About
After passing through the hustle and bustle of Kiyamachi Street, a busy area in Kyoto, you come upon a quietly standing machiya (traditional townhouse). Built at the end of the Edo period, this building has continued to quietly mark the passage of time. Stepping through the noren curtain, you are greeted by a space that feels as if you have slipped back in time to the Showa era. The tiled kitchen, a black rotary phone hanging on the wall, and in winter, a tea kettle steaming gently—all warmly welcome visitors.
Since its founding in 1950, this shop has been run by three generations of female proprietors. The signature dish, “karashi renkon,” which the first owner learned from someone from Kumamoto, is also the origin of the shop’s name. A mixture of Western mustard and various miso pastes is kneaded into the nine holes of lotus root, left to rest overnight, and then fried as tempura just before opening. The chewy lotus root, the pleasant kick of mustard, and the sweetness of miso harmonize perfectly, making it an excellent match with Kyoto’s local sake.
Inside, small chabudai tables, well-worn tables, and a counter are arranged, creating an atmosphere that feels nostalgic yet fresh in the present day. Homemade specialties such as pickles made from a long-maintained nukadoko (fermented rice bran bed), chirimen sansho (dried baby sardines with Japanese pepper), and umeboshi (pickled plums) are lined up. Bonito flakes and wasabi are freshly shaved and grated to order, reflecting an uncompromising attitude that produces an unchanging flavor and a comforting, nostalgic taste.
It is said that Japanese sake, made primarily from rice, pairs well with Kyoto’s home-style cuisine, and the shop offers a selection focused on local sake. In winter, sake is warmed in the tea kettle inside the shop, and cold sake is also available. In addition, beer, plum wine, shochu, wine, and more have been added over time to meet changing tastes. With your favorite drink in hand, you can enjoy seasonal dishes and relax both body and mind.
This shop has continued to offer the flavors of Kyoto’s “kitchen.” Even before the term “obanzai” became common, it served Kyoto’s home-style dishes. Carefully crafted homemade specialties such as pickles from the nukadoko, chirimen sansho, and umeboshi are lined up. The commitment to freshly shaving bonito and grating wasabi right before your eyes creates an unchanging flavor and a nostalgic, comforting taste.
Throughout the shop, lotus root motifs are placed, and art and antiques that evoke a sense of history delight the eye. The welcoming atmosphere makes it easy for solo diners to enter, and it is also popular with female customers. With Kyoto’s home-style cuisine and fine sake, you can enjoy a warm, relaxing moment.
Although located in Kyoto’s busy downtown, this shop has a quiet and calm atmosphere. The interior, utilizing an Edo-period machiya, is a space that conveys a sense of history and warmly welcomes visitors. While enjoying homemade specialties such as the signature “karashi renkon” and Kyoto’s local sake, you can relax and unwind both body and mind.