I started lining up around 2:30 PM, and it was crowded because it was a holiday, but the turnover was faster than I expected, and I was able to get in after about a 30-minute wait. I ordered a set of rice cakes and matcha, and the rice cakes were very chewy and delicious. It was fun to grill them myself. The view was also nice as they seated us by the window, so I enjoyed myself while waiting. There was only a set with matcha and rice cakes, but since it was hot season, I thought it would be nice to have options for cold drinks like iced green tea. I would like to visit again when I come to Arashiyama.

Located just a minute's walk from Arashiyama Station on the Randen Arashiyama Line, this restaurant is a great spot for a break during a leisurely walk. Since I visited right after opening on a weekday, it was not crowded. The specialty here is the Hoku Hoku Dango Set and the special shaved ice for 3-4 people, mainly intended for groups. I ordered the Han'nari Blend Premium for 700 yen. It was served in about 3 minutes. They use organic coffee grown in the Yirgacheffe region of Ethiopia. While I didn't feel a premium quality, the coffee was delicious and safe. It's a straightforward Japanese-style cafe. Conveniently located in a tourist area for easy access.

I visited around 3 p.m. on a weekday, and the restaurant was full. There were many foreign customers. I waited for about 5 minutes and was seated in a tatami room. The tatami room was spacious and I could relax quietly. The parfait had more volume than I had imagined and I was full. The matcha ice cream was delicious. One disappointing point was that the restroom was not clean, possibly due to the many foreign customers.

As it is a tourist spot, the sweets are mass-produced. The matcha and hojicha parfait has ice cream and the cup is really cold, almost like it's been waiting in the freezer. After ordering, other toppings are added, so the spoon doesn't go through the ice cream right away. You have to wait a bit for it to be ready to eat. The restaurant has a miniature garden inside, giving a pseudo-Japanese garden vibe, which foreigners may like. The matcha in the set was just average.

I had been curious about eX cafe for a while. When I went around 3 o'clock, the wait time was short, and I was able to get in after about 10 minutes. Since it's summer, I was torn between having shaved ice and the dango (sweet rice dumplings) that I often see on Instagram. I decided to go with the dango! I was able to enjoy the rich and authentic taste of matcha.

A popular cafe where you can grill dumplings on a shichirin grill. Despite its popularity, the restaurant is spacious and you can usually get in without waiting in line. Their specialty is a set of small dumplings lightly grilled and served with red bean paste or sweet soy sauce. Grilling them just before serving gives the dumplings a fragrant, deliciously chewy texture of rice.

I finally visited the cafe I had been curious about! 😊 I arrived around 14:30 on a holiday and waited for about 30 minutes before being seated. It seems like the atmosphere varies depending on the seat, but I was guided to a bright window seat. I ordered the most popular dumpling set, and it was refreshing to grill it myself. It might be just right to share this! Surprisingly filling. They also brought the sweet soy sauce and red bean paste in separate containers, which was charming. The prices are on the higher side, so I think visiting once would be satisfying. The atmosphere is nice, so I recommend it. 👩‍🍳✨

I had been curious for a while, but kept missing the chance to visit. Just a 3-minute walk from Arashiyama Station. Luckily, we were seated right away. The Japanese-style room we were initially shown had beautiful sliding door paintings, but we moved to a semi-private sofa seat by the hallway. I tried the HANNARI BLEND PREMIUM for 660 yen, made with organic Ethiopian coffee beans. It had a rich flavor yet a refreshing aftertaste. They also offer self-grilled rice cakes and delicious-looking sweets. I'd love to visit again when in Arashiyama. This cafe offers different experiences depending on where you sit. I'll definitely be back.

This is a popular cafe in Arashiyama. I ordered a set of self-grilled rice dumplings. When you grill the rice dumplings, the texture changes surprisingly. The surface becomes crispy and crunchy, while the inside becomes very soft. It comes with sweet soy sauce and red bean paste, so you can taste them alternately. The view from the window is also wonderful, and I had a elegant time.

I visited during snack time on a weekday. There was a bit of a line, but it moved quickly. The table I was seated at was far from the garden, with a calm atmosphere by the wall. It seems not all tables have the bright, natural light and garden view like in the photos on the food review website. Some seats require taking off shoes, while others allow shoes, so the view from each seat can vary depending on when it becomes available. Overall, the atmosphere of the restaurant is nice, so I think any seat would be satisfying. I ordered the dumpling set. The dumplings, warmed on a charcoal brazier until slightly browned, were soft and delicious. (I ordered for 2 people and shared the brazier) The matcha wasn't too light or too strong, just right. While waiting for the dumplings to warm up, there's no rush to eat, making it perfect for relaxing and chatting. Highly recommended! (°´ ˘ `°)/

I was attracted by the idea of grilling my own dango, so I came to this place in Arashiyama. It seems to be a popular restaurant as there is a line. Most people seem to be ordering the dango set. I took off my shoes and sat at a quiet table with a view of the garden in the back. I was expecting the dango to be chewier, but it was soft. You can choose to have it with sweet red bean paste or mitarashi sauce. My friend ordered the roll cake, which turned out to be smaller than expected, making the table look crowded with the large plate. It was a nice place to enjoy the atmosphere.

This café in Arashiyama is popular among people exploring the area. It can get crowded after lunchtime. I ordered the following: - Fluffy Dumpling Set (1,540 yen): You can grill your own mugwort and white dumplings, which is quite fun and unique. They taste delicious with toppings like sweet soy sauce. - Tenryu-ji Temple Parfait Set (1,540 yen): A matcha parfait that was decent in taste. I personally liked it because I enjoy parfaits with shiratama balls. If you happen to be nearby, give it a try!

Arrived 15 minutes before opening on a Saturday during cherry blossom season. Already several groups lined up, and a line had formed 20 minutes after opening. It is recommended to line up before opening and order the classic dango set with mitarashi and azuki toppings. The dango was sweet, soft, and delicious. It paired well with the matcha.

During cherry blossom season and spring break, I visited Ix Cafe in Arashiyama, where many foreigners were also present. I was surprised to see a long line around lunchtime, but when I went in the evening, I was seated in about 10 minutes. I went for the rice cakes, but also wanted to try grilled fu, so I ordered the grilled mochi and zenzai set for 1,540 yen including tax. They asked if it was okay for three people to share two shichirin grills. The zenzai was just the right amount of sweetness, and the slightly burnt mochi was fragrant and delicious. The fu had flavors of mugwort, millet, and sesame, but lacked taste, so we also put it in the zenzai. The staff was friendly, and we had a great time enjoying a Kyoto holiday.

Due to its location in Arashiyama, both the interior and exterior of the restaurant had a very Kyoto-like atmosphere, which was very nice. This time, I ordered the parfait. The ice cream was very rich, and I could taste the flavors of matcha, roasted green tea, and purple sweet potato in just one bite. Although I didn't order it this time, there was someone grilling skewered dumplings, and the restaurant was filled with a delicious, fragrant smell. I happened to visit when it was not crowded, but when I left the restaurant, there were many people waiting in line.

I went there because I saw it on Instagram and was intrigued. The atmosphere was really stylish and I was impressed. I ordered the "hokuhoku dango set"! The dango, eaten with sweet red bean paste and special mitarashi sauce, was exquisite! The texture was chewy and delicious! The interior of the restaurant focused on traditional Japanese style, and you could enjoy cafe time with both table and tatami seating options! It's a perfect cafe to relax in Arashiyama!!

A stylish Japanese café with a traditional mansion converted into a café with a splendid entrance♪ Located in a quiet alley near the Randen Arashiyama Station, a bit off the main street, it's a serene and lovely place (*･ω･)ﾉ The interior exudes an artistic charm and is quite fashionable (see 4th photo)✨✨ I finally tried the "Hokuhoku Odango Set" that I've been curious about for a while (photos 1 to 3, 1,650 yen)ヽ(´▽｀)/ It comes with 3 pieces each of yomogi and shiro skewered dumplings, which you can grill on a shichirin to your liking (be careful not to burn them too much^^;). The unique feature of grilling the dumplings yourself is quite interesting (^^) It feels like a bit of a Kyoto-like experience♪ The set also includes a choice of drinks like matcha, iced tea, or orange juice. I chose matcha (I love bitter matcha~). The dumplings become crispy and fragrant on the outside when grilled, while remaining chewy and delicious inside (^_^) You can taste the sweetness as you chew (´∀｀) They go perfectly with matcha! Additionally, the café offers a "Kyoto Black Roll," a roll cake with a striking contrast between pure white cream and jet-black sponge. Since I went with a friend, we planned to order both the dumplings and the roll cake to share, but we arrived close to closing time (around 5 pm) and the roll cake was sold out (^◇^;)... So, I'll have to come back for the roll cake another time!

I stopped by for a mid-morning tea. The restaurant has a stylish appearance, and the interior is also stylish. Since it was mid-morning on a Monday, I was able to be seated without waiting, and the dishes arrived quickly. They are famous for the self-grilled dumplings. If you leave them unattended, they may get a little burnt, but if you slowly grill them while turning them, they turn into a very chewy and soft dumpling. I preferred mine with sweet soy sauce. Thank you for the meal.

It was a trendy restaurant on social media, so I didn't have high expectations for the taste, thinking it was mainly for the aesthetics, but I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was. The grilled rice cakes were impressive. Although it was a DIY type where you grill it yourself, it was a bit tricky to get the rice cake to stick to the grill without peeling off. The rice cake was slightly sweet, with a texture more "fluffy" than "chewy," which was a delightful and surprising new sensation. I ordered the parfait with bracken rice cake, red bean, soybean flour, black honey ice cream, purple sweet potato ice cream, and Yatsuhashi. I love all of these sweets, so I was very satisfied. The bracken rice cake was chewy and delicious, and all the ice creams had a strong taste of their ingredients, making them very delicious. It's a popular place, so it can get crowded, but the turnover is quick, so if you have the time, I highly recommend giving it a try. Thank you for the meal!

A spacious cafe near Arashiyama Station with always a line, but surprisingly fast turnover. A versatile place suitable for both families with children and everyday dates for under 2,000 yen. Around 12:30 on weekends, about 10-15 groups were waiting outside while the place was full. We were able to get in after about 20 minutes. There were chairs to sit on while waiting, so it didn't feel like a long wait. [What we ate] Fluffy Dumpling Set ¥1540, Katsura River Parfait Set ¥1430. You bake the dumplings yourself. The slightly burnt and warm dumplings were delicious. The parfait wasn't overloaded with cornflakes and was really tasty. Honestly, I was worried it might be just for show, but it turned out to be unfounded. While not super cheap, it's not too expensive either, probably affordable for students. Overall, it was a "Yes!" for mid-spenders. Thank you for the meal ★