On November 23, 2021, during a leisurely stroll in autumn in Kyoto, before admiring the autumn leaves reflected on the sparkling polished tables at Rurikoin, I enjoyed lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Kiyamachi, sipping "Tsingtao Beer" with dim sum, Peking duck, and mapo tofu. With some time to spare before my special visit reservation, I started my food adventure around Gion Shijo. The first stop was at "Patisserie Giin Sakai," a pastry shop established in 2010, located in Gion Hanamikoji, blending into the traditional townhouses of Kyoto. Known for their "otabe" with red bean paste, created by "Bijuu," using Uji matcha, the shop is divided into a first floor selling Western-style sweets and a second floor serving as a chic café. My friend chose the baked goods "Kyosando" with matcha, rum raisin, and Japanese chestnut, while I picked up the "Sakekuchi (Hakushu)" with 4 pieces for 1512 yen. "Sakekuchi" is a chocolate sablé made with Japan's pride, single malt whisky, featuring Suntory's Hakushu distilled in the foothills of the Southern Alps in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. A few days later, during a sophisticated dessert time after dinner, I prepared a whisky on the rocks to enjoy with "Sakekuchi." The ganache sandwiched in the chocolate sablé is mixed with the smokey and fresh aroma of whisky, spreading throughout the mouth, creating a perfect harmony of chocolate sweetness and bitterness. The whisky I paired with it was "Yoichi," a rare single malt whisky with a glossy amber color and a vibrant flavor, aged for several years at the Yoichi Distillery in Hokkaido. In other words, it was a delightful collaboration between Suntory and Nikka. Interestingly, the "Sakekuchi" made with Suntory's "Yamazaki" costs 1944 yen for the same 4 pieces, but it was stated that it is currently discontinued. The chocolate sablé was so delicious that I wanted to send it as a birthday gift to a friend who I often order from, but unfortunately, the "Sakekuchi" was not available in the online shop, which was disappointing. Cheers! (●^o^●)

After watching Kabuki at Minamiza, I visited this place with my friends. It was around 2 PM and almost all the cakes were sold out. We tried the limited-time special chestnut shaved ice with roasted green tea. It was a grown-up shaved ice with plenty of chestnuts and a side of cognac. The staff were warm and provided attentive service, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

I visited the Western confectionery shop "Giin Sakai" located on the south side of Gion-machi in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is about a 1-minute walk east from Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line, making it easily accessible by public transportation. There is also a coin parking nearby, making it convenient for those traveling by car. The interior of the shop is spacious and has a calm atmosphere. There is also a cafe space with seating for 14 people, including 8 table seats and 6 counter seats. This time, I purchased the "Kyoto Tea Leaf Langue de Chat" (10 pieces for 1170 yen). It is a langue de chat made with Kyoto Uji "Morihan" tea leaves and soy milk. The langue de chat dough, shaped like tea leaves, is thinly baked and combined with Kyoto Uji "Morihan" tea leaves and soy milk. Inside the langue de chat dough, there is white chocolate mixed with tea. It has a fragrant tea aroma and a smooth soy milk flavor, making it delicious. I would like to visit again if I have the opportunity. Thank you very much!

"Looks just like a real water balloon" 🎈Popular patisserie in Gion, Kyoto - Gion Shijo [Western confectionery Gion Sakai] ☑︎ Peach Water Balloon ¥1260 A popular treat at summer festivals, that water balloon has been turned into a delicious cake ⋆꙳▶︎ Made of white chocolate, when you break the balloon... inside, there is a sponge cake soaked in white wine syrup and sweet, juicy peaches ❤️ Not too sweet, with a grown-up taste thanks to the alcohol. I happened to have water balloon nail art, so I was able to take a photo with the cake and really feel like I was enjoying summer ☀️ The water balloon cake is very popular, so it's best to go early or reserve in advance ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ [Gion Sakai] Kyoto, Higashiyama-ku, Gionmachi Minamigawa 570-122 ⏰ [1st floor sales space] 12:00 - 18:00 [2nd floor eat-in space] 12:00 - 17:00 Thursdays A short walk east from Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line.

■ Gion Sakai ■ ・I went on a girls' trip to Kyoto. I was excited from the moment I started planning my trip, as there were so many places I wanted to visit. ・The restaurant I visited this time, Gion Sakai, was a place I had been curious about after seeing their "water balloon cake" on Instagram. ・There was no line in front of the restaurant, so I thought I was lucky, but when I entered, they were distributing numbered tickets. I quickly got a ticket and found out that there were only 5 "water balloon cakes" left, so I reserved one and came back later. ・What I had this time was: - Peach Balloon: 1242 yen - Coffee: 715 yen A water balloon coated in white chocolate. You can even eat the rubber band part. Inside the popped balloon, there were peaches, cassis, and sponge cake. The peach was sweet and very delicious. ・It was a fun memory from my mini trip to Kyoto. ・Location: 570-122 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City ・#GionSakai #KyotoGourmet #Kyoto #KyotoCafe #Cafe #Balloon #PeachSweets #Peach #KyotoCafe #Gion #GionCafe #SweetsLover

I had been curious about a cake shaped like a water balloon for a while, so I arrived around 11:30 at the store that was supposed to open at 11. However, the staff informed me that the store actually opens at 12. I waited outside until opening time and was surprised to see other people with the same purpose arriving as well. Once the store opened, I went inside and was asked if I wanted to eat in, but I chose to take out the peach balloon cake that I had come for. I went back home and enjoyed the cake. It was so cute that I almost felt bad eating it, but I savored every bite. The outer chocolate layer was firm, so I waited for it to slightly melt before eating. The combination of the sweetness of the chocolate and the peach was delicious. However, the aftertaste was refreshing.

Fuusen Peach Cake (1,242 yen): At a summer festival, I often see water balloon games, and this cake was designed to look like a water balloon with a half white peach inside and vanilla cream. Even the part resembling a rubber band that you would hold was edible. It was a very elaborate cake and incredibly delicious. This patisserie in Gion, Kyoto, focuses on delivering authentic Western sweets with a touch of sophistication. The second floor offers a high-quality space with a counter where you can relax.

Peach balloon ¥1296, Lemon soda ¥880. When I arrived after 12 o'clock, there were already several groups lining up, so if you want to get in on the first round, it's better to go 5 minutes before opening. The peach balloon is coated with white chocolate on the surface, so I thought it would be quite sweet, but thanks to the alcohol, it was surprisingly refreshing to eat.

I fell in love with a water balloon cake on Instagram and decided to visit the store. Reservations for the cake were possible, and luckily when I arrived, there was a table available right away. The waiting area was cool and comfortable, and I was able to pass the time looking at magazines and the cakes in the showcase. When I was seated on the second floor, I finally met the cake face to face. It was just as cute as it looked on Instagram, and the taste was delicious, leaving me very satisfied. I usually only have traditional Japanese sweets in Kyoto, but this place has become one of the restaurants I want to visit again. I didn't even know it was right across from "Tokuya," where I usually go, so I've discovered another great restaurant.

Too cute to eat yo-yo❣️*Kyoto Gion Shijo. Located on Hanamikoji. *☼*―――――*☼*―――――. Kyoto Gion Sakai. *☼*―――――*☼*―――――. A cute summer tradition dessert that will make you feel like you're at a festival. Mango balloon 1,350yen Peach balloon 1,242yen ☕️Darjeeling 825yen ☕️Earl Grey 825yen The tea utensils are from Tiffany, which adds to the excitement❣️ The peach inside is sweet, sour, and juicy, very delicious! The mango is creamy and sweet. It's popular, so be prepared for some waiting time! Thank you for the meal^_^✽・:..｡o￠o｡..:・✽・:..｡o￠o｡..:・✽・:..｡o￠o｡..:・ Western Confectionery Gion Sakai 570-1220 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 075-531-8878✽・:..｡o￠o｡..:・✽・:..｡o￠o｡..:・✽・:..｡o￠o｡..:・ #GionShijoCafe #GionShijoGourmet #HanamikojiCafe

I found a cute yoyo at a festival, but it turned out it's not a yoyo, it's a dessert! At Patisserie Gion Sakai on Hanami Koji Street, you can enjoy this yoyo dessert only during the summer. Still doubting it's a yoyo? Well, it even has a rubber band attached! This part is a pasta frying technique that is just amazing! I ordered the Peach Balloon and Mango Balloon, and they really look like yoyos! The Peach Balloon has vanilla cream and peach inside, with a biscuit soaked in white wine syrup. It's quite rich and definitely a sophisticated dessert! I'm not a fan of alcohol, so it was a bit overwhelming for me, but for alcohol lovers, it must be irresistible! The Mango Balloon is filled with plenty of mangoes from Miyako Island, with a sponge part flavored with passion fruit, giving it a tropical taste. I personally preferred the mango flavor. ------------ Items Ordered: ☑️ Peach Balloon - 1,242 yen ☑️ Mango Balloon - 1,350 yen -------------- ⚠️ Note: Due to its popularity, it may sell out as early as 13:30. Reservations are not accepted, but you can request to hold the items. It's best to call ahead for a reservation! ✂️ -------------- 🏠 Restaurant Information: Patisserie Gion Sakai Approx. 4 minutes walk from Gion Shijo Station Address: 570-12 Minamizume, Gionmachiminami, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto ⏰ Opening Hours: 12:00-17:00 (Cafe) Closed on Thursdays

[Kyoto Gion] Do you know about the cutest cake you can eat in Kyoto right now? I was drawn to the visual of a water balloon cake and decided to visit Kyoto, but the contents of the cake were beyond amazing! The intricate design of the water balloon pattern and the delicately expressed wrinkles of the knot make it look more like a piece of art the more you look at it! It's no wonder, as the pastry chef at this shop has even won the Asian Candy Art Competition ✨ On the first floor, they also exhibit the candy art, which was truly wonderful. By the way, the rubber band tying the water balloon's mouth is made of fried pasta, and you can actually eat it. Are they boiling the noodles, tying them one by one, and then frying them? I'm impressed by the attention to detail. And when you cut it with a knife, you'll find a whole juicy peach inside! The ripe white peach, soft and juicy, combined with the crispy white chocolate, peach, and sponge soaked in juice was incredibly delicious. The sponge also had white wine syrup infused into it, giving it a very elegant flavor when you put it in your mouth. Since this cake uses alcohol, please be careful with young children! It was truly a wonderful cake that was fun to look at and delicious to eat. They also offered popular Baumkuchen and cookies as samples on a plate. They were all delicious and perfect for souvenirs! There were even customers wearing yukata, which was very lovely. You cannot make reservations for a seat, but you can reserve the cake! As it is a very popular cake, I recommend going early in the opening hours or reserving in advance. Of course, you can also take it to go. ▶︎ Order: Peach Balloon 1260 yen, Earl Grey Ice Tea 820 yen

After eating a parfait at Gion Komori, I visited Gion Sakai for a birthday celebration. I had the strawberry shortcake, and you could really tell the difference compared to regular cakes. The cream was exceptional. It was delicious. The Biwako fireworks display was also beautiful, especially after 4 years.

"I was taken to a cafe in Kyoto because it looked delicious. We arrived at 15:42 and were seated at 16:01 with a wait of 2 groups. ✨ - White peach jelly 756 yen - Raspberry 702 yen - Orange juice 616 yen - Green tea 616 yen * The eligible drinks are 100 yen off with a cake set. It was delicious. The sweets were elegant and refined! There are only about 6-7 seats at the counter and 3 tables, so it can get crowded when busy! We were able to relax and enjoy our time there. Thank you for the meal ♡"

I found a cute cake shop in Kyoto that is perfect for summer! It's located in Gion, which is a really nice area. The chocolate on the cakes is quite crispy and delicious. The peach balloon cake is made with a whole peach, while the mango balloon cake is packed with mango. They both have different bases and decorations that complement the fruits well. The cakes were really tasty! The chocolate was also really good. #kyoto #KyotoGourmet #KyotoCafe #KyotoSweets #KyotoGirlsTrip #KyotoTravel #SummerCoolSweets #SummerGourmet #GiinSakai #GionGourmet #Gion

Gion Sakai in Uji Matcha Shaved Ice for 1980 yen. Topped with water manju with strawberry and white bean paste. Perfect for a little break. This place offers a lot of Japanese-Western sweets. They also make the famous Kyoto Baumkuchen. #UjiMatcha #ShavedIce #GionSakai #KyotoSweets #ShavedIceTour #ShavedIceLover #ShavedIceExploration #ConnectingwithShavedIceLovers #ShavedIceGoal #WaterManju #KyotoGourmet #KyotoGirlsTrip #KyotoSightseeing

Today, I visited a confectionery shop called "Yoigashi Giin Sakai" in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City. It is located near Gion Shijo Station. As the weather started to get hot, I came across a cake that looked like a balloon, reminiscent of the old days when it used to be sold at stalls. The visual of the cake was quite nostalgic, with even the rubber band part being accurately recreated, making it perfect for summer. There are versions with peach called "Peach Balloon" and with mango called "Mango Balloon". I felt that this cake would definitely be popular, so I contacted the shop in advance to reserve one. Although you can reserve cakes, it seems that you cannot reserve seats. I was told by the staff that if the eat-in seats are full, they issue tickets for waiting. When I arrived at the shop, luckily there was a seat available and I was able to sit at the counter. I informed the staff that I had reserved the Peach Balloon. The Peach Balloon costs 1242 yen and contains a half-slice of white peach wrapped in light vanilla cream. It is accompanied by a biscuit soaked in white wine-based syrup flavored with dill and lime. I also chose a Green Tea for 616 yen, as it felt hot and had a somewhat Japanese vibe. The Peach Balloon was delicious but quite sweet. Perhaps I should have chosen an iced coffee instead of Green Tea. The outer layer seemed to be white chocolate, with peach on the top and biscuit on the bottom. I asked the staff what the rubber band part was made of, and they said it was made of pasta. They recommended enjoying the crunchy texture. Most of the customers around me also had the Peach Balloon. The shop provided very polite service during the reservation and on the day of the visit. Thank you for the meal.

I arrived at the restaurant about an hour before closing, so many items were sold out. However, I miraculously came across a limited-time shaved ice. The flavors of shiso and plum were subtle and not overpowering, making it enjoyable even for those who may not like them. It was topped with a yogurt sauce (?) that was mild. The plum wine syrup on the side had a strong plum flavor and acidity. The temperature was around 30℃, and after eating about half of the shaved ice, my body, which had been heated from sightseeing, started to cool down. It was a good decision to have a hot drink. The roasted green tea had a wonderful aroma from the moment it was served, providing a sense of relief. The restaurant is located on Hanami Koji, and there is an equal mix of Japanese and foreign customers, with many families and couples dining there.

I bought this as a souvenir. It seems to be a shop run by the third generation president of Otabe. The second floor also serves as a cafe. There were various sweets displayed, but this time I chose this sake-flavored one. As for the taste, it has a whisky aroma, combined with chocolate, creating a very elegant flavor! The balance between the surrounding biscuit and the chocolate inside was very harmonious. Other sweets also look delicious, so I want to go back and buy them.

I happened to come across a cute hydrangea shaved ice that caught my eye as a shaved ice lover, and I couldn't resist it. The next day, I went out of my way to visit the place. The first floor is a takeout Western confectionery shop, and the second floor is a cafe. You place your order on the first floor before heading up. I ordered the shaved ice that I had been curious about since the day before! It's one item per person. You can order drinks on the second floor at your table. The hydrangea shaved ice came with a side of sea salt!

Visited Gion Sakai for the first time. It seems like they offer eat-in options as well, but this time I opted for takeout. They have a variety of cakes with unique and vibrant appearances, all of which are very appealing. I tried the "Kamifusen" cake, which has a layer of nerikiri sweet bean paste on the outside, and ricotta cheese and nut cassata cream on the inside. It's an interesting cake that combines Japanese and Western flavors. The fusion of these two styles worked surprisingly well together and was very delicious. I would love to try their other cakes as well.