Botan Nabe, or wild boar nabe ‘hotpot’, is a dish commonly found in cold, rural, mountainous regions of Japan today. It may surprise you to learn, however, that it was in fact invented in Kyoto by the founder of Hatakaku, a restaurant founded nearly 100 years ago, located just north of the Imperial Palace.
I have been meaning to introduce…
Archive for the ‘shinise (老舗)’ CategoryA long-established restaurant or store, of which there are many, many in Kyoto. Always an experience to visit.
Kyoto Restaurant ‘Hatakaku’ – Botan Nabe (Wild Boar Hotpot)
Wagashi: Kamishichiken Oimatsu Bitter Citrus Summer Jelly
Natsumikan is a bitter Japanese citrus fruit in season during the summer months. Several wagashi confection stores in Kyoto are quite famous for their chilled natsumikan jellies, in which the jelly is usually inside the hollowed out whole natsumikan fruit peel. They are a bit expensive but are quite a dramatic presentation so are often given as gifts. Natsumikan (lit.…
Setsubun Wagashi: Oni-ni-Kanabo from Kyoto Confectionery Sentaro
At Setsubun, people in Japan are thinking eho-maki sushi rolls, grilled sardine and roasted soybeans to prevent misfortune and increase happiness. No one thinks of wagashi. Sentaro, a shinise confectionery in Kyoto, made their own unique and tasty Setsubun demon theme roll, but you don’t get sushi from a confectionery, it’s a wagashi roll! Its quite long and comes wrapped…
Setsubun Foodie Customs: Kyoto Hisagozushi ‘Onimaki’ Ehomaki
Meet the ‘Demon Roll’ sushi for the day before spring — Kyoto-style. This makizushi is a very original, fascinating and extremely beautiful variation of the eho-maki (lucky direction roll) makizushi that is eaten by custom in Japan on Setsubun, February 3rd, the day before spring begins. Setsubun has some wonderful customs and they all seem to be food related.
Two…
Wagashi: Kyoto Toraya’s Year of the Tiger Namagashi
This is the Year of the Tiger and I got my tiger themed new year namagashi from Toraya again, same as last year. It is called Sachi Tora (幸とら), or Happy Tiger. Like last year’s ox, this delightful design is quite abstract and uses cinnamon to create both flavor and fragrance but moreover a novel visual effect.
Eto: Twelve Chinese…





