MY REAL JAPAN: My favorite Japanese Restaurant in Gion, Kyoto

Fortunately the Japanese cuisine can be registered as the Intagible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

When I was back to Japan in September , I brought my mother in-law -to one of my favorite Japanese restaurant in Kyoto for lunch..We really enjoyed the beautiful Kaiseki course and had a good talk with the friendly chef .

'Yogenbori（やげんぼり）' is located just near Ichiriki（一力）,the most venerable and exclusive Tea House in Gion ,which was established 300 years ago,is situated there.This restaurant was also used to be a historical Tea House 100 years ago where Maiko (15-20 years girls) and Geisha entertained their clients and served the Japanese rice wine and food..

You might feel the relic of the atmosphere especially upstairs after climbing up the very old lacquered stairs.There,you may be able to see a well-maintained,very small Japanese garden which we call it as Tsubo-Niwa. Literally,Tsubo means 3.3 square meters and Niwa is graden in the Japanese language. In Yagenbori , you must sit down at the counter seats.

The height of the long counter and the big chopping board is the same, so you will be able to see the chef's delicate skills and crisp movements just before your eyes.

When we invited 3 of our American guests from Idaho in May,the chef, Mr.Fujita (42) quickly created so tiny butterflies of pumpkin with opened wings using his sharp Japanese kitchen knife in

the interval of the amazing cooking and the tasty dishes. All of us were mesmerized!!

Most of the ingredients there are delivered from organic farms and the fishermenin the Western Japan which have had good relationship with Yagenbori for a long time . I was well impressed to hear that some staff grow the vegetable , too! The Japanese cooking is very simple and light so the ingredients are the most important issue as compared to other countries' food .

To be honest it might be very difficult for travelers to find real Japanese restaurants like the Yagenbori. I am so proud that we might patronize at such a nice restaurant in Gion.

Sadly , I heard that nowadays,many Japanese restaurants buy the carved vegetables from outside as they can't afford to employ the experienced chefs because of the recession in the business field. So on my blog in Japanese, I have suggested my readers to go and support this restaurant to preserve it for a long time to show our culture ..

I personally think that our Japanese political leaders should have recommend these kind of fantastic restaurants to the US army.

Yagenbori HP in English↓
http://www.yagenbori.co.jp/english/tenpo/hanami/index.html

Yagenbori 「やげんぼり」 2013.9.28

(Entrance) Fans with the stage names were given by Geisha
who are regular customers of Yagenbori.

Chef : Mr.Fujita

The chef's chopping board is just behind the counter

You can see the shape of pine needles using burdock
and Nori seaweed on the dish above.

Luckily they are preparing !

                                           After we ate the appetizer to show the very seasonal food,
                                          the real pine needles and green maple leaf were left over.

Tsubo-Niwa

Ichiriki 「一力」

You can view the beautiful photos of Ichiriki. ↓

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~mf4n-nmr/itiriki.html　
.............................................................................................................................................

2013.5.1 Dinner with American guests.
*Nowadays Yagenbori has many foreign travelers so they have the menu in English.

最近は、海外からのお客様がとても多い「やげんぼり」２０１３．５．１

楽しくて、美味しくて、日系３世のクラーク氏(右）は、

持参したホテルの浴衣を着て感謝の思いを表現。

先付：右・蕗と筍の和え物　左・白身魚のチマキ、矢羽のレンコン、的のアナゴ

(兜の折り紙）・・・キリキリと笹の葉を巻いた小さなチマキも板前さん作！

　気さくでフレンドリーな板長さんが、かつら剥きを披露

アイナメと筍の姫皮の椀物
マクロビヨーコのブログ

ピンピン生きてる海老の身は刺身、頭は、炭火で塩焼きにして・・・

ゲストは絶句！「ホントに頭、全部食べられるの？！」

まな板がカウンターと同じ高さにあるので、プロの手元がよく見える

海老、カツオ、イカのお造り

甘鯛、あさり、ワラビ、蕗の酒蒸し

　鯛(瀬戸内海）　　　白菜の巻物・甘酢ショウガ

　トロ(鳥取）

　ウニ(北海道）

これは何かと思いきや・・・・

筍の笹の葉焼き？部屋中にイイ香りが・・・

和紙に包んでガブリ！こんなダイナミックな食べ方は初めて・・

香ばしくって、最高！木の芽がトッピング。京都名産の筍だから柔らかく

皮ギリギリまで美味しく食べられる。

　琵琶湖の鮎、筍と山菜の天ぷら

新生姜の炊き込みご飯、赤だし、漬物

　マンゴ、苺と小豆のデザート

お世話になりました。また、伺いますね！

Hanami-Kouji street

Geisha school is over there.

Real Geisha are walking !

Kennin- ji temple(建仁寺） is at the end of Hanami-Kouji street.

南座（Minami-za)
Actually Yagenbori is located at the middle of Minamiza theater and Yasaka-shrine

八坂神社(Yasaka shrine)

Yagenbori Hanami-Kouji

Hanamikouji-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi,

*5min walk from Keihan line Gion Shijyo Station
TEL +81-75-525-3332

lunch   11:30AM -2PM
   ・ Small Kaiseki course   4500yen (booking is needed)
   ・ Chazuke (boiled rice with hot green tea ) with sliced raw fish (bream) set   3000yen

Dinner 5pm -11pm
　・full Kaiseki course from 8000 yen(9 meals)
・A la carte

*They don't use any pork so available for Muslms.

................................................................................................

Exciting Night Tour in Gion district for foreign travelers is
held by Waraido Guide Networks below.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298564-d2002333-Reviews-WaRaiDo_Guide_Networks-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

夜のウォーキングツアー（和来堂主催・１人千円　）