Japan Guide : The Shinmonzen in Kyoto (京都府)
“Shinmonzen”（新門前） is a neighborhood located in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, particularly near the Gion district and Yasaka Shrine. This area is historically and culturally significant, retaining much of Kyoto’s traditional townscape and culture.
These days, Shinmonzen is a popular tourist destination, with many high-end ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurants), inns, beautiful gardens, and shrines in the surrounding area. It is known as a place where visitors can experience the charm of Kyoto and enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of old Japan.
In this area, a boutique hotel designed by Tadao Ando, one of the world’s most celebrated contemporary architects, has been completed. The name of the hotel is “The Shinmonzen”.
The project has been a labour of love for over 10 years and has been designed by Mr. Ando and other artist friends for the modern travellers.
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Japan Guide : Asahiyaki shop & gallery in Kyoto (京都府)
Asahi-yaki pottery (朝日焼) is a traditional ceramic kiln with over 400 years of history, located in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. Uji is renowned for its production of high-quality Japanese tea, and Asahi-yaki pottery has supported this tea culture by crafting tea utensils and everyday ceramics. It is particularly famous for tea bowls used in the tea ceremony.
History and Characteristics :
1. History
– Asahi Pottery was established in the late Azuchi-Momoyama period (late 16th century).
– Taking advantage of its location along the Uji River, it developed alongside the growth of tea culture.
– It has been cherished by tea masters, including the Sen family, and has played a vital role in Kyoto’s tea traditions.
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Tokyo Guide : Sugamo Jizo-dori (巣鴨地蔵通り商店街)
Sugamo Jizo-dori (巣鴨地蔵通り商店街) is a famous shopping street located in the Sugamo district of Tokyo, Japan. It’s often referred to as “Grandma’s Harajuku” because it’s particularly popular among older generations. The street is known for its traditional atmosphere and its variety of shops that cater to elderly customers.
The street is easily accessible from Sugamo Station on the JR Yamanote Line, and it features many stores catering to both locals and visitors, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.
The street is also home to the famous “Togenuki Jizo” (Togenuki Jizo Bosatsu) statue, located at the grounds of the nearby Kōgan-ji Temple, which attracts many people who come to pray for health and healing.
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Tokyo Guide : Menson RAGE (麺尊 RAGE)
Menson RAGE (麺尊 RAGE) has been featured in the Michelin Guide every year since its opening and is famous for its high-quality soy sauce ramen, attracting long lines of customers.
The interior has a unique atmosphere, with hip-hop music playing, shelves filled with the SF action comic AKIRA, and street-style graphics adorning the walls.
While the original location is in the Nishi-Ogikubo area, we visited the Azabudai Hills branch.
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Tokyo Guide : Azabudai Hills (麻布台ヒルズ)
Azabudai Hills(麻布台ヒルズ) is a large-scale urban complex located in Azabudai, Minato City, Tokyo. It officially opened on November 24, 2023 and its concept, “Modern Urban Village,” blends urban functionality with lush greenery, creating a harmonious environment in the heart of the city.
Here are the 7 places you should check there!
1. Arabica coffee
This coffee brand was founded by a Japanese entrepreneur from Kyoto, who was raised by parents active in the Esperanto movement, along with a father who ran a trading company, traveling the world while growing up. The brand aims for global expansion.
2. Saboe
This tea organization dedicates to contributing to the development of tea, creating and preserving modern tea-drinking practices in the present day.
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Dorayaki (どらやき)
Dorayaki (どらやき) is a traditional Japanese confection consisting of two fluffy, pancake-like cakes filled with sweet red bean paste (anko). The cakes are typically made from a mixture of flour, eggs, sugar, and honey, giving them a soft, slightly spongy texture.
The red bean paste is often made from adzuki beans, which are cooked with sugar to create a smooth, sweet filling.
Dorayaki is widely loved in Japan and is often associated with the popular Japanese cartoon character, Doraemon, who is famously depicted enjoying dorayaki. It is commonly eaten as a snack or dessert and can be found in many bakeries and supermarkets throughout Japan.
The name “dorayaki” comes from “dora,” which means “gong” in Japanese, as the shape of the cake is said to resemble a gong. The treat has a long history and is believed to have originated in the Edo period (1603-1868).
Today, dorayaki continues to be a beloved snack in Japan and has gained popularity internationally as well.
Recipe :
– Dorayaki
Nagomi Inc.
In October 2024, we established a new company, Nagomi Inc. (和株式会社). The name “和” (Nagomi) not only refers to Japanese style or ways of doing things, but also symbolizes harmony and reconciliation.
Through this new company, we will continue to focus on Japanese culinary education, particularly through cooking classes centered on washoku (和食, Japanese cuisine). In addition, we will promote the charm of Japan’s local regions through YUCa’s Tea, which connects tea and travel, and introduce Japanese lifestyle through our retail business, YUCa’s Choice.
By combining these efforts, we aim to spread the beauty of Japan, its food culture, and lifestyle both domestically and internationally, while creating a world of “Nagomi”(和).
We sincerely ask for your continued support and encouragement as we move forward with this new venture!
2024年10月、新しく株式会社を設立しました。会社の名前は、和株式会社（Nagomi Inc.）です。「和」は、日本式や日本流という意味のほか、調和や融和などを表します。新会社では、これまで通り料理教室を通じた和食の教育事業を中心に、お茶と旅を通じて日本の地方の魅力を紹介するYUCa’s Tea、日本のライフスタイルを紹介するYUCa’s Choiceでの物販事業、これらを融合しながら日本の魅力や食文化を国内外に広め、世界に「和」を創り上げていきます。
今後ともご支援と応援をどうぞよろしくお願いします。
Company Name: Nagomi Inc. 和（なごみ）株式会社
Date of establishment: Oct 2024
Board members: YUCa (CEO), Masashi Togami (CMO)
Web: http://yjc.pikondev.com/nagomi
Japan Guide : Sabo KYO in Kyoto (京都府)
In the spring of 2024, during the cherry blossom season, a new tea room called “居雨/KYO” opened in Kyoto, a collaboration between the Tokyo-based craft gallery “AMAHARE” and the Fukuoka-based tea and sake house “Yorozu.”
Sabo KYO is located inside a traditional Kyoto machiya (townhouse) at the craft gallery “KYO AMAHARE.” After passing through the gallery entrance, you’ll find this tea room tucked away inside a former storehouse.
At the heart of the space, a large table with a wind furnace and walls made by a Japanese paper artist creates an atmosphere of stillness, with droplets of water gently falling from above, filling the room with an aura of “darkness” and “quiet.”
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Castella (カステラ)
Castella is a traditional Japanese sponge cake with origins in a Portuguese recipe. It was introduced to Japan in the 16th century by Portuguese missionaries and was adapted by the Japanese over time into its current form.
The ingredients are simple—primarily flour, sugar, eggs, and honey—yet the cake is characterized by its fluffy texture and moist sweetness.
Typically, it is baked in a rectangular mold, with a slightly firm crust on the outside and a moist, golden-yellow interior. Today, various regional versions exist across Japan, with Nagasaki being especially known as a prominent region for Castella production.
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Tokyo Guide : Nakamura Tokichi Cafe
Nakamura Tokichi (中村藤吉) is a long-established Japanese tea specialty store, founded in 1854. It is especially renowned for its production of matcha, with its matcha made from carefully selected tea leaves from regions like Uji in Kyoto.
The matcha is known for its rich flavor and deep green color. Nakamura Tokichi Café offers a modern twist on traditional matcha culture, making it popular not only with matcha lovers but also with those who enjoy café culture.
Some of the signature matcha desserts include matcha parfaits, matcha ice cream, matcha cheesecake, and matcha Mont Blancs. These desserts are characterized by a rich matcha flavor, with not only matcha powder but also matcha syrups and sauces that are carefully crafted.
The café also offers a wide variety of matcha drinks, such as matcha lattes, iced matcha drinks, and even original matcha-based beverages. The perfect balance of matcha’s bitterness and the sweetness of milk makes these drinks irresistible to matcha fans.
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