The voracious grandson quickly devours anything delicious. Like loading coal into a steam engine, he eagerly eats. The rice here must be truly delicious. Perhaps the difference in size and stickiness of the grains at other places is why they fall short. Kuzu picked it up near Katsura Rikyu. In autumn, they have chestnut rice, and now the ice is delicious, despite yesterday's 32°C feeling like a lie in the cold rain of May. In any case, a 5-go serving is fitting for a celebratory feast. Nakamura-ken in front of Katsura Rikyu and Futaba in Demachi are the epitome of Kyoto's morning mochi shops, akin to the front and back doors. (Similar to the relationship between Tokyo's Sora-ya's cream-filled manju, Kigamibyo's dorayaki, and manju)

It's the autumnal equinox! My grandmother used to say, "The heat and cold will ease after the equinox," and today was a refreshing, lovely weather♪ I wanted to buy some moon-viewing dumplings for my family, and also felt like having "ohagi" and "warabi mochi," so I went with my daughter to a nearby shop. When we got there, we couldn't resist eating in, so we enjoyed some "chilled sweet red bean soup with rice cakes" and "sweet red bean soup with agar jelly"♡ We are very satisfied♪♪♪

When I hear the name Nakamuraken, I think of the famous sweet "Mugidaimochi" sold in front of the Katsura Imperial Villa, but this time I decided to try the "Shiso Mochi". This is a traditional Japanese sweet recommended by the respected wagashi buyer Mr. H from Takashimaya. It was my first time trying this sweet wrapped in red shiso leaves! When you bite into the shiso leaf, you'll find a soft and moist "Domyoji" rice cake with smooth sweet bean paste inside. The shiso leaf doesn't have a strong salty taste like the cherry blossom leaf in sakuramochi, but it has a refreshing shiso flavor that freshens up your mouth. It's delicious! It's like a refreshing Botamochi (Ohagi). This sweet is available all year round, so you can enjoy it along with Mugidaimochi!

Black honey dumplings 230, Three-color dumplings 230, Fresh wheat gluten mochi 280, Shiso mochi 260, Uji ice 600. I stopped by to buy souvenirs on the way back from my trip. There was a line at the cafe. I was interested in the dumplings and shiso mochi, so I decided to buy them as souvenirs. The weather was scorching hot that day in Kyoto, so I got the Uji ice to go. It felt like my body temperature dropped instantly, helping me endure the heat. Thank you.

I didn't take the usual route, but passed through the small path next to the parking lot towards Nakamuraken, your family's restaurant. This path has a lovely atmosphere, with a small biotope where many medaka fish swim, and a well that is very calming. Just up the stairs to the right is the restaurant. I had visited once with my husband before the renovation, where we enjoyed the specialty barley mochi and shaved ice while admiring a splendid May doll inside the store. The subsequent renovation has preserved the old charm while adding a wonderful touch of Japanese modernity, transforming the restaurant into an even more attractive place. Although I was curious about the interior, I had other plans afterwards, so this time I decided to get takeout and enjoy a leisurely tea time in my hotel room in the evening. We got the funo-dama, which comes in a square plastic container with fresh fu and mitarashi-an. The fresh fu dumplings are bite-sized, around 6-7 pieces perhaps, which my husband and I shared. Before trying them, I imagined the fresh fu dumplings to have a soft texture, but the surface was smooth and the texture slightly firm. At 380 yen, the price felt a bit high for the portion size. The staff were friendly and efficient, making it a pleasant experience to leave the restaurant. Thank you for the meal~.

I have been to this restaurant many times. I stopped by in the evening since I was nearby. It was a Sunday, so there was a line... We waited under the eaves, but it was a hot day, so we were sweating... The shaved ice that followed was amazing♪ Was it all part of the plan?! Haha. There were three of us, so we tried the limited edition yuzu flavor and the classic Oshima ice and matcha ice! The yuzu was refreshing and delicious! The Oshima ice paired well with the sweetness and richness of the black sugar with the shiratama! The matcha wasn't too sweet, and you can enjoy it without red bean paste! If I were to make a wish, it would be nice to have a service of warm tea. We also took home some barley mochi and sweetfish.

Yesterday on the way back from Uzumasa, I went to Nakamuraken to eat shaved ice. Just before arriving at the shop, there was a sudden heavy rain, and I got soaked from the parking lot to the shop. Luckily, there was one empty seat and I was able to sit down right away. It was surprisingly crowded for a weekday, even though it was my first visit after the renovation. The seating had changed from a traditional Japanese room where you take off your shoes to regular tables! I ordered the Ōshima Ice with black honey for ¥700, plus condensed milk for ¥120. My wife, feeling cold from the rain, opted for the anmitsu for ¥700 instead of the shaved ice. The Ōshima Ice had delicate ice that didn't melt too quickly even when drizzled with condensed milk, creating a rich and delicious treat. I was delighted that they generously provided extra honey, allowing you to add more when it runs low. The shiratama (rice flour dumplings) were large, fluffy, and moist, adding to the enjoyment. I appreciated that they served the ice separately so it didn't become too hard. Despite the exceptional service, the price of ¥700 was incredibly reasonable, especially considering that many places nowadays charge around ¥1500. The anmitsu was also delicious! The small, elegant pieces of agar jelly and shiratama paired perfectly with the refined sweetness of the red bean paste and black honey, creating an incredibly tasty dessert. When leaving the shop, the sudden heavy rain had not stopped, and there were about three groups of waiting customers.

I usually have shaved ice, but today I wanted to try "hiyashi ame," so I came here. It's rare to find a place where you can get a nicely chilled hiyashi ame poured by an older gentleman or lady like in the old-fashioned dagashiya shops. It was a quiet day on a weekday, but since it was hot, everyone was having shaved ice. Among them, I had hiyashi ame and warabi mochi. As expected from a sweets shop, both treats smoothly went down my hot body and throat. In particular, the hiyashi ame with its exquisite ginger flavor and sweetness cooled my parched body. It was a nostalgic taste.

The popular Japanese confectionery shop, Nakamuraken, was more popular than Katsura Onsen and many cars were waiting in the parking lot, but they had renovated the interior and increased the number of seats, so we were able to enter without much waiting time. The monthly shaved ice with sudachi was very refreshing! It was a hot day, so the chilled water yokan and zenzai were very delicious and moisturizing!

Visited during the Bon holiday for a homecoming trip. Ordered the matcha red bean milk agar with toppings. The shiratama comes separately, so it stays soft and delicious without getting hard from the ice. It was nice that there was extra matcha sauce for when the flavor diluted. The only regret was that the shiratama was delicious, so I tried to buy skewered dumplings for takeout, but they were taken off the menu just before my turn. Maybe they had orders inside the store, but it was disappointing to be told it was sold out when it was right in front of me.

A traditional Japanese confectionery shop located right near the Katsura Imperial Villa. Unable to withstand the scorching heat exceeding 35 degrees, we decided to have some shaved ice. It was around 1 pm, but there was a line. We waited for about 30 minutes. Despite enduring the heat for half an hour, the shaved ice was incredibly delicious. We enjoyed a cold and refreshing sudachi (citrus fruit) shaved ice in the beautifully renovated store. If I had to say, I wish the sudachi slices were a bit larger. A touch more acidity is needed to combat the heat.

【Location】Kyoto City Bus Katsura Rikyu-mae【Time】10:00【Order】I purchased a mini Mugi Daifuku as a souvenir. The regular size Mugi Daifuku has a satisfying taste, but it's a bit big, so this time I bought the mini version. It was a lovely tea time. Thank you for the meal.

Visited the traditional Japanese confectionery shop "Nakamuraken" located right near the Katsura Rikyu. Established in 1883, this long-standing shop is highly trusted by the imperial court due to its location. The signature items are the Mugidaimochi (¥320) and the Soy Coffee (¥550). The Mugidaimochi has an interesting origin story - it was originally provided as a snack during barley harvest in exchange for barley. I was expecting it to be like the Hana Mochi eaten at the end of the year based on its appearance, but it was completely different! The mochi's elasticity is incredible. It's soft and smooth yet has a strong chewiness. It might be freshly made because the aroma is amazing. The filling is also good. The gentle sweetness of the grainy red bean paste, with the texture of the beans still present, doesn't overpower the mochi. It was delicious! If this is the quality, then other sweets must be delicious too.

I bought the specialty "Mugiyashimo" as a snack while working on the farm. It is called "Mugiyashimo" because it uses the harvested wheat as payment. The freshly pounded mochi contains sweet red bean paste and is sprinkled with soybean flour. I took a bite and the red bean paste is delicious. It is a mini Mugiyashimo made with red beans from Hokkaido.

Hello, it's Ramen Walking where I burn the calories from the ramen I eat with my daily walks! Today, I visited Nakamuraken in Katsura for some sweets. It's becoming a tradition to refresh myself with sweets after lunch during my Kyoto excursions. I discovered a seasonal favorite at a nearby famous shop and immediately visited. Arrived at 14:40. There were 20 people waiting outside, all thinking the same thing. After a 20-minute wait in the shade, we were surprisingly seated earlier than expected. I ordered the Sudachi shaved ice for 980 yen and 3 mini Mugi Daifuku for 280 yen each. While Uji Kin Toki shaved ice is a classic, the seasonal fruit ice seemed perfect for my body craving hydration in the hot weather. The Sudachi shaved ice arrived with a crispy texture and a hint of Sudachi syrup, offering a refreshing citrusy aftertaste with a well-balanced sweetness akin to honey lemon. I adjusted the syrup to my liking using the additional pot of syrup when it felt too light. Finished it in no time, replenishing the lost fluids from sweating during the journey. The shop exuded a historical charm with a relaxed atmosphere and greenery, making it truly a wonderful space to enjoy. After returning home, I enjoyed the Mugi Daifuku I bought as a souvenir. The soft mochi with a light sweet red bean paste filling was delicious. Thank you, Nakamuraken, for the delightful treats! Today's steps: 21,972 steps. Calories burned: 758 kcal.

I visited Nakamuraken after a long time. The renovation has reduced its charm, but the seats with a view of the courtyard are great! They also offer takeout, which makes it easy to enjoy their food casually. Having a parking lot is also convenient. I couldn't resist ordering the Uji milk sweet potato, which I had been craving. It came with shiratama and a side of delicious matcha syrup. The matcha syrup is so tasty! The anko is light, and I enjoyed it on top of the shiratama. Some might say it's unconventional, but I prefer not to put ice on it to prevent the shiratama from getting too hard. Honestly, I don't think the ice is of high quality, but the matcha syrup has captured my heart. Thank you for the meal!

This restaurant is very famous for traditional Japanese sweets in Kyoto, with outlets in Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store and Takashimaya Kyoto Store. The main store is located just a 15-minute walk from Katsura Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line, right across from Katsura Rikyu and near Katsura Ohashi. The area around Katsura Station has become popular due to its convenient transportation and is known for its high-end residential neighborhoods. The store is situated along the San'in Kaido highway, blending into the old townscape of the area. One of the popular items here is shaved ice, followed by barley mochi, which attracts many customers, especially during the hot summer months. The store is frequented by both tourists and locals, with many people lining up to purchase mochi and fresh sweets for the New Year. I bought some fresh sweets this time. The Kuzusakura (260 yen) is a cherry blossom-themed sweet wrapped in cherry blossom leaves, with a moderately sweet kuzu (arrowroot) filling enclosed in a kuzu mochi. The Naginatahoko (280 yen) is a classic kasutara manju with yuzu bean paste, offering a refined white bean paste with a hint of yuzu that complements the soft but elastic texture of the manju dough. The Bungetsu (290 yen) is a new item made of pineapple juice and white bean paste set in agar, featuring two pieces of mildly sweet red bean paste as an accent. The store's products are less extravagant compared to other famous shops in Kyoto, making them more affordable and suitable as seasonal gifts. The items vary depending on the season, making it a place worth visiting throughout the year. Access from Katsura Station on foot is common along the main road, but be cautious as some parts may lack sidewalks and be narrow due to heavy traffic. If taking the bus from Katsura Station, the Katsura Rikyu-mae bus stop is right in front of the store, with a decent number of buses heading to Kyoto Station.

I always enjoy the seasonal shaved ice flavors. I visited to try the pineapple flavor that will be ending at the end of this month. The color and vibrant shaved ice were brought out, but the texture of the ice was different from the usual shaved ice - the ice grains were fine, almost like eating ice powder. The pineapple juice was thoroughly crushed and stuck to the ice powder. Honestly, the taste was different from what I had expected.

Went to Nakamuraken with a friend! The main attraction was the shaved ice, and in July they had pineapple flavor! It was completely different from what I had imagined, but it was incredibly delicious. The Uji Kin TIme and Umachi-chan were also enjoying their food. Thank you for the delicious meal!

It's hot, so I came to this famous shop for shaved ice. As expected, there was a line. Waited for about 20 minutes and finally got seated inside the renovated old house-like restaurant. It feels like being inside a storehouse. I ordered the limited edition pineapple shaved ice for 980 yen. You can customize it with options like the number of mochi balls and condensed milk. They also offer extra honey, which is nice. The pineapple flavor is like frozen blended pineapple, juicy and not just soaked into the ice but with a pineapple membrane-like texture. The ice isn't too finely shaved, more traditional with a dense texture, giving a sense of volume. I'd like to try other flavors too.

2023 Summer Noodle Journey #11 @ Kyoto2023 Uji Kanji #2 @ Kyoto Nakamuraken Somen Set @ Uji Kanji If you come to Kyoto for Uji Kanji, you must visit Nakamuraken. They now have a seating area on the second floor. Enjoying the view of Katsura Imperial Villa while borrowing the atmosphere of the garden. Hey, isn't this drizzled with condensed milk? #2023SummerNoodleJourney #SummerNoodleJourney #UjiKanji #Nakamuraken #Kyoto #KatsuraImperialVilla