drinking a lot, the bill might add up. The biggest feature of this place is the owner. A slightly feminine-looking owner who loves to chat non-stop. Despite being busy taking orders, cooking, and doing dishes all by himself, he still finds time to chat with everyone, both regulars and newcomers. Some regulars even come here just to chat with the owner. He talks so much that it's hard to place an order without getting caught up in a conversation. The owner talks too much (laughs).

It is a hidden gem of a restaurant located between Pontocho and Kiyamachi. I have been there 4-5 times and all the dishes are delicious! There are no disappointments. They have a variety of dishes like sashimi and tempura. When I crave delicious Japanese food, I always go there. I also like the atmosphere created by the chef. There are counter seats and tatami rooms where you can relax, but the number of seats is limited and it tends to fill up quickly due to its popularity. It's a hidden gem, so I don't really want to tell others about it, but it's a highly recommended restaurant. When you visit Kyoto, be sure to check it out!

In the narrow streets of Pontocho or Kiyamachi, you can find the quiet and unique "Shishikura" restaurant. With a counter seating for six and two tables for four, the cozy interior is where the real highlight is - the master himself! His attentiveness, movements, and something else make this place truly one-of-a-kind. I could sit here for hours, completely absorbed! The service is exceptional, and the food is also excellent. I am completely smitten!

Located a little off the beaten path in Kiyamachi, this shop "Shishikura" is a true hidden gem. The small interior exudes a cozy and unpretentious atmosphere, thanks in large part to the friendly and laid-back master. The food here is also fantastic! I highly recommend their homemade thick-cut mackerel sushi (1 piece for 2800 yen). You can also enjoy individual pieces starting at 350 yen each! Pairing this with some sake is simply divine! This place is irresistible!

It is located in a narrow alley between Kiyamachi and Pontocho, so it's hard to find... I was taken there by an acquaintance. There are a few counter seats and two tatami rooms. It always seems quite busy. The chef is somewhat like an older sister, which gives a calming atmosphere. It serves traditional Kyoto-style cuisine! It's a great place to go when you're hungry or for a drink after visiting another place. It seems like you can eat more delicious dishes by asking the chef for recommendations rather than just looking at the menu. I visited in winter as well, and it seems you can also have a hot pot course if you make a reservation.

Six years ago, when I visited Kyoto, I happened to come across this izakaya in a narrow alley. Since then, whenever I visit Kansai, I always make sure to visit this place. It's a true hidden gem, not the kind of place you would find in guidebooks, tucked away in the back of an alley. The owner is not originally from Kyoto, but in the traditional district of Pontocho, they have managed to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to everyone, while still preserving tradition. It's a mysterious place where you can spend hours without realizing it. The menu changes depending on the season, with the owner sourcing fresh ingredients daily from the market. They offer a variety of drinks including beer, sake, and shochu, with interesting brands to choose from. The prices are quite reasonable for the location, giving it a slightly upscale izakaya vibe. The layout inside consists of a counter and two small raised seating areas, suitable for solo diners or groups of 4-5 people.