Whenever I go to Kyoto, I always end up stopping by this long-established sweet chestnut shop. It's located on Shijo Street. It's a mysteriously charming store that I can't pass by without visiting every time. Normally, the products are divided by the size of the grains. However, last autumn, I discovered something called "Waguri" as I passed by. It was the season for new chestnuts, and although it was a bit pricey, I bought it immediately. It seems to be a variety called "Porotan" that is easy to peel among Japanese chestnuts. The grains are quite large. It cost 1,540 yen including tax for one bag, but it's Kyoto and a long-established store, so it's fine. *I think it was a medium size this time because it's sold by weight. However, my hands were not suitable for high-quality Japanese chestnuts, and I couldn't peel them well. The taste was simple, fluffy, and delicious. But it turned into not "Porotan" but "Borotan" and I ended up leaving many nuts in their shells. I will try again this autumn. Well, I might buy the regular ones next time because I prefer the usual taste in terms of baking and sweetness. Thank you for the meal!

Located about a 5-minute walk from Hankyu Kyoto Line Kawaramachi Station in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, is the renowned store "Kurikinton Specialty Store Hayashi Banshodo Main Store" known for its fragrant Tianjin chestnuts. Visited on September 1, 2023. This store was selected as one of the top 100 traditional Japanese confectionery shops in the West in 2023! Tianjin chestnuts are a Kyoto specialty, right? Chestnuts are usually something you only buy at festival stalls... Purchased the "Selected Large Sweet Chestnuts 200g for 860 yen." It's been years since I've eaten the type of chestnuts you peel yourself. It feels like it's been so long since I last had them. While it can be a hassle to peel the skin, once you get the hang of it, it's surprisingly satisfying. The chestnuts that emerge are also beautiful. As for the taste, it's delicious. Ah, these are real chestnuts! Leaves a slightly restrained sweetness impression, with an elegant chestnut flavor, yet you can still sense the rich taste of chestnuts. The texture was quite firm. It was very enjoyable to eat. It's been a while since I've focused so much on eating chestnuts like this. It was a good experience. I'd like to eat them again. Thank you for the meal.

When it comes to "Tianjin candied chestnuts," this restaurant uses chestnuts from Hebei Province, China. They are small in size but have sweet flesh inside. A long-established store in Kyoto: the chestnut skin cracks very easily and is crispy. The chestnut itself is moist and very delicious. You can eat as many as you want.

When it comes to sweet and delicious chestnuts, this is the place. They look shiny and incredibly large when you see them at the store. I bought the large selected chestnuts 200g and normal size 300g. I like the packaging very much. Unlike the chestnut sellers in Yokohama's Chinatown, there are no samples here, but the size of the large chestnuts is extraordinary, so I couldn't help but buy them. In addition to chestnuts, there are also chestnut products and sweets for sale, but I only go for the chestnuts. Maybe because of the store in Kyoto, it gives a Japanese impression, but these are actually Tianjin chestnuts from China. When eating, peel the chestnut shells silently like peanuts. Peel them all at once. Once all the shells are peeled off, enjoy them in one go. Be careful not to eat them in a dangerous way that might get stuck in your throat.

They meticulously roast the chestnuts. The glossiness is outstanding. They slowly add fire by rotating the oil. It has a fragrant aroma. I ate it freshly made. The natural and simple sweetness is indeed elegant. However, I don't feel the desire to have two or three more. I think it's good to buy as a souvenir for chestnut lovers.

Wandering Journey in Kyoto Part 3 - For souvenirs in Kyoto - When paying the bill, we received a sumo wrestling Kyoto tournament fan. We enjoyed it while reminiscing about the laughter-filled journey. It contained 18 chestnuts weighing 200g. The wrapping paper has folding instructions on the back so it can be used as a trash bin. The bag can be microwaved and eaten as is. And the chestnuts are delicious. When reheated, the thin skin peeled off beautifully. It was a shop where various considerations could be felt. Next time, I want to try the sweet chestnut natto. Thank you for the meal!

I visited after hearing rumors that the chestnuts here are sweet. There was a bit of a line, but they efficiently weighed and packed the chestnuts. There were two types of chestnuts, large and regular, and I chose the large ones. I ordered 200 grams. I also purchased the chestnut senbei Manjo-yaki. The chestnuts were delicious, but nothing special. The Manjo-yaki was tasty! Crispy and fragrant!

A chestnut specialty store located at the intersection of Kawaramachi Street and Shinkyogoku Street. They also sell traditional Japanese sweets made with chestnuts. I have passed by this store many times before, but this was my first time actually going in. Whenever I visit Kyoto, I like to buy a little bit of traditional Japanese sweets to bring back home. As I was strolling through Nishiki Market on my way to Kawaramachi Station, I found myself at that very intersection. So, instead of traditional sweets, I decided to try their chestnuts. I bought the smallest portion, which was about 200g for around 900 yen. I enjoyed them as a snack the next day at 3 o'clock with some roasted green tea. The chestnuts were small in size, using chestnuts from Hebei, China. The store has been around for about 140 years, making it a well-established long-standing establishment. While I usually only see chestnuts at street stalls during festivals, it's quite rare to see a store dedicated to chestnuts unless you're in a chestnut-producing region. I found it a bit challenging to peel them neatly, but the sweetness of the chestnuts was gentle and delightful, unlike the larger chestnuts from Tanba. Well, it's nice to try something different once in a while.

I found this shop by chance while passing by. I couldn't resist buying some nostalgic sweet chestnuts. I chose the smallest size for 800 yen and opted for the larger ones to make peeling them easier. It had been a while since I had sweet chestnuts, and they were delicious.

Located in Teramachi Shijo in Kyoto, this is a specialty store for roasted chestnuts. This shop has been around for a long time, and when you pass by the front of the store, you can smell the wonderful aroma of roasted chestnuts. I have purchased from them a few times, but usually I would buy smaller chestnuts, focusing more on quantity than quality. This time, I decided to try the larger ones. Although they are a bit more expensive, each chestnut is bigger, making it easier to crack the shell and peel it cleanly, allowing you to eat with less stress. Naturally, there is also a greater sense of satisfaction, so I recommend buying the larger ones. A great choice for a souvenir from Kyoto!

"Located in Shijo Teramachi, the sweet chestnut specialty store 'Hayashi Banshodo.' Established in 1874, this long-standing shop originally sold Chinese artichokes, but shifted to specializing in sweet chestnuts in the 20th century when they were introduced from China. Their carefully selected large sweet chestnuts (¥860) are roasted right behind the counter, which is quite impressive to watch. When I tried a sweet chestnut for the first time, I found it quite hard. The sweetness was also quite subtle, and I realized once again how delicious the famous 'peeled for you' sweet chestnuts are. Personally, I didn't think they were that delicious, but there was a feeling that I couldn't stop eating them."

Located at the entrance of Teramachi Kyogoku shopping street, this is a sweet chestnut shop. I visited during lunchtime on a holiday. The chestnuts were shiny and large. I bought a 200g pack of carefully selected large sweet chestnuts for 860 yen and enjoyed them at home. When cracking the shells, be careful not to break the inside, and you can easily extract the whole chestnut. It was a delicious sweet chestnut that preserved the original taste of chestnuts.

Now, in Kyoto. Before the main event, I found this restaurant while strolling around the Gion area to burn some calories. There is a similar shop in my local area, but here, for a small additional fee, you can choose larger chestnuts. I had the Selected Large Sweet Chestnuts 300 grams for 1,290 yen (normally 1,200 yen for regular size) and it was delicious.

I visited this longstanding chestnut roasting shop that I was curious about in Kyoto. The shop was filled with a nice aroma of roasting chestnuts. The luxurious type of chestnuts seemed to be already sold out, so I purchased 300g of regular chestnuts for 1200 yen. Since I didn't have a chance to eat them while in Kyoto, I enjoyed them as a snack at home. Each chestnut was quite large in size. They had a slightly unique aroma and moderate sweetness. It left an impression of simple deliciousness. Thank you for the meal.

I have visited Kyoto many times and have walked around the Shijo and Gion areas multiple times, but this is a shop that I never noticed before. It is said to be a 5-minute walk from Kawaramachi, but it doesn't feel like it takes that long. It is a storefront facing Shijo Street. Known as a long-established Kyoto sweet chestnut shop since the Meiji era of over 130 years, it seems that people from outside Kyoto also come to buy from here. At this main store, there are plenty of freshly roasted sweet chestnuts in the shop! Just looking at them makes you feel happy. There are two types of chestnuts available: regular and carefully selected, and you can choose to purchase them in grams ranging from 200, 300, 600, 900, to 1500 grams. A professional will wrap them for you on the spot, and the wrapping skill is so professional that it's enjoyable to watch! It was a unique experience at the main store! ✔ Regular 300 grams for 1,200 yen. The most delicious sweet chestnuts I have ever eaten!! Full of the savory flavor of chestnuts within a refreshing sweetness! The skins are freshly made, making them easy to peel and eat one after another. I finished the 300 grams in no time, and I will definitely come back for more.

I visited the long-established sweet chestnut store, Hayashi Banshodou Honten, located in Teramachi on Shijo Street in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 9 of the underground passage at Hankyu Kyoto Line Kawaramachi Station, making it convenient to access by train. The main store is located in the center of Kyoto at Shijo, and they offer products exclusive to the main store. I think it is perfect as a souvenir for those who love chestnuts. This time, I purchased the carefully selected 200g of Large Sweet Chestnuts (860 yen). It is a No.1 long-selling product called "Bagged Sweet Chestnuts," and the Large Sweet Chestnuts are said to be 1.5 times the size of regular chestnuts. Only carefully selected ingredients are used, and they are meticulously baked using traditional baking techniques. The texture is just right, with an elegant sweetness, and it was delicious. The chestnuts used are of the variety "Kahoku Kuri" that can only be produced in China. "Kahoku Kuri" is rich in nutrients, has a solid sweetness in the flesh, and is easy to peel off the astringent skin (the thin skin between the hard shell and the flesh), making it an ideal variety for sweet chestnuts. The shop owner personally travels to China for procurement and carefully selects the finest "Kahoku Kuri." I would like to visit again if I have the chance. Thank you very much!

When I visited during the pandemic, they didn't have candied chestnuts for sale, but they had made a comeback somehow. I was able to purchase carefully selected large candied chestnuts that were relatively close to being freshly baked. I haven't tried various types myself, so I'm not sure, but it seems that this way of baking doesn't work with domestic chestnuts, and it has to be a Chinese variety like these Hebei chestnuts. I enjoyed Tianjin candied chestnuts after a long time.