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Kyoto Restaurant ”Kyogoku Stand" : Relaxing and nostalgic in the Showa period style

2016.01.10

Kyoto and Nara

There is a full of relaxing and nostalgic Showa atmosphere in a restaurant “Kyogoku Stand” which is located on Shin-Kyogoku Street, Shijo-Kawaramachi in Kyoto.　

The Showa period was from 1926 to 1989 in Japan.

The founder of this restaurant moved from Asakusa, Tokyo to Kyoto after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and opened it in 1927.

In the restaurant, everything is remained the same as the founder opened the restaurant,

such as there are a marble counter, an old fashioned cash register, posters from the early Showa period and so on.

 

You can enjoy the relaxing and nostalgic Showa period atmosphere which may let you feel that you have just time traveled from present-day Japan to good old one.

 

Besides non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, there is a large selection of food

such as Japanese, Western, Chinese and a variety of side dishes as well.

Over 130 kinds of food and 20 kinds of drinks are in their menu. (English menus are available)

Everything is a reasonable price.

For example, a steak combo is 900 yen, a few slices of ham cutlet is 500 yen, and a few pieces of braised pumpkin is 400 yen.

 

As we’d expect of Kyoto, it was fascinating for me to see that there was a couple wearing beautiful kimono and drinking sake.

 

When you visit Kyoto, how about enjoying the nostalgic Showa period atmosphere at “Kyogoku Stand”?

 

T.F

Gion in Kyoto, at a Japanese restaurant “Yuuki”

2015.12.03

Kyoto and Nara

A friend of mine who is originally from Kyoto took me to a Japanese restaurant “Yuuki” in Gion, Kyoto.

 

Gion is as known as “the best and expensive” area for restaurants, bars, and everything. I never imagined that I could have a glass of sake for about 200yen in this area!!

 

This restaurant is under direct management of the sake brewery in Shiga prefecture, “Okamura Honke”.  One of this brewery’s leading products is “Kinkame(gold turtle)".  There are several “Kinkame”s lined up on their menu there.  And by just looking at the menu, it is interesting and enjoyable.  They are Junmai (pure rice sake) ones, all of them are very delicious with rich smell and strong taste. 

 

Moreover, the cook who trained in one of the best restaurants in Japan, “Yuuki Tei”, he and other young cooks served Sashimi (sliced raw fish), Tempura (deep-fried fish and vegetables in a light batter), fried food, meat dishes and so on.  Everyone would be pleased with the good quality.  I had so much food and few glasses of sake, and I paid about only 3000yen!! (remember I am talking about having dinner and drinks in Gion!)

 

This is one of those great days that I realized it is always good to spend time with friends.  And I also thought that it is important to talk to local folks for the local information because I would not be able to experience all of this without a friend of mine who is from this town.

 

T.F

 

 

A day trip to Kyoto, Japan. Japanese sweet factory, "Otabe", green tea and the river rafting.

2015.11.24

Kyoto and Nara

We went on a company trip to Kyoto.

 

It was pleasure getting to know our co-workers from all over Japan.

 

Everything was fun and memorable, from the MC (our co-worker) on the bus who made us laugh really hard, visiting the Japanese traditional snack factory, “Otabe”, having Japanese traditional lunch at a gorgeous hotel, Hozu-gawa river rafting in Hozu-kyo Gorge and to walking around the city.

 

The river rafting in Hozu-kyo Gorge was my first time and it became one of the most exciting experiences in this trip! I could not take my eyes off the beautiful scenes. 3 boatmen were on the boat. One of them told me that he wanted to become a fire fighter but he loves looking at people smiling. So he decided to be a boatman. To be a boatman takes time like he has experienced rowing boats for more than 10 years and he knows every location of rocks in the river.

 

The boatmen rowed the boat, entertained us with jokes, explaining us about Kyoto and Hozu-gawa river and everything throughout our river rafting which was about 2 hours!! They amazed me with their knowledge, kindness, humor and strength!!!

 

T.F

Gion Festival

2015.07.19

Kyoto and Nara

I went to Gion Festival in Kyoto.
When I hear the festival music, I feel like this is the Japanese summer.
The parade of floats is amazing of course, but Folding Screen Festival,
which is held for a few days before the parade, is also worth seeing.
This year, despite the typhoon hit the parade day, it took place as scheduled.
For reference, the parade has been cancelled only three times
in its over a thousand years history. (H.S)

The Shoseien Garden

2015.04.07

Kyoto and Nara

I went to Kyoto the other day. Although I didn’t have much time, I wanted to go view cherry blossoms there. So I decided to go to the Shoseien Garden as it was close to Kyoto station. The garden is an annex of Higashi Honganji Temple and a good unknown spot. There were not many tourists that day as well, so I was fully able to enjoy the cherry blossoms and the garden.

Here is a famous poem about cherry trees by Saigyo(1118-1190, a monk and poet)

I wish to die
under the blossoming trees
in the spring
around the day of full moon

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