[Arashiyama, Kyoto] Lunch and cafe spots where you can spend a relaxing time.

If you come to Kyoto in the spring or fall season, you must go to Arashiyama to enjoy the spectacular view 🌸🍁.

Rebecca

Many of you have been to Arashiyama only to find yourself in a long line 💦 to get into any of the restaurants because of the crowds 😭?

I'm sure many of you have experienced this 😭?

Or, if you are visiting Arashiyama for the first time, you may be wondering how to enjoy the colors in Arashiyama. You may be wondering how to enjoy the colors in Arashiyama if you are a first time visitor.

If you have come all the way to Kyoto, you may want to enjoy the local cuisine while touring around Arashiyama!

William(Rebecca boyfriend)

In this article, we would like to introduce some recommended restaurants and cafes where you can avoid the crowds and have a relaxing time when you go sightseeing in Arashiyama, Kyoto 🍴.

In conclusion, for lunch, I definitely recommend "Nishiyama Soudou" for "Yudofu" near Tenryuji Temple ❗️❗️ and for a rest for your legs, I recommend the cafe "Akamanma" ✨.

By the way, I love to travel and have been visiting various places both in Japan and abroad since I was a student, enjoying the local cuisine.

When it comes to sightseeing, it's all about food❗️

And these days, I am more than happy to have a relaxing meal 💓.

By reading this article, you will be able to know the best places to enjoy a relaxing meal in Arashiyama, Kyoto 😀.

Access to Arashiyama & what is it like?

Rebecca

Let me briefly introduce Arashiyama👍.

Arashiyama is located in the western part of Kyoto city and is a rich natural area with mountains and rivers, where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall .

It is one of the most popular tourist spots in Kyoto, selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan and one of the 100 best autumn foliage viewing spots in Japan 🎉🎉.

Famous sightseeing spots include "Togetsu Bridge", "Bamboo Forest Path", "Tenryuji Temple", "Nison-in Temple", "Gion-ji Temple", and many more ✨.

William(Rebecca boyfriend)

By the way, I also recommend "Monkey Park" where you can see Japanese monkeys 🐒💓.

As you can see, it is a very popular tourist destination, so the number of people has been crazy in recent years, making it very difficult to spend a relaxing time in a restaurant 💦.

A hole-in-the-wall lunch and cafe spot where you can spend a relaxing time

Even in such a popular Arashiyama area, there are actually some hole-in-the-wall spots ✨.

Now, let's take a look at some lunch and café spots where you can spend some time ✊.

Our recommendation for lunch is Seizan Sodo(西山艸堂).

Yudofu restaurant "Seizan Sodo(西山艸堂).

Arashiyama is famous for "Yudofu" ❗️

There are several yudofu restaurants in Arashiyama, but Seizan Sodo is the oldest yudofu restaurant in Arashiyama.

And what's more surprising is that it is directly managed by Myochi-in, the pagoda of Tenryu-ji Temple, the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism and a World Heritage Site. ❗️❗️❗️

The temple runs a yudofu restaurant. ❗️ Of course, it's vegetarian food.

Rebecca

This time, too, I entered "Myochi-in" and went to the restaurant... 👌👌.

William(Rebecca boyfriend)

As you enter, there is a huge signboard on your right that reads "Yutofu".

Go to the back and you will find the "reception desk".

If you have a reservation, tell them your name and they will ask you to come up from the porch.

Food at "Seizan Sodo".

Now, let us introduce you to the "Yudofu set meal" at "Seizan Sodo".

First of all, "八寸(appetizers)".

• Sushi with fried bean curd
• Grilled eggplant
• Lily bulb? (Sorry, I can't tell for sure here 😱)

Then, Hirosu(飛龍頭) and Sesame Tofu(胡麻豆腐)!

"Hirosu(飛龍頭)" is "Ganmodoki(がんもどき)".

Rebecca

In Kansai, it is called Hirosu (飛龍頭).

Inside the Hirosu, there are ginkgo nuts and lily bulb 💕It's delicious💓.

Then comes the vegetable fry!

Rebecca

The best of the vegetable  fries is the yam tempura ❗️

It is wrapped in seaweed and deep fried, which is not a skill you can do at home.

Please eat it while it is warm. Delicious ✨

And the main one "Yudofu~" hooooo 🌟.

This tofu here is tofu with a strong bean flavor 👏.

By the way, the tofu at Seizan Sodo is made from "Saga Tofu Morika".

This tofu shop has been making tofu since the end of Edo period. Famous writers such as Yasunari Kawabata and Ryotaro Shiba introduced Morika's tofu in their books!

Please take the time to taste this tofu. It will make your heart warm😊.

During the cold season, they serve yudofu while heating it with charcoal.

Also, please enjoy your favorite yudofu with condiments 😁.

Enjoy the view of the garden and the atmosphere at Seizan Sodo and enjoy Arashiyama's yudofu 😁.

If seats are available, you may be able to get in without a reservation, but it is recommended to call and make a reservation.

I always make a reservation, but I have the impression that there are always customers constantly coming in, even during the off-season.

The menu offers only one choice, "Yudofu set meal" 👍.

The foot rest café is "Akamanma"

Retro cafe-restaurant "Akamanma"

From Togetsukyo Bridge, walk straight up Nagatsuji Street to the north, and you will find the entrance to the bamboo grove road.

Rebecca

This is a very crowded area💦.

If you go a little further without entering the bamboo grove path, you will see the cafe-restaurant "Aka Mamma" ✨.

The key point is that it is located a little north of the bamboo grove path, and the flow of people is a little slower than in the popular crowded area.

Therefore, there is a good chance you will be able to get in without waiting in line!

This "Akamanma" is a retro cafe that has been in Arashiyama for many years, and has been in business since the 1970s.

I recommend the homemade cake set!

Of course you can have lunch, but my recommendation is the homemade cakes. They have several kinds of cakes every day 💡.

Here is the cake I got this time 🍰.

Nut tart with walnuts, almonds, etc ✨

Rich cheesecake✨

They also have pasta and steak for lunch 👍.

I have never made reservations in advance, but the website says "reservations and inquiries", so if you want to be sure, please call and ask 📞.

Summary ([Arashiyama, Kyoto] Lunch and cafe spots where you can spend a relaxing time.)

If you want to have a relaxing lunch in Arashiyama, a popular sightseeing spot in Kyoto in spring and fall, we recommend making a reservation and enjoying the yudofu at "Seizan Soudou".

Enjoy the tofu, which is packed with the flavor of soybeans, while looking out over the garden at a leisurely pace!

For a rest, we recommend the retro café "Akamanma" 👆.

This is also a quiet and relaxing space where you can take a nice break from sightseeing~!