Around noon on March 12, 2023, when strolling along the river, I found a place to rest and had Nishin soba for 850 yen. The broth, made in the Kansai style, was richly flavored, and the warm soba was enjoyable to eat outside. There was a whole herring in the dish, providing a satisfying experience. This place is recommended for when you're tired from walking too much in Arashiyama. You can also enjoy some alcohol here!

Today, I visited Arashiyama, which is quite rare for me (^_^)/ Tourist spots like this are often more familiar to repeat visitors than to locals, right? Well, that's not always the case, haha. I tried to explore the area from a local perspective, but it's impossible to cover everything in one day, so I decided to split my exploration into about 10 visits. I chose to park near Kiyomizudera Temple instead of the main parking lot and started my walk from Marutamachi towards Togetsukyo Bridge. It was a Thursday, but there were so many people around. I wandered off the main path several times before finally reaching Togetsukyo Bridge after 2 hours of walking. By then, I was tired and hungry, so I wanted to find a place to eat. I passed by a crowded soba shop and a coffee shop before stumbling upon a cozy tea house with lanterns advertising herring soba, tofu hot pot, tempura, and oden. I decided to eat there. The staff led me to the second floor, which surprised me as I didn't expect a two-story establishment. When the second floor was full, they led me to a tatami room on the first floor, which was warm and cozy. Lucky me! I ordered the parent and child rice bowl, which was quite soupy, and a mini soba. The rice bowl came with clams simmered in soy sauce and pickled radish with cherry blossom. The soba portion was not so mini, but it was delicious. I also saw another customer's order of oden, which looked very hearty. I was already full, so I couldn't try it. The individual oden dish seemed like a great deal at 700 yen for 6 items. The view of Arashiyama from the tatami room was lovely, and they served hot tea in a teapot for refills. I felt like I had found a great little spot away from the touristy prices. (^_^)/

On the second day of a leisurely Kyoto sightseeing trip with my wife, we visited Arashiyama for the first time. We took a leisurely tram ride there, but it was crowded with people. Although there were fewer people compared to before the pandemic, we still felt uncomfortable. Unable to enter the shops we had checked beforehand, we ended up just walking around, exploring the area, admiring the bamboo forests, the scenery, and the temples along the river. We eventually found a less crowded restaurant by the river with a great view. We decided to stay there and enjoy some beer, udon noodles, and hot tofu. However, the hot tofu took a long time to boil because the gas burner was weak. The mountain vegetables in the udon were too tough, and the udon itself was just okay. When we finished eating, the hot tofu still hadn't boiled. When we asked the old lady running the restaurant, she said she needed to change the gas canister, which we had already suggested earlier. It was disappointing to receive such poor service, especially after experiencing the amazing hospitality in Kyoto in the morning. In the end, we realized that people make a big difference in the overall experience.

When going to Arashiyama, you can walk from Togetsukyo Bridge, and near the end point of the Hozugawa River boat ride, there is the Kameyama-ya restaurant. It is open and has a great location with excellent views and ventilation, making it an ideal lunch spot. I ordered the oden set meal and was surprised by the generous portion. There was a lot of rice and oden, as well as side dishes and a mandarin orange. It cost 1200 yen, so I thought it was reasonable, but I regret not being able to savor it more because I was in a hurry and didn't have much time to eat. I would like to go back and enjoy a leisurely meal next time.

I visited Arashiyama in Kyoto using the Go To Travel campaign. I found a charming tea house by the Oigawa River (officially known as the Katsura River) with a great atmosphere. The background music was the sound of cicadas. Even though the adults were full, the kids were hungry, so we had some simple udon noodles. They also had shaved ice. Many people were enjoying a beer and taking a relaxing break. My son had Tsukimi Udon, I had Ramune, my husband had cola, and my daughter had Zaru Udon. The location was absolutely stunning. Such a picturesque spot. I definitely want to go back. Next time, I'll take my son on a blue boat ride.

After finishing the boat ride on the Hozu River, we took a break at a tea house. My husband said, "I want shaved ice," but then changed his mind to "I'll have a beer." When he heard "beer," beer won. It's such a charming building, isn't it? I wonder if it survived the heavy rain that hit Arashiyama a few years ago. When we ordered beer, they even brought us some dried persimmons. How nice! Sitting in a tea house that feels like it came out of a Japanese fairy tale, sipping beer while gazing at the river in front of us, it's a blissful moment. Thank you for the meal.

Holiday on November 23rd. Strolling through the autumn leaves of Sagano. In the morning, smoothly visited the temples I wanted to see, then headed to Arashiyama for lunch. Oh no! Main street restaurants were all packed with long lines, and Togetsukyo Bridge was crowded like a New Year's shrine visit. I had anticipated it, but it turned out to be unexpectedly overwhelming. Arashiyama is a bit secluded along the Katsura River, surely a hidden gem. We had decided to have lunch here (around 11:45). Despite my bad feeling, we were luckily seated in about 15 minutes with a few people waiting. In the tatami room, there was only us and another young couple. The weather was nice and warm, so I opened the window to a tranquil view of the Katsura River. It was a pleasant afternoon. We ordered a large bottle of Kirin beer, oden, and yudofu separately, and my friend, after much contemplation, decided on nabeyaki udon. The oden had a rich Kanto-style appearance, especially the daikon was well-prepared with a deep flavor. Delicious. The yudofu, although not from Moritoufu, had a strong soybean taste showing its high quality. And the nabeyaki udon. This unexpectedly delicious dish was aptly named "Special Kyoto-style Nabeyaki Udon." It was incredibly luxurious and voluminous with lavish ingredients. The broth was flavorful, and the price was quite reasonable for this level of quality. Honestly, I didn't expect it to be this good, so it was a delightful surprise. There are several famous restaurants around serving lunchtime yudofu for over 3000 yen, but why not avoid the tiresome long lines and the bustling crowds akin to a shrine visit and instead enjoy a leisurely time gazing at the yakatabune floating on the Katsura River. (Especially recommended for those with small children in the back room.) Thank you for the meal. I will definitely visit again if given the chance.

I stopped by Yusai-tei on my way back. The prices are quite reasonable for Arashiyama. I had a meal on the terrace, and even though it was cold due to the season, it was nice to dine while looking outside.

This is the kind of place that feels well-made.

Oden set meal for 1,000 yen. Comes with dessert of kashiwa mochi. Very filling.

"Ice Uji Matcha Milk"

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆February 2023☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ Last July, after riding a trolley train and going down the Hozugawa River with four friends I've known for 50 years, we stopped by for a late lunch. I noticed that there were new additions to the menu, such as a tempura assortment and dashimaki. When I checked the restaurant information on Tabelog, I found that it was incomplete, so I revisited the restaurant in February to confirm the details with the staff and updated the information accordingly. ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆August 2014☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ On September 16, 2013, Arashiyama was hit hard by Typhoon No. 18, causing flooding up to the floor level. I wondered if the Kameyama family was safe. In April 2014, I revisited the area and was relieved to find that the restaurant was still operating. The interior had been slightly renovated, with a new table near the entrance, two tables in the back, and a raised tatami area in between. I decided to splurge on the ¥1,600 Yudofu set, which had increased slightly in price due to the consumption tax hike. The set included a block of yudofu, five small side dishes, pickles, and even sakuramochi for dessert. The portion was surprisingly generous, and I couldn't finish it all. Unfortunately, Arashiyama experienced flooding again in August, but when I checked in late August, the restaurant was still open. The landlady mentioned that if the water level had risen by just one more centimeter on the 11th, the refrigerator motor would have been damaged. It was fortunate that nearby inns had evacuated guests early, minimizing the damage. I ordered cold tofu and beer to celebrate their safety, and was surprised to find that the portion had changed from previous years. The price had also been halved, and set meals were no longer on the menu. It seemed like the system had changed. ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆February 2012☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ This quaint tea shop is located a few minutes upstream on the left bank of the Hozugawa River from Togetsukyo Bridge. A signboard for Matsurian is displayed at the entrance, indicating that this is the only dining place upstream. The interior consists of one table seating and a raised tatami area, with a low table placed at the entrance for weary travelers to take a break. The atmosphere is not particularly clean, and the service is quite indifferent. Most customers seem to be Kansai locals who have come to nearby attractions for a casual visit. It's not a place people would specifically come for, but the low prices and decent food make it a pleasant stop. The lack of glass windows and the open layout are actually quite nice, allowing a cool breeze to flow in from the river in the summer. Enjoying a cold tofu and beer while watching the boats on the Hozugawa River is a relaxing experience, even during peak season when there are no long lines. I appreciate being able to unwind in a laid-back environment. The selection of bottled beer from Kirin and Asahi is a plus. I believe they may also offer Sapporo in cans. Curious to explore, I made a special trip to Arashiyama for this restaurant. Plastic sheets covered the windows, and a stove was burning inside, likely to keep warm in the cold season.

I visited for the first time and enjoyed oden and hot sake in a small raised tatami room. The presentation of the oden was amazing! I had a relaxing and wonderful time. Maybe I've become a regular at this tea shop with hot sake. Kameyama-ya restaurant, Kyoto City, Ukyo-ku, Saga Kamenoo-cho, 616-8386.

There are several high-end restaurants on the upstream side of Togetsukyo Bridge. Further upstream near the "Hozugawa Kudari Dock", there is a tea house called Kameyamaya. The side facing the river inside the shop is covered with vinyl and looks a bit cold. The interior of the shop is not very clean, and the service is indifferent. The shop has a stove burning, so it was warm inside. I ordered a hot sake first to warm up my body, and then carefully looked at the menu and ordered the Yudofu set meal. The dishes brought to me were placed on a tray with 7 items, all of which looked delicious. In particular, the daikon radish in the oden had a delicious flavor. I'm glad I didn't force myself to go to an expensive restaurant. The Yudofu set meal was 1,500 yen, and 2 cups of sake were 500 yen. It's a great deal.

Kyoto Study Group - Sightseeing Gourmet Mystery ~Arashiyama~ <Kameyama-ya> 2013-01-17 Theme: Japanese Cuisine Mystery On the morning of the 4th day in Kyoto, after a cycling tour in the morning, it's time for lunch with a hungry stomach. When you reach Togetsukyo Bridge, walk along Oi River towards Kameyama Park. Just near the stairs leading to Kameyama Park, you will find a shop called "Kameyama-ya." This lovely shop offers Kyoto's local dishes, Yudofu, and other dishes at very reasonable prices. Looking at the menu displayed outside the shop, you can feel assured by the affordable pricing. As soon as the shop opens for lunch, we entered the shop. The interior has a kitchen indoors and customer seating in a semi-outdoor terrace with a roof. It's nice to have a meal while overlooking Oi River, providing a sense of openness. The first thing we ordered was the "Yudofu." I love tofu, so I could eat it over and over again. And it's only ¥700, which is really reasonable. To accompany it, we also ordered a "Suntory Premium Malt" for ¥350, which is quite affordable compared to hotel prices. While waiting for the Yudofu to be ready, we enjoyed some "Oden" for ¥600. It was full of ingredients like daikon, konjac, thick fried tofu, white konjac, egg, burdock roll, and bamboo ring. The color was vibrant, and the dashi was rich and flavorful, making the beer go down smoothly. The egg, soaked in the broth, was delicious, especially when eaten with the yolk and broth together. Finally, the Yudofu set arrived with condiments such as green onions, grated ginger, and soy sauce with kelp dashi. The tofu, simmered in the soy sauce broth, had a firm and chewy texture, melting in the mouth. It had a subtle sweetness and a strong umami flavor from the dashi. Feeling satisfied after enjoying the Yudofu and Oden so much, we couldn't resist ordering one more dish, the "Takoburidon" for ¥700. The bowl was filled with luxurious ingredients like fish cake, crab claw, shrimp, rolled omelet, taro, shiitake mushroom, seaweed, and wheat gluten. The aroma of the broth from the bowl was wonderful, lifting our spirits. The Udon noodles were soft and slightly chewy, soaking up the broth's gentle flavor. Each ingredient was delicious, but the rolled omelet stood out with its amazing texture and flavor. The combination of the gentle broth and the soft egg was so delicious that we wanted to eat more. After eating so heartily, both our active morning bodies and satisfied stomachs were content. We recharged for the afternoon, feeling good from the delicious meal wrapped in a fragrant broth.

Honestly, I hesitate to give an overall rating of 3 or higher, but personally, this is a place I really like. The atmosphere and location are fantastic. It's just a little upstream from the boat landing for the Hozugawa River cruise in Arashiyama. There's even a sign saying "Almost at Matsurian" which made me think, "Can they really put up signs for other shops at the entrance??" The service is casual and laid-back, and the prices are more reasonable compared to other nearby shops. Most of the seating is outdoors, so it's perfect for relaxing and gazing at the river in the summer. I was also impressed by how they serve the canned drinks. Having a canned drink here is also a fun way to enjoy Arashiyama, don't you think?