Day 13: Sosoan, Kyoto

Previously:
Day 13: Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Stairs, Kyoto

Philosopher's Path

Sosoan Restaurant, Kyoto

Kyoto is also known as a tofu town.  I have seen from few blogs mentioning that Sosoan restaurant is one of restaurant that serving a tofu set course menu.  Located near the Philosopher's Path, make it easy to find.  The dining area is located on the second floor.  However, there is only one waitress in the restaurant and she couldn't speak English at all.  She brought this piece of paper only with 2 or 3 price lists and how many food in that set. Without knowing what the list of food that we will be getting, we choose from the price that suit our budget then gambling from there and hope she will serve a good tofu meal.

Agedashi tofu

Tofu and seaweed soup

Grilled fish



Stew figs with bean curd milk

 This dish that got me remember.  Tofu or bean curd is pretty normal in savoury dishes for me, but for dessert is still unusual.  The figs were cooked beautifully, soft yet still have this crunchy texture on but once they mixed with the bean curd soup, taste kinda weird.

Overall, we quite disappointed with this meal although this was quite unique and interesting meal that I ever had.  I mean, they presented the food beautifully but for the taste is slightly out of my ordinary radar. Generally, I like my bean curd or I even adore soy milk but they way they put them all together as a complete dish wasn't appealing to me in the matter of flavour-wise.  Lack of seasoning especially for the bean curd soup and their dessert.

So So An Restaurant, kyoto
A block away from Philosopher's path and near the Honenin Temple
Ph: 075-352-3131


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:
Day 13: Arashiyama, Kyoto

Day 13: Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Stairs, Kyoto

Previously:
Day 13: Kiyomizudera, Kyoto

An amazing and beautiful steps of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka in Kyoto.  This steps have been preserved as historic streets to maintain their originality and traditional look including those magnificent appearance of the Japanese style houses along the way as well.

We then stopped by at one of eel or unagi restaurant along the way.  What a great pick!!!  We ordered an unagi set menu with rice.  The eel was so tender and cooked to perfection.  It tastes absolutely delicious and rich in flavour.  Even the rice itself got a really nice sauce mixed into it.  Superb lunch.

Unagi lunch box 3,600yen

This couple is not the real Geisha, they are just doing the photo shoot.  Apparently, there are a few studios in Kyoto that provide this service and while you are wearing the Kimono, they will give you some time to walk a round the town too.

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Day 13: Sosoan, Kyoto

Day 13: Kiyomizudera, Kyoto

Previously:
Day 12: Gion, Kyoto

Another World Heritage site to visit in Kyoto is Kiyomizudera. This temple is famous for its wooden stage that just out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below.  The main hall was built without the use of nails, how clever!!  To get there, you can take a bus number 100 or 206 and get off at Gojo Zaka or Kiyomizu Michi bus stop, from there you need to walk uphill about 10 minutes before arriving the temple. 

Lucky smoke

Kiyomizudera, Kyoto

Otowa Waterfall

Love stone is apparently very popular among the youngster.  If someone can walk blind-folded from one stone end then touch the stone from another end, she or he is believed to find the true love. 

Green tea puff 300yen/each

Kiyomizudera, Kyoto

The closest bus stop:

Gojo-zaka and Kiyomizu michi bus stop (bus number 100 or 206)

From there, you need around 10 minutes walking uphill to the temple

Entry fee: 300yen

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Day 13: Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Stairs, Kyoto

Day 12: Gion, Kyoto

Previously:
Day 12: Nishiki Market, Kyoto

Pontocho is a narrow lane full of restaurants and bars running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, just one block west of Kamogawa River.  But we didn't have our dinner in here as it is more for tourist trap, so pricey.

Pontocho

Gion

Goin is another place that you need to visit while you are in Kyoto.  This place is very famous with their Geisha.  If you are lucky enough, be here around the Hanami Koji or Gion Corner area in the evening after 6pm, you may encounter with one of the genuine Geisha that only have about 250 Geisha in Kyoto.  You are allowed to take photo of her but do not stop or interrupt her, it is considered as rude and inappropriate behaviour.  They also tend to walk very fast and it is just the nature of them and they have been trained that way.  

We saw a few Geisha actually around this street, but didn't get a single nice shot of them.  As the light was very low and I didn't want to use flash, so all of my pictures are blurry and the one I post is so far the clearest I could get.

Cold soba set with tempura 1,400yen

Tempura assorted 1,000yen and rice with salmon cod roe 300 yen

In Gion, you feed your eyes with the enchanted beauty of Geisha and your mouth with the delicious crispy golden Tempura.  This one that we got were delicious, the vegetables and prawns tempura were deep fried to golden colour and the batter was very light and extremely crispy.  Then we got the choice to sprinkle some matcha salt on it as well.

Kyoto Tower

We stayed at APA Hotel for 2 nights while we're here in Kyoto.  You actually need abit of walk from Kyoto station to the hotel, is about 10 minutes walk but price per night is considerably cheap.  So far, I think, this is the smallest hotel we have stayed, yet still clean and staff are friendly as well.

Hotel APA Eki-Horikawadori, Kyoto

1 Aburanokoji-cho, Shiokoji-nishi

Aburanokoji-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Day 13: Kiyomizudera, Kyoto