Visited the main store of "Saitoshi," a pickle specialty shop representing Kyoto. Although it was founded in 1940, it is relatively young in terms of history in Kyoto. They also offer bread and sweets, such as the Sweet Koji-Aged Bread (¥756). Using rice and koji mold, they enhance the sweetness. It was delicious! Even though I thought it was out of their field, it was surprisingly good. The texture was soft but not the airy kind, more like a luxurious softness. The moisture level was high, giving a sticky feeling. The crust was not too dry, matching the softness of the bread. And then, there was a moment of acidity or depth, followed by a gentle sweetness. This must be the work of koji or the uniqueness of "Saitoshi." It was delicious! I will definitely buy it again!

In 1976, they won the Prime Minister's Award with their Senmaizuke. This traditional pickle shop continues to refine its flavors every day. In addition to classic items like Senmaizuke, they also offer unique pickles like Yuzu Miso Gobo that are delicious. With a wide variety to choose from, it's recommended even for those who aren't fans of pickles!

I visited this place during my trip to Kyoto. The second floor is a cafe space where you can enjoy original sweets with sweet koji. I tried the soft serve ice cream (matcha x vanilla) and it had a pleasant koji aroma with a refreshing sweetness. The cafe space is quite spacious, so you can relax comfortably while maintaining social distance.

When it comes to pickles in Kyoto, Nishitoshi is the best. I bought two items. One is the representative Kyoto pickles, Senmaizuke 100g for 795 yen (tax included). The thinly sliced Seigoin kabura has a refreshing taste and texture. The other item is Daikon Yuzu 1/4 for 540 yen (tax included). The chopped yuzu peel on the daikon gives off a nice fragrance.

During a trip to Kyoto, I stopped by Nishi Toshihon-ten in front of Nishi Honganji Temple. The tour guide mentioned that their bread is popular, so I decided to check out the cafe on the second floor instead of getting pickles. I tried the roll bread and then the sweet koji soft serve. It was delicious and not overly sweet. My coworker had the gelato, which was also good. The soft serve had a nice aroma, maybe from the koji.

Visit on August 23, 2022 ☆ Kyoto's Lightly Pickled Daikon for 594 yen After trying 11 types of miso in Kyoto, the next must-try is definitely pickles. I visited the main store of Nishiri near my hotel. Located in front of Nishi Honganji Temple in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, the main store showcases five brands by Nishiri: "Kyoto Tsukemono Nishiri," "Kobo Nishiri," "Fermented Life," "AMACO," and "Fudo Shokuhin." They offer a variety of items to enjoy with rice, such as Kyoto pickles, Nishiki pickles, and furikake, as well as dressings, soups, bread, and sweets that make everyday meals more enjoyable. Among them, the "Kyoto's Lightly Pickled Daikon" is made by lightly pickling daikon in a kombu bed. Its unique freshness and umami are the natural essence of deliciousness itself.

On the way back from Sanzen-in Temple, I did some shopping at the famous pickles shop "Nishitoshi" in Kyoto! The store was packed with tourists, but the staff were so busy yet humble and polite, which is typical of a long-established shop, right? The purple pickles cost 500 yen including tax, made with cucumber and eggplant pickled lightly with green shiso, ginger, and myoga. It's a type of pickled vegetable, isn't it? The taste is indeed elegant and crunchy! But a bit pricey (laughs). The black seven-spice curry costs 500 yen including tax, made with the black seven-spice from Harinokaku. As expected, the spices give it a spicy flavor - it was delicious!

On March 26, 2022, in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, in front of Nishi Hongan-ji Temple, there is "Kyotsukemono Nishi Toshi" shop. There are many pickled vegetable shops in Kyoto, but personally, I think "Nishi Toshi" is the easiest to eat. They have a wide variety of pickled vegetables for souvenirs, so I look forward to it every time. ● Taste small bags 6 bags 1,100 yen A popular set of six Kyoto pickles. (Shiba-zuke, shiso seed pickles, hari hari pickles, aji suguki, red shiso murasaki, uri sansho) It's recommended as a small gift for those who you are grateful for. I have repeated it several times and it was well received as pickles are loved by many people.

Founded in 1940, this Kyoto pickles shop has a long history, with the current owner being the 4th generation, Seiichi Hirai. One of their popular products is the "Senmaizuke," which won the Prime Minister's Award at the Kyoto Shiga Pickle Exhibition in 1976. Made with thinly sliced Kabura turnips from contracted farmers and Hokkaido kelp, this pickle has a subtle sweetness and tangy flavor. Another seasonal favorite is the "Nanohana-zuke," a spring limited edition pickle with a vibrant green color and a hint of bitterness typical of Nanohana flowers. It's a refreshing pickle that captures the essence of spring.

I stopped by after a long time. I tried some samples on the 2nd floor (*˘︶˘*) They offered tea and white wine... but since it was still in the 8:00s, I went with tea. There were about 7-8 different types available. On the 1st floor, they have samples of all varieties. I ended up choosing one that can be stored at room temperature, just in case it gets damaged on the way home.

We visited Nishitoshi, the representative pickles shop in Kyoto. It is located on the east side of Nishi Honganji Temple. They offer dozens of varieties of pickles, all of which were delicious. It was enjoyable to choose from a variety of options such as turnips, radishes, eggplants, and ginger. They also offer a course that includes wine tasting along with pickles, but reservations are required.

The other day, I treated my subordinate to a meal at a new top-notch restaurant in Ikebukuro, and as a souvenir from their business trip, they brought me this! Ta-da! It looks like this... It's a traditional Kyoto pickled dish called "Nishitoshi Senmaizuke." I received this high-quality pickled dish as a gift, and I have a weakness for limited edition items, being a typical Japanese person... haha Here is the leaflet with more details... I transferred it from the packaging to a storage container! Let's try this Nishitoshi Senmaizuke... A little bite... Crunch! Wow... it has a very gentle flavor, slightly sweet and rich in umami... It's supposed to be cut like a pizza, but I found it easier to just eat it as a side dish with rice. Thank you for this nice gift!

I received bamboo shoot and sansho pepper pickles as a souvenir from relatives who transferred to Kyoto. The next morning after staying overnight for a visit to Nishi Honganji Temple, I went shopping near the temple's entrance at the main store. I bought some incense, pine wind, and then headed to Nishitoshi. The main store is impressive. There were no customers around the time it opened. I purchased pickled vegetables like pickled turnips and senmai-zuke. Suddenly, I saw bamboo shoot and sansho pepper pickles, which are limited to Kyoto. No wonder I couldn't find them anywhere else. The crispy texture of the bamboo shoots and the spiciness of the sansho pepper are very delicious. I ended up buying two bags. I'm happy. I'll buy from here in the future since I come here regularly. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the products. It's helpful to be able to consult with them and try samples. I believe the store opens at 9 am. The joy is the taste of the capital, Kyoto's news, your heart quickly, the taste of the royal dynasty as a souvenir from Kyoto, wrapping paper says "Kyoto stands out."

The eggplant in water is amazing.