The atmosphere is a stylish space that makes good use of space and light. I ordered the matcha shaved ice. As a fan of red beans, I can tell they were likely from a can. Since it's not a food stall, it would be better to avoid disposable containers. Being located in Goshonai, I felt that if they want to preserve the name of the long-established store, they should provide a level of quality that conveys a sense of commitment, even if it's a bit expensive.

I arrived in Kyoto in time for the bonfire event and decided to visit Kyoto Imperial Palace for a viewing. I also had another purpose in mind, which was to visit this shop. Until August 16th, they were selling a "Daimonji Soda" for 700 yen (including 10% tax). It was a light purple soda with vanilla ice cream on top, shaped like the character "大" (dai) in Japanese. It was made of agar jelly. It was cute and satisfying.

At 2 o'clock on a Sunday. The sun was strong and it was hot, making me feel a bit dizzy. To escape the heat, I decided to visit Kyoto Imperial Palace. This place always seems crowded since it opened, but surprisingly it was not busy when I visited. I was looking for something to cool down, so I ordered a shaved ice. The special one came with ice cream and rice cakes. The name "special" felt a bit out of place, maybe a more traditional name would be better? However, it had a strong matcha flavor and the quality was good. The disposable bowl and spoon, even though made from recycled materials, had a slightly unpleasant feel. The customers were a mix of Japanese and foreigners. The restroom was spacious and clean. Overall, the place had a great view with its glass windows. I think it would be amazing during cherry blossom season. If it's not crowded, I wouldn't mind coming back again.

A long-established cafe located inside the Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens. It's more like a corner of a free rest area where you can order items. You don't have to order anything since it's a rest area, but it's self-service. The atmosphere is very nice and relaxing. The drink in the glass is not alcohol, but cold gyokuro tea. It's from a brand called Gyokuto. It's a bit pricey at 1000 yen, but delicious. The dorayaki is also above average in taste, but at 950 yen, it's a bit expensive. If you're visiting the Kyoto Imperial Palace, be sure to stop by.

Visited for the first time at around 10:23 on a Saturday in June 2023. "SASAYAIORI+ Kyoto Gyoen" is a self-service style cafe affiliated with the long-established Kyoto confectionery shop "Sasaya Iori," located within the Kyoto Imperial Palace grounds as the name suggests. The approach and atmosphere perfectly match the scenery here. The interior of the cafe features counter seats by the window where you can enjoy the view outside, table seats in the center, and additional counter seats, all spaced widely apart, creating an open and spacious feel. The cafe, which opened in May 2022, is new and clean. I stopped by for a moment before lunch on this day, and there were already quite a few other customers. I managed to secure an available seat by the window and then went to the counter to place my order. I purchased Kyoto Uji Gyokuro TAMAUSAGI (220ml bottle) for 1,000 yen and the limited edition Fuku Lai Dorayaki Plain for 400 yen, both including tax. After a while, the ordered items were brought to my seat. First, I took a sip of the Kyoto Uji Gyokuro TAMAUSAGI. Oh, it has a rich flavor, very delicious. I was able to appreciate the deliciousness of Gyokuro once again. The bottle using a light-shielding container is also lovely. Next, I tried the limited edition Fuku Lai Dorayaki Plain. The name was written with a pun on the word "fukurai," and as the name suggests, the dorayaki's dough was fluffy. The red bean paste sandwiched inside was warm and also very tasty. Personally, I think ordering this plain version was the right choice, as it was a very high-quality dish. It was a comforting moment to relax while looking at the lush green view outside. It was a delightful meal! Thank you!

Went to Kyoto Imperial Palace to see the cherry blossoms. The place that used to be Toraya is now a cafe run by Sasaya Iori. It's a bit chic. The tea menu and sweets look delicious, but since I hadn't had my morning coffee, I went for the coffee without hesitation. The iced coffee was delicious. The atmosphere is also nice. It's great to sit outside on the bench on a sunny day. Next time, I'll try the tea and sweets. Thank you for the meal. I'll visit again!

This is a glass-walled rest area located at the site of the former Konoe residence in Kyoto Gyoen, famous for its early blooming weeping cherry blossoms known as "Itozakura". It is run by Iori Sasatani, who sells the traditional Kyoto sweet "dorayaki" near Toji Temple. The dorayaki available to eat inside are not your typical ones, as they are creatively filled with various ingredients. For takeout, they are elegantly presented on a tray, and you can return the tray inside after enjoying your treat outside. On this day, the indoor seating was full of cherry blossom viewers, so I opted for the seasonal "Sakura Special" dorayaki under a cherry blossom tree. It was a bit pricey, but the experience was quite delightful.

Returning visit. I couldn't resist stopping by, lured by the spring weather. If you return the plates, you can take the dessert outside with you and enjoy it in the Imperial Palace grounds. The seasonal items are great, and having Sakaya Iori in the sunshine at the Imperial Palace is truly a special treat. This has significantly improved the service and cost performance from last time. Fukkura Dorayaki Sakura Special (¥950) comes with vanilla ice cream as a special treat. Dorayaki with shiratama, pickled cherry blossoms, sakura bean paste - enjoying this in the warm weather, surrounded by greenery and children's laughter, is pure bliss. This is what it's all about. Fantastic. It's clear that the restaurant lives up to its name. The concept is truly wonderful.

A cafe where you can enjoy traditional Japanese sweets that opened in the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It is affiliated with the famous Japanese confectionery store Sasaya Iori. The Imperial Palace is located in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. After the Meiji Restoration, the Imperial Palace was moved to Tokyo and the surrounding noble residences were demolished. Following the Emperor Meiji's wishes, the area was developed into a park. There was construction work going on last year, but I finally got to visit. I had a dorayaki and roasted green tea, which cost around 800 yen. It may seem a bit pricey, with the dorayaki at 400 yen and the tea at 400 yen, but considering it's a new establishment and the challenges of construction, it's understandable. The taste was decent, but the location is superb. I can't stress enough how enjoyable it is to savor traditional Japanese sweets while watching people stroll by, surrounded by flowers and earthen walls.

Visited with my partner. It's close if you go from Imadegawa Station, but far from Marutamachi, for example. It's fun to walk around while going. It was a little past 1 PM, but we were able to sit right as people were leaving. There were table seats in the middle, but the others faced the window and had a view of the garden, which was very pleasant. It was cold, so I ordered a hot green tea and my partner got a cafe au lait, along with a plain dorayaki and a colorful dorayaki. The dorayaki was quite sweet, especially the colorful one with cream inside. The green tea was just right! The fluffy texture of the dorayaki made it easy to eat. Including the atmosphere, I give this place a high score! I want to visit again!

Today, I took a break here and visited the Kyoto Imperial Palace. I spent some time exploring (no reservation required, free to visit). Afterwards, I felt like having something sweet, so I had a set of "mitarashi dango and hojicha" at a nearby shop. The shop was spacious with large windows that let in natural light, creating a bright and quiet atmosphere, perfect for reading. The mitarashi dango was smooth and soft, with a sweet soy sauce glaze that soaked into the body. I don't usually drink hojicha, but the ambiance made it taste even better. It was a delicious experience.

♡【SASAYAIORI + Kyoto Imperial Palace】♡ Kyoto ❤︎‬Imadegawa ♡ Matcha Parfait ¥1200♡ "SASAYAIORI +" is a cafe run by the established traditional Japanese confectionery store "Sasaya Iori," founded in 1716, as a place for new initiatives beyond the framework of a long-established Japanese sweets shop. They offer a variety of Japanese sweets such as anmitsu, mitarashi dango, kakigori, and ice cream sandwiches, as well as drinks centered around matcha and hojicha, bottled Uji gyokuro and matcha beer. The space is designed to capture the beautiful greenery and sunlight of the Imperial Palace through glass windows, catering not only to eat-in customers but also to take-out orders. ♡ The classic Kyoto sweet "Matcha Parfait" features layers of matcha ice cream, shiratama, and sweet red bean paste topped with matcha jelly made in-store. The crispy and fragrant senbei-like texture of the traditional-style crispy rice cracker is so light that it makes a sound when you bite into it, making it worth savoring on its own. The combination of flavors and textures in the parfait is beautifully presented, showcasing the careful craftsmanship put into each component.♡ Restaurant Name: SASAYAIORI+ Kyoto Imperial PalaceReservation: Not availableAccess: 5-minute walk from Imadegawa Station, 321m from Imadegawa StationBusiness Hours: 10:00-16:30Closed on Mondays♡#SASAYAIORI

With the Kyoto Imperial Palace being open to the public year-round, the number of tourists visiting the Kyoto Imperial Garden has increased significantly. In response to this, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop called Sasaya Iori has opened a new café. I finally mustered up the courage to go inside and try their specialty "Fukkura Dorayaki" in plain and Uji matcha flavors, along with a hojicha drink. Although the café was full and I originally planned to take my order to go, a table opened up while I was waiting for my order, so I decided to dine in. Sasaya Iori is known for their unique "Dorayaki" which is different from the regular kind, but unfortunately, it was only available on certain days. The Dorayaki we had was freshly made and had a decent taste, although it was a bit pricey. The hojicha drink came in a teabag form and was also quite delicious. They mentioned that one teabag could make two cups, so I even got a refill. Overall, the café has a great location and is a relaxing place to visit, as long as you avoid peak hours.

◆Turning a great dish into a masterpiece, the matcha parfait combines the subtle bitterness of matcha with the rich sweetness of red bean paste, all embraced by the chewy softness of white mochi. The refreshing crunch of agar jelly adds a cool touch to the ensemble. The slightly bitter green tea ice cream paired perfectly with it.◆Menu Highlight: Matcha Parfait with Green Tea Ice Cream (Daytime) for 1600 yen per person.◆How to Enjoy this Restaurant: Located in the Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens, this tea house is run by the renowned 300-year-old traditional Japanese confectionery shop, Sasaya Iori. The addition of the "+" in the name symbolizes their innovative approach. Opened in May 2022.◆Order Details: The matcha parfait costs 1100 yen, while the green tea ice cream is 500 yen.◆Source: Instagram post by Kyoto News. Thank you for the delicious meal!

In the morning, before running errands in the city, I wanted to take a short walk and decided to have morning tea with a friend who lives near the Kyoto Imperial Palace. We were torn between going to Toraya Tea Room or another place, but Toraya didn't have coffee, so we chose the other place where they served coffee. I wanted to try the autumn wagashi, so I ordered the matcha set. I hadn't eaten anything that morning, so I was a bit worried about having matcha, but they didn't have hojicha in the set. I tried to exchange it for hojicha a few times, but it wasn't allowed. I chose the autumn chestnut sweet, which was delicious with the light green matcha. My friend had dorayaki and coffee, as dorayaki is popular at this place. After having matcha, I ended up craving coffee, so I had that too. The restaurant had mostly glass walls, offering a view of the Imperial Palace walls, pine trees, and cherry blossoms in spring. The restroom was clean and the place was not crowded, probably because it's not well-known yet. It has become my favorite spot, even though it's easy to end up at Toraya Tea Room due to the free parking at Hashidono Gate. If you take the subway, it's a short walk from Imadegawa Station, making it convenient to stroll around the Imperial Palace grounds and nearby paths. My friend, who lives nearby, goes through the palace grounds every day to work, so she knows the area well and recommended this nice spot. I'm looking forward to enjoying the autumn foliage here.

Arrived in the early afternoon on a normal day. Since it was raining, there were only about 3 customers. This shop is self-service. The parfait is very delicious. They also have shaved ice for dogs. The surrounding scenery is wonderful, making it a calm place to enjoy tea.

We promised to go together a long time ago, and finally met after a long time. The usual Kabocha-go is parked at the meeting spot. I parked my car at a nearby parking lot and headed to our destination on the Kabocha-go. Today, we don't have much time, not until midnight, but around 4 pm. I'm not wearing glass heels, just my old N1400. We parked the Kabocha-go at the parking lot near Hamaguri-mon and took a walk around the former residence of the Konoe family near Imadegawa. It's extremely hot! We arrived at a recently opened cafe located in a beautiful wooden building near the Konoe family's former residence. The cafe sells coffee and Japanese sweets. The cafe room is mostly made of glass with a high and elegant wooden ceiling. From inside, you can see the earth walls of the former residence and the greenery of the trees abundantly. It's a fantastic location! Inside, the greenery is so refreshing that you can hardly believe the heat outside. We sat side by side, enjoying the view outside while eating shaved ice. I had the Uji matcha Kinako special with shiratama. My friend had the milk Kinako special. The shaved ice here is different from what I usually choose, but the staff kindly chose it for me. We haven't seen each other since around April, so we had a lot to catch up on. The shaved ice was delicious, especially the red bean paste. The atmosphere was quiet and pleasant, making it a nice place to relax alone. The restroom was clean, and the staff were friendly. Although I like Toraya, I also really liked this place. Toraya has free parking, but here you have to park at the Hamaguri-mon parking lot, which can be a bit more expensive. If you take the subway, it's just a short walk from Imadegawa station.

It's already July and the hydrangea season is over. In the season of the sun, I stopped my car and found a bit of shade on my way to the cafe. The vibrant green Kyoto Imperial Palace garden has a new cafe called Sasaya Iori. I rarely eat shaved ice, but I tried two kinds: Milk Sweet Potato Special and Uji Sweet Potato Special. They were sweet but not too sweet, with a nice refreshing texture. It felt like we were measuring the time it took for the shaved ice to melt as we chatted! As always, the conversation was a bit melancholic, but the words were gentle, and I had a lovely time. I'll wander off to somewhere else again soon!

Located on the north side of Kyoto Imperial Palace, near the Kondo Residence Rest Area and close to Kandaimon Gate, this shop has a wonderful location. It is a sister store of the renowned Kyoto traditional Japanese sweets shop, Sasaya Iori. The shop inside the Imperial Palace grounds has a modern Japanese atmosphere and offers the option to eat in. The sweets and drinks available are limited but reasonably priced, making it a good place to take a break. I tried their monaka (sweet bean-filled wafers) and high-quality tea served in a fancy bottle, and the quality was excellent. It would be even better if they had more variety. If it's not too crowded, it's a nice spot to relax while enjoying simple treats. I would like to revisit during the lush green season or when it's snowing.

It was a cafe located near Imadegawa Station in the Imperial Palace area, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Imperial Palace luxuriously. The atmosphere inside the cafe and the seating are Japanese-style and have a calm atmosphere, plus the view of the Imperial Palace from the window is very nice. I visited during the season of fresh greenery, but it is expected to be very crowded during the cherry blossom season.