Day 14: Uji

Previously:
Day 14: Fushimi Inari, Kyoto

Uji is a small town located just few minutes away from Kyoto by train and apparently always be an under-shadow of big city Kyoto where most tourists has not yet discovered Uji's charms.  But this tiny town is actually very famous with their green tea produces and the classic Tale of Genji that took place in Uji as well.  Few other places that you need to visit while you were here, such as the historic Uji bridge, Byodoin Temple, and last but not least astonish-looking of Uji River.  Also, along the omotesando or the narrow street back to station do not forget to stop by and indulge in one of the dessert shop and sample their popular hot matcha tea which is usually accompanied with some little sweets.

A public post box in Uji shaped as tea caddy

The Tale of Genji

Uji Bridge

Matcha or Green Tea Ice Cream

Uji River

Hot Matcha Tea and Sweet

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Day 14: Hotel Monterey Grasmere, Osaka



Day 13: Italian Restaurant at Yodobashi Dining, Kyoto

Previously:

Day 13: Arashiyama

 

When we walked pass Kyoto station around 6pm, this colourful water flowing alongside with nice melody just about to start.  Nice show indeed and it runs for approximately 15 minutes and apparently they have this show everyday around the same time.  

Then we looked around for a nice dinner and we found this dining area like foodcourt but line up with heaps of proper restaurants not stalls, just 5 mins walk from JR Kyoto Station Karasuma central gate, called Yadobashi Dining.  We turn around in there until two round and still couldn't decide where to eat.  Too much good choices there, finally we chose this Italian restaurant.  Simply because I really want to try those long bread sticks.

Italian food served by Japanese is surprisingly good.  Their spaghetti was sensational, full of flavour and look at those sauce, abundant, flooded until the edge of our dish, that's what makes this dish perfecto.  Pizza also good, the base was really thin and crispy.  However, the bread was lack of flavour, they should put more topping as the bread is quite thick and especially mine got not much condensed milk in it so only the hard french baguette that I could taste.

Yodobashi Camera Building
590-2 Higashi Shiokoji-cho, Karasuma-dori, Shiokoji sagaru, Shimogyo-ku
Yodobashi dining is located on the 6th floor


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:
Day 14: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto

Day 14: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto

Previously:
Day 13: Italian Restaurant at Yodobashi Dining, Kyoto

This shrine is one of the very famous shrine in Japan.  Fushimi Inari can be reached by JR train and it is only two stops away from Kyoto station.  This place is very famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates and that trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari.  Although this place is always open for public but best time visit just after dawn until late afternoon as this place will get very dark especially if you want to complete the mountain trails as well.




Yakisoba bread from convenient store. It was yummm... 



Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto

Fushimi Inari Shrine is located just outside JR Inari Station

It is always open and free admission

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Day 14: Uji

Day 13: Arashiyama

Previously:
Day 13: Sosoan, Kyoto

This bus timetable at the bus stop anywhere in Kyoto is very very cool.  They tell you the whereabouts bus is at that moment.  Like where the bus is stopping or approaching the next stop.  So you are not waiting undoubtedly to when your bus actually will come.

The romantic train journey run along magnificent scenery from Saga Arashiyama to Kamoeka station.  All those beautiful river and mountain backdrop view and the cute tanuki statues on the platform is worth seeing for.  Basically, the train ride back and forth from Arashiyama to Kamoeka station takes about half an hour long.  We made an early stop on the way at back, just one stop before Arashiyama station where we got on before, then walk along the Bamboo Groves until reach back to where we come from.



Tanuki Statues



Bamboo Groves

Saga Scenic Train

From Saga-Arashiyama station to Kamoeka station

Return ticket is 1,200yen/adult

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Day 13: Italian Restaurant at Yodobashi Dining, Kyoto

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