ウキヨウ
Arashiyama was surprisingly empty due to the announcement of the GOTO suspension on December 19, 2020. It's less than a 10-minute walk from Togetsukyo Bridge, so we arrived before the opening at 12 o'clock and wandered around the area. When we entered, there were only us and one other couple in the restaurant. The interior had a retro Showa vibe with a counter and tables in the back, and two tables in the front. On top of the stove were a kettle, a black telephone, and Sapporo beer posters, creating a lovely atmosphere. We ordered two bottles of beer, mackerel sushi, and conger eel combination, bamboo leaf sushi with pickled turnip combination, rolled omelette, and oyster with ponzu sauce. The total for two people was about 7000 yen. The mackerel sushi had a nice vinegar flavor and was delicious! The pressed sushi here tends to have a firm texture with both the fish and rice condensed, but the mackerel at this restaurant was tender, with a nice rice texture, and the flavor of the mackerel spread in the mouth, making it easy to eat. The conger eel was soft and fluffy, with an excellent combination of vinegared rice and sweet soy sauce reduction. The bamboo leaf sushi had a subtle and elegant fragrance from the white fish, bamboo leaf, and Japanese pepper leaves. The pickled turnip in the roll was a new taste for me, with just the right amount of saltiness, not as salty as pickles. The rolled omelette and oyster with ponzu sauce were also delicious, making us feel like we could linger there forever, but since it was still daytime, we held back on the alcohol. The dishes were also beautiful, visually pleasing, and the restaurant had a nice atmosphere without being too formal. I've tried various pressed sushi in Kyoto's famous restaurants, but this one is the best I've ever had!