Kagizen Yoshifusa Kodaiji Branch

In the summer of 2024, I was wandering around the Kodaiji temple area and found a cafe with a nice atmosphere.The place was a café run by a long-established Japanese sweets store in Gion called Kagizen Yoshifusa, which exudes a sense of luxury from its exterior and seems to be a nice place to relax.

But in fact, there is another reason why I immediately entered the Kagizen Yoshifusa Kodaiji Branch. One of the menu items on display at the store…

There was ginger-flavored shaved ice. I was surprised for a moment, “Ginger-flavored shaved ice?” And the next moment, I naturally stepped onto the premises of the cafe to try it. If you are also wondering, “What is ginger-flavored shaved ice like?”, please continue reading this article as I will introduce it to you later…

Newly renovated in 2024, it is a very beautiful store…This is what Kagizen Yoshifusa Kodaiji Branch is all about!

Kagizen Yoshifusa is said to have been in business for more than 300 years, making it one of the oldest shops of its kind. It is believed that the store already existed in the Edo period (1603-1867), as it is mentioned in documents dating back to the Kyoho era (1603-1868), but it is said that the store is so old that it is not known when it started.

The second store, Kagizen Yoshifusa Kodaiji Branch, was also established in 1983, and already has a 40-year history. However, the place itself was just renovated and reopened in January 2024, so it looks very beautiful.According to the restaurant’s information on the Tabelog ,there are 26 seats in the luxurious Japanese-style interior. Reservations can be made for an hourly fee of 2,000 yen (tax included). It is a great place for a private meeting.

It was a little different from what I first imagined… The ginger-flavored shaved ice I had at Kagizen Yoshifusa Kodaiji Branch, when I actually tried it…

Let me introduce the ginger-flavored shaved ice (price: 1,000 yen including tax) that I ordered at Kagizen Yoshifusa Koudaiji Branch. After about 5 minutes of waiting, the shaved ice arrived in front of me…

The ginger is placed on top of a pile of ice from the plate like this. The small bowl on the left contains syrup, and you can adjust the amount of syrup to your liking.

Now, let’s quickly pass the syrup around on top of the ice…

Let’s take a bite of the ginger syrup… The word “ginger” may conjure up images of spicy food, but this ginger syrup is sweetened well, so it’s okay. The rich sweetness of the brown sugar and the spiciness of the ginger makes the shaved ice even more addictive than I initially thought it would be.

The ice is also very finely shaved, airy, and fluffy. Moreover, the ice is free of any unpleasant taste, so as it melts, the sweet and spicy flavor of the syrup is absorbed into your body. For this kind of shaved ice, a cup of 1,000 yen is not too much to ask for. As I initially imagined, it is a very quiet place to spend time, and I think this café is a very good spot in the Kodaiji area.

Other menu items at the Kodaiji branch of Kagizen Yoshifusa (prices include tax)

• Kuzukiri (black or white honey) 1,400 yen
• Ousu (Japanese sweet) 800 yen
• Green tea 800 yen
• Fresh sweets 580 yen
• Mizu-yokan (sweet bamboo) 500 yen

Japanese confectionery is also available for sale…To get to Kagizen Yoshifusa Kodaiji Branch, take city bus 206 bound for Kitaoji Bus Terminal from JR Kyoto Station, get off at Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, and walk for 4 minutes.

Kagizen Yoshifusa Kodaiji Branch also sells Japanese confections. The shop sells a wide variety of items, including its famous mizu-yokan (water jelly), “sweet-rose-bamboo,” as well as fresh confections, rice cake sweets, and wasanbon (a type of Japanese sweets). Since the products are from a “super” long-established shop that has been in business for at least 300 years, there is no reason why you would not be pleased if you do not dislike Japanese confections. Why not stop by the store and take home some Japanese sweets from Kagizen Yoshifusa as a Kyoto souvenir or gift as well?

Now, here are the details of the cafe…

P.S. If you are looking for a cozy cafe in Kyoto, please stop by this article…