大坂はちみつ Quattro Formaggi

This sweet is like soft Biscuit with a nice chocolate glaze on top. The photo looks like it have molten core, which is why I got it in the first place.

Peach no Koibito 大坂ピ—チの恋人

Peach manju looks interesting and I have yet tried any Japanese snacks with peach flavour before, so I got this without hesitation. This got everything right about manju: soft thin nicely baked dough skin and slightly sweet bean paste. But the peach flavour is kind of like too in-your-face, lacking the subtlety.

Banana Manju by 丸三食品株式会社

Banana Manju looks very interesting, so I got a box. The soft manju skin pairs well with white bean paste carrying the distinctive aroma of banana. Though I will prefer it if it tastes more natural.

Okasa Applico

When I first saw Osaka Applico at a store in the train station near Dotonburi, I thought the cute florid box looks familiar and gad a vague impression that it is good. A scroll through my previous posts proved that. So I immediately get a box. This is like Apple Pie with softer millefeuille pastry. A good and balanced combination of sweetness plus zest of fruit and savoury sweetness of baked wheat.

Tsukigesho Matcha 伊石衛門 みるく饅頭

One of the absolute Must-Buy in Japan is Tsukigesho Milk Manju. The skin is so soft and thin, featuring the sweetness of baked wheat. The bean paste filling is so moist, milky and smooth due to the condensed milk and butter added. Still one of my favourites.

Shops and Streets of Osaka

Dotonburi of Osaka is super crowded, where takoyaki, tall buildings with giant posters, giant signboards, giant mascots rule the landscape. The place definitely has a very different vibe from that of Tokyo, Kyoto and Kobe. The feel is very Japanese, in a loud, direct, hearty, lively way. As compared to other places in Japan that I have been to, saved for Oishi Park and Arakura Sengen Shrine, there are a lot more tour groups here.

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Kyoto Yodobashi

After trying the absolutely delicious gyukatsu in Kabuki-cho, we both developed a craving for more gyukatsu. So we really specifically searched for gyukatsu restaurants in Kyoto, and we found Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Kyoto Yodobashi.

As expected, there is lots of people waiting to dine at this place. The restaurant has a very efficient system to manage the crowd though. First, there is a queue to choose the menu you want and the make payment for it. Second, there is another queue (sort of, since we all are just waiting around there in line, which makes it look like a queue) where patrons wait to go into the restaurant when there are available seats. While waiting, the friendly front counter staff will collect the receipts to get the kitchen to prepare the dishes first. So when we get seated at the open kitchen counter, just a few minutes later, voila, gyukatsu set meal is served.

We got the premium wagyu, 黑毛和牛, since its marbling will yield a lovely buttery flavour based on our experience at another restaurant. And yes, the gyukatsu here also showcases the highly coveted buttery taste after I sear its surface on the small stove provided. And there are five types of condiments to pair with the gyukatsu, from ponzu sauce, pepper, katsu sauce, onsen egg, grated radish to wasabi. I love the variety in the options of condiments. All of them go so well with the gyukatsu.

But if I’m asked which gyukatsu do I prefer, I will say I prefer the one tried at Kabuki-cho because the texture of the wagyu there is more tender and more even due to the precise cutting of the gyukatsu for each piece to be of almost same width. The wagyu at Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu has some tougher parts and the kitchen staff there cut the katsu unevenly, where one side is thicker than another side, causing uneven cooking.

If this area will be improved, it will be perfect.

Thoughts: Gyukatsu is delicious

Japan, 〒600-8216 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Higashishiokojicho, 590-2 京都ヨドバシ ６Ｆ

Arinco Ice Crepe

One of our goals of our Japan trip is to try the Japanese crepe with Ice-cream. Actually, this goal was conceived when we reached Arashiyama and saw the delicious-looking crepes at the stalls 😆 

Arinco offers a variety of ice-cream crepes with different combinations of ice-creams and toppings. All look so tempting.

Freshly made crepes on the way.

I got ice Crepe with Matcha Crean and Caramel Banana because it sounds very unique. And it works wonderfully. The floral custardy tang of banana is imbued with a layer intensity from the caramel, juxtaposing so well with the crepe and matcha cream.

〒616-8384 Kyoto, Ukyo Ward, Sagatenryuji Tsukurimichicho, 20-1 京福嵐山駅はんなりほっこりスクエア1F

京都純喫茶風 生ハツ橋 プリン

Pudding flavour looks interesting but I’m a little unsure how good it will taste, given that not all yatsuhashi will taste good.

And I'm really surprised to find that this brand of yatsuhashi taste pretty good. It has a nice rich taste of caramel that complements the super soft nama dough skin. The moist texture of filling makes it even better. This is actually one of the better yatsuhashi.

Esprit de Kyoto Petite Crepe Nama Yatsuhashi

I see this yatsuhashi at an Arashiyama store. The combination of jelly and cream as filling looks promising, so I get a box.

This yatsuhashi features very soft nama dough skin, which is good.

The taste is better than what I expected since the jam-jelly hybrid ganache is moist and tastes pretty refreshing. Making this a lighter snack than the ones with traditional filling. It got ribbons of cream to make it slightly more intense in flavour. This brand gets the strawberry flavour one totally right.

Banana tastes kind of artificial though. Matcha is decent. Chocolate is meh though.

京都宇治総本家 辻利 わらび餅

This is the best warabi mochi I ever have. No doubt about it. It is incredibly soft, moist, almost like jelly. The rich clear sweet taste of matcha mochi juxtaposes so well with the clean bitterness of the matcha powder. The powdery texture of matcha powder feels almost sugary when paired with the jelly-like mochi. Perfect.

It’s only until later that I realise that I also got Matcha Powder of this same brand from a cafe near Arakura Sengen Shrine, Cafe Yorozuya. This matcha is so good, being pure and clear in taste.

Kyoto Nomura Japanese Premium Pepper

Another one of my best random buys is Kyoto Nomura Japanese Premium Pepper.

It is a bit like dried pepper fruit, instead of the usual pepper. Dry on the outside, pulp-like in the core, making for a good bite. It is tangy, spicy, savoury and sweet. I love it. This will perk up the taste of any dish. I will buy this every time I see it.

Malebranche Nama Cha no Ka Okoicha Fondant Chocolat 京都北山 生茶菓

I actually pick this up wanting to try it and then put it back since I thought matcha chocolate is not exactly novel. Then I pick it up again because the moist texture of display looks so tempting. And the interesting, unique shape kind of hints at the potential of this sweet being unique and different. My curiosity finally wins this time, where I decide to get a small box of this sweets. This time curiosity gets the prize because this Fondant Chocolat is so amazingly good. This is one of the best unexpected buys of this Japan trip.

It is totally different from any other sweets, in a totally awesome way.

This is like lava cake full of matcha goodness.

When served cold, which is recommended by the brand, it is paste-like, similar to nama chocolate. When at room temperature, the exterior is like the softest moist cake that can break if I pinch too hard. And the interior is in my-oh-my molten form. Definitely a must-buy.

This is so good that I go ahead to get a box of five pieces of Fondant Chocolat from Kyoto Lovers on Shopee.

京都鶴屋 鶴寿庵 京ちゃふれ ここ Soft Matcha Sable

When I first see that this sweet is a kind of cookie, I actually want to look pass it since I'm not into cookies and its dry texture. But the moist look of its core makes me stop in my tracks and actually deliberate on getting this. Yes, it is a tough decision since I need to take into account the limited space of my luggage, so I want to get stuff that I really want. Well, finally, I decide to just go for it because I'm really curious if the molten core makes a difference.

And yes, it does!

Best sable or should I say, cookie. It is so soft and moist, full of the astringent aroma and light clear vegetal bitterness of matcha. The core is of even softer and packs more moisture, creating a slight lovely contrast, akin to a lava cake, in sable form. The exterior has a nice sugary, gritty bite, to make the texture exciting.

I'm so happy with my choice to get this. There is this satisfying feel of buying something based on feelings and hitting the jackpot with it.

Arashiyama Bune Yataka 嵐山通船

A must-experience at Arashiyama is the Yakata Bune. In fact, you have not truly experienced Arashiyama if you haven’t taken the boat ride at Oigawa River, aka Katsura River.

We are all seated on low stools during the ride in a traditional Japanese boat with roof, thus being in really close proximity to the waters of Oigawa River. And from here, I can really see how clean and clear the waters are. It feels so soothing and relaxing to watch the gentle waves of the river against the backdrop of the lush greenery, decorated with reds of autumn leaves, of the forest flanking the river.

Without any mechanical engine, the boatman uses a long bamboo pole to steer and move the boat. It is quite an experience to watch him expertly roll the boat with just a pole. It feels do peaceful when there is only the sounds of swirling waters, no grinding sound of the motor.

And from the middle of the river, we get some gorgeous views of Arashiyama from seen from land. And it’s fun to watch the cute ducks in action.

The staff of Arashiyama Bune Yakata feeding the ducks. Tourists should not feed them though.

Cute ducks 😍 It’s so funny when one just swoops in to join the one swimming.

Floating canteen to buy snacks and drinks to enjoy while on the boat.