Early July 2026
Lunch Near Kyoto Station and a Visit to To-ji Temple
I traveled to Kyoto with my mother.
We met at JR Kyoto Station just before noon and had lunch at Richouen, a Korean restaurant on the restaurant floor of AEON Mall KYOTO, located nearby. The food was genuinely spicy by Japanese standards, and we were both very satisfied with our meal. After lunch, we walked to To-ji Temple.
Before entering the temple grounds, we stopped by Okashitsukasa Toji Mochi, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop, where we bought Toji Mochi, Inoko Mochi, and Brown Sugar Minazuki.
The Toji Mochi was absolutely delicious. Its gyuhi (soft rice cake) was incredibly smooth and tender, making it one of my favorite sweets. It was my first time trying Inoko Mochi, and I enjoyed its distinctive cinnamon-like flavor from nikki (Japanese cinnamon). The Brown Sugar Minazuki was pleasantly chewy and equally delicious.
A combined admission ticket for To-ji Temple and Kanchi-in cost 1,200 yen.
The Lecture Hall (Kodo) at To-ji houses many Buddhist statues designated as Important Cultural Properties and National Treasures. My personal favorite is the National Treasure Jikokuten (Guardian King of the East). I think the statue looks incredibly cool, but at the same time, I can’t help feeling a little sorry for the demon being trampled beneath his feet.
After paying my respects to Yakushi Nyorai (the Medicine Buddha) in the Kondo (Main Hall) and admiring the famous five-story pagoda, we headed to Kanchi-in, one of To-ji’s sub-temples.
Kanchi-in and the Paintings Attributed to Miyamoto Musashi
My mother wanted to see the famous sliding-door paintings, “Eagle” and “Bamboo Grove,” traditionally attributed to Miyamoto Musashi, so we decided to visit. Unfortunately, both paintings had deteriorated considerably over the centuries, and the eagle in particular had become quite faded.
Even so, Kanchi-in turned out to be one of my favorite places during the trip. There were very few visitors, allowing us to take our time exploring the temple. Its modest dry landscape garden (karesansui) was also beautiful, creating a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted with the crowds at To-ji.
Hojicha Parfait and Kuzukiri at Kyoto Station
Afterward, we returned to Kyoto Station and stopped at Wa Café Kyo Anju, where we cooled off with a hojicha parfait and kuzukiri.
Kuzukiri is served chilled and dipped in brown sugar syrup before eating. Its smooth, slippery texture made it the perfect sweet treat for a hot summer day.
