Next to the Kyoto Imperial Palace, there is a large storefront of Toraya with a spacious waiting room for customers. You can also enjoy your meal on the terrace while looking out at the courtyard. A must-visit during sightseeing. On this day, they had a seasonal limited edition chestnut shaved ice. It was delicious with chestnut yokan and chestnut paste inside.

I entered the shop on Saturday morning. There is parking space for about 10 cars, but the surrounding roads are narrow with many one-way streets, so it may be difficult for large cars to park if there are already many cars parked. This is my third time visiting, and the atmosphere, service, everything is always great! I ordered the small size of Uji Kin Toki. My mother ordered it with milk. The fluffy ice with a strong matcha flavor and not too sweet harmonized perfectly with the red beans. I was able to spend a relaxing time while looking at the beautiful garden. I would like to use this shop again.

After leaving my stand, I visited the special summer exhibition at the former Kawagawa residence of the Mibu Rousokan, a special base for the Shinsengumi. I then headed to "Wadachiya" in Shimabara, only to find out that they had already closed for the day. Feeling a bit disappointed, I quickly changed my mindset and made my way to "Toraya". Toraya is a renowned confectionery shop that used to serve the Imperial Court, but relocated to Tokyo during the Meiji Restoration. The original store still stands near the Imperial Palace, while the "Kyoto Ichijo store" is a renovated version of the original shop. It had been 7 years since my last visit, and I had been wanting to go back ever since. Since I was in Kyoto during the summer, I knew I had to try some kakigori (shaved ice), and Toraya seemed like the perfect choice for an authentic Kyoto experience. I decided to try the Uji-Kintoki flavor. The atmosphere was elegant and impressive as always. I was seated at a table and carefully studied the menu. While other items looked tempting, I stuck to my initial plan and ordered the small size Uji-Kintoki kakigori with three shiratama (rice flour dumplings) and condensed milk as toppings. The Uji matcha flavor was rich and delightful, and the quality of the white kidney beans was top-notch. The shiratama were also perfect. I finished every last bit and then relaxed with some tea before leaving the store. Next time, I definitely want to try their anmitsu.

The well-known Toraya Tea House! The high ceiling and large windows create a sense of openness and it feels great. The interior has a luxurious feel. The seasonal limited edition green yuzu shaved ice is truly exceptional, as expected from Toraya's shaved ice. It has a refined sweetness with a good balance of bitterness and acidity, and it was delicious. There was also red bean paste inside, making it doubly delicious. It was not crowded on a weekday, but it seems like it would be busy on weekends. When it's crowded, you can get a numbered ticket at the reception.

On Sunday around 3:30 pm, I went with my daughter. We drove past the store and saw a parking sign, so we circled around and arrived at the parking lot. It was full, so I asked the attendant if it was okay to wait on the road, and he said yes. He suggested that one person should go in to make a reservation while waiting, so I sent my daughter. At that time, there were already 19 groups waiting, but we were told we could wait comfortably. Later, when a parking spot opened up, I also went inside. There was a separate waiting room with plenty of seats. It was a hot day, so I preferred indoor seating and we waited for about 40 minutes before being seated at a table for two. The terrace seating looked nice too, overlooking the garden. Unfortunately, they were already sold out of fresh sweets when we sat down. The prices were a bit high... My daughter and I thought, "Let's treat ourselves once in a while!" She had anmitsu, and I had kuzumochi with matcha glace. The kuzumochi looked refreshing and I love kuzumochi, so I was excited. The taste was delicious, but I would have preferred the honey for the kuzumochi to be chilled as well. It was lukewarm, so I ended up transferring the ice from the kuzumochi bowl to the honey bowl myself. It tasted even better when it got cold. The matcha glace was not sweet at all, which was perfect for me. I added half of the syrup provided halfway through, but it didn't make it too sweet, so those who prefer sweeter flavors might find it lacking. Also, the tea they served was at room temperature. I personally prefer very cold or hot drinks, but I know it's a matter of preference, and room temperature is said to be best for the body (according to my friends). I would like to visit again on a weekday. It's a really lovely cafe, and I think I would be able to relax more. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the restaurant early in the morning to avoid crowds during the summer vacation period. The prices were a bit high, but the matcha was really rich and authentic! As a matcha lover, I was glad to be able to visit. I had the Anmitsu (with matcha glace) and Uji Kinjou shaved ice (with matcha glace).

I received seasonal wagashi and limited matcha tea. The taste was elegant and I was completely satisfied. However, even though there were plenty of waiting seats, I had to wait for 40-50 minutes because it was snack time. This restaurant does not take reservations, so make sure to visit when you have some time to spare.

Around 1:00 PM, I visited "Toraya Karyo Kyoto Ichijo Store" with one other person. Located in the Imadegawa area just south of Karasuma, this tea house is run by Toraya, famous for their yokan (sweet bean jelly). With a history dating back to at least 1628, Toraya has been serving the Imperial Palace in Kyoto for over 400 years, exuding a sense of tradition and elegance. The interior not only offers delicious sweets but also houses around 600 books on Japanese culture for guests to read. The space is open and airy, with high arched ceilings and large windows that overlook a terrace in the back garden and front garden. We chose a seat with a view of the back garden. Menu items we enjoyed: - Yokan - Seasonal Yokan (shaved ice) - Uji Kinmochi (sweet rice cake) - Uji Mizore (sweet) - Anmitsu - Kinako Anmitsu / Kyoto exclusive - Kuzukiri - Chilled Shiroan with Rice Flour Dumplings / Seasonal - Chilled Shiratama Azuki / Seasonal - Roasted Green Soybean Rice - Matcha Kyoto Melody - Sencha Kyoto Style - Gyokuro - Matcha Glace - Chilled Sencha - Purple Night - By the Water - Narcissus Summer Frost - Milky Way - Young Leaf Shade - Thousand-Year-Old Bamboo Grass Review: I highly recommend this place. Located right next to the Imperial Palace, it offers a taste of Kyoto's charm and the renowned Toraya sweets. The Anmitsu with Matcha Glace we had was priced at 2,530 yen and was delicious. The sweet red bean paste in the middle was exquisite, with a refined sweetness that complemented the variety of agar beautifully. The serene back garden with its small Inari shrine, lush greenery, and white-walled storehouse from the Edo period provided a perfect setting for a leisurely break. Thank you for the wonderful meal. #Gourmet #KyotoGourmet #Sweets #KyotoSweets #JapaneseSweets #KyotoJapaneseSweets #Toraya #Yokan #ShavedIce #Anmitsu #Kyoto #KyotoSightseeing #TeaHouse #Karyo

I went to this shop for the first time! The interior is very stylish, spacious, and beautiful! You can see the courtyard from inside the shop. I ordered the chilled shiratama azuki. It's been a while since I had shiratama, and both the shiratama and azuki were incredibly delicious!

I visited the shop seeking some coolness and had a relaxing time enjoying a cup of tea. I originally planned to eat shaved ice, but ended up ordering a cup of matcha instead. The atmosphere, including the service, was pleasant and the outdoor garden and decorations were lovely. It was a truly enjoyable time.

Arrived in Kyoto at 2 pm on a Saturday. There was a wait of 10 groups, but the waiting room was spacious and comfortable. I chose "either seat is fine" as my time was limited, although the terrace seat with high expectations was not available. I opted for a set of matcha and yokan on the south side terrace. It cost around 1200 yen. I enjoyed it deliciously in the gentle breeze. I felt like I could understand a little why this place has been loved for many years. It was a wonderful atmosphere and service.

The blended sweet made with nagaimo that I had almost two months ago still lingers in my memory. The variety of flavors at Zenkai is interesting, and it pairs wonderfully with tea. I would love to sit on the edge of the garden when there are fewer customers, but now there are more mosquitoes around.

Visited the popular traditional Japanese confectionery store "Koya Karyo" in Imadegawa. This is the birthplace of the long-established confectionery store "Toraya." You can enjoy Toraya's traditional Japanese sweets in a stylish store setting. I tried the "Gyokuro + Koshikae" limited edition sweet from June 1st to 3rd, inspired by the changing of clothes for summer. The sweet had a unique texture, with the red bean paste compressed tightly, giving it a dense and chewy texture. The sweetness was just right, not too strong, and had a gentle taste. It reminded me a little of dried persimmons. It was delicious! The staff was also very friendly. I will definitely visit again.

Seasonal menu: Kashiwa Mochi (with sweet red bean paste) and matcha set for 1452 yen. Added a side of taro root because just having Kashiwa Mochi would be lonely for 660 yen. The shop is located just east of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The food was delicious, thank you for the meal. It's a bit pricey, but the atmosphere is pleasant.

I had red rice, anmitsu, and matcha granita. The black beans next to the red rice were delicious. The anmitsu had just the right amount of sweetness. The zenzai here is also very delicious. Next door at Toraya, they were selling zenzai that you can make by adding hot water.

I visited Toraya near the university after a long time, or rather since the pandemic. The calm atmosphere and well-cared-for staff were just as before. I enjoyed tea and sakura mochi in this adult space. It's the season to eat sakura mochi, so lucky to have it. The combination of sencha tea was perfect for a grown-up snack. The sakura mochi was delicious above all. On the way home, I bought yokan and monaka as souvenirs from a shop in Tsuji. The popularity of these sweets is evident as they disappear in an instant. The honey yokan and black tea yokan are must-try flavors!

"Yomogi mochi with roasted green tea for 2,200 yen. In March 2023, my wife and I visited Kyoto Imperial Palace to admire the cherry blossoms, followed by dessert. We had the option to choose between indoor or terrace seating. Since the weather was nice and it felt like spring, we chose the terrace. It was a lovely seat overlooking a beautiful courtyard. The menu offered a variety of Japanese sweets. I had the limited edition yomogi mochi with roasted green tea, while my wife had the seasonal sakura mochi with matcha. There were other tempting sweets on the menu, but they were all a bit pricey. Our order arrived promptly. The yomogi mochi came with 3 pieces topped with smooth red bean paste. The roasted green tea was served in a style where you pour hot water over the tea leaves, enough for about 3 cups. We also received a white soup with cherry blossom petals. The yomogi mochi had a light toasty flavor and a nice fragrance of yomogi. The sweetness of the red bean paste was subtle and elegant. The roasted green tea was also delicious, especially the first brew. Despite being a bit pricey, considering the atmosphere and sophistication, it may be worth it. Thank you for the meal."