Miho Museum Cafe

Miho Museum at Shiga prefecture, around 2hr drive from Kyoto, was the most serene museum I've ever visited and my favourite by far. Even to this date, everytime I see our photos, I felt so in awe.

You just felt how the people and the museum respect the nature surrounding this museum; and if you read and even watched the DVD, how Mr IM Pei met such difficulties in constructing it, you would be in awe even more with the Japanese. Mr IM Pei also said the same thing that luckily he had the opportunity to work with Japanese, they had the best workmanship, technologies and perseverance at that time to be able to construct this museum.

And it was such a vision to be able to design and built this museum as part of the hills, it was the request of Lady Mihoko, the owner who so confident only Mr IM Pei fitted the bill to design this museum.  After that others requested Mr IM Pei to design similar design to Miho Museum architectural design.

This is a master example of how we, human, can still build something but in same time also pay respect to our nature, it even has a sustainable vision back in 1990.  I saluted how they planted back all the trees surrounding the museum after construction. And how Lady Mihoko had envisioned that by having this museum, she would also employed the residents around it to work and make it sustainable to the museum, nature, and people around it.

So, we came to the cafe, after our return buggy ride from the Museum through that beautiful tunnel (it was built more than 20 years ago but still feel so modern), next to the Admission and Souvenir store.

And to my delight surprise and should've guessed that the cafe served only Vegetarian and all the ingredients are locally produced and planted around the museum. 

I love the whole concept very much!

The nice and courteous senior lady staff could even explained in English about the concept of the cafe.

The dishes were excellent, fresh and simple but tasted exquisitely indeed. 

Too bad, we were catching the only every hour bus to return to the train station so I didn't have leisure time to take more photos of the cafe.

This is the only Museum and Cafe I long to return despite the long journey...

The scenery from museum window...such serenity

View from another window

View to Museum entrance

Incredible design you saw when you entered the door

While waiting for our buggy ride, view to that beautiful bridge and such serenity

View inside the tunnel

Veggie appetizer, the sauce looked like peanut sauce but it was Miso and a nice combo

The Ice coffee

The brown ice cubes

My tsukune udon, was warned the chilli powder was very spicy...first thought was it wouldn't be that spicy but turned out, it was!! So surprised!

The simple hot women...it was tasty even though it looked so plain...don't be fooled by it look

Miho Museum

300 Tashiro Momodani, Shigaraki

Shiga, 529-1814, Japan

Tel: +81 748823411

http://www.miho.or.jp/english/index.htm

 

Opens daily from 10 am to 5 pm

Cafe Bibliotic Hello!

Found out about this cafe from TimeOut Kyoto; and since it's also in vicinity from Kyoto Imperial Place after watching the Jidai Matsuri processing, I thought it was a good place to try where the localites eating.

The building was a revamp from 100 years old machiya, turned it into a cafe and branching out to bakery next door with some decorative items for sale.

It was so low profile and I bet only locals that familiar with this cafe, definitely not a touristy spot.

Such an eclectic decor, with mismatched furnitures but still complimenting the overal colour scheme, books on displayed on the book shelves on left wall with long table in front of it, there also an open patio on the back where a cool looking guy reading his book, a staircase to 2nd floor dining area; it was all casual eclectic but smart atmosphere...

Patrons are mostly in their 20s-30s and from the looks of it, either working adult or university students.

However, I totally forgot that they only accept CASH and no Credit Card, this is definitely the first encounter of no card acceptance as we used to card payment convenience all over Japan.

Food were good and service was prompt, mostly the waiting staff are young adults, and not English fluent.

If we visit Kyoto again, I will make time to return to this cafe...a great independent cafe with cozy atmosphere...

View from entrance

The group of friends on the long table

Kitchen area under the platform

2nd floor dining area, a small area but looks cozy and mostly for couple seating

The shop area and bakery; they also put a table for seating too, such a casual setting...Another door entrance to enter this area

Blackboard with handwritten special menu on the wall behind our seat

Small wooden folder

Really eclectic down to its menu; all handwritten with some notes punched and inserted in between

Such a serene reading spot

View to drink and kitchen area

View to entrance, next to a group of 4 young pretty ladies; they were a bit surprised to find foreigners next to them...ha..ha...

Nice clean simple design lamp...it reminded me of Scandinavian design..

My Avocado juice

My seafood pasta with tomato based, fresh and delicious

The Salmon Fried Rice...so yummy

My cheese cake...soft and oishii.....

Cafe Bibliotic Hello!

Nijo-dori Yanaginobana, Higashi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, 604-8172

Tel: +81-75-2318625

http://cafe-hello.jp

Opens Tue to Sun from 11.30 am to 11 pm

Cash Only!

Kyoto Food Adventure

During our Kyoto trips, most of the times, we just walked in to any restaurants along our paths. I recalled all of them were thumbs-ups! From excellent service (as most establishments in Japan) to the good food we had.

In Kyoto, you will encounter that majority of restaurants are serving hand-made/home-made dishes compared to easy fix like in Tokyo.

The dishes we had were tasty, fresh, healthy and authentic style. I let the pictures below speak for itself.

Loving Kyoto more after encountering all these great restaurants beside the beautiful city and the people.

Just wander around and walk-in to any traditional/modern restaurants and you will not regret it!

Don't worry if you don't speak any Japanese, most of the menu will be in picture and if not, there will be display set next to entrance which you could point to the staff for ordering. And Enjoy!

This was a Green Tea/Matcha Ice-Cream parlour we passed by, near Kiyozumi-dera area. It was packed on that late afternoon and turned out, all the ice-cream was still made using traditional method of making matcha ice-cream..

From this side

From the other side

So pretty...and yummy for sure..

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This was located at Esta building/on top of Kyoto Train Station. A speciality in Tonkatsu and it was a popular restaurant from the look of the crowd that noon. It was more to traditional way of serving instead of the regular Tonkatsu restaurants. Great tonkatsu, excellent service and even though, it was a tight place but you still got a box below your table to put your belongings..Loved it!

Our appetizers..arranged in a compartmental wooden box, so nice...

Tried the Katsu Don..

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On the basement area of Esta Building/Kyoto Train Station, there are plenty of restaurants. One restaurant caught our attention due to its Washoku Style display on the entrance and long queue on lunch and dinner time. So, we managed to get in on last day in Kyoto by beating the crowd before dinner time. It is always like seeing an art when you are having washoku style, the intricate and detailed dishes that being presented to you are just wonderful. If you would like to experience authentic washoku in affordable and convenience spot, this will be the good choice.

First time having dessert with mushroom in it..tasted wonderful though..

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After going through the photos of Kyoto trip, I realized that we often had our meal on Esta Building/Kyoto Train station area, but you can't avoid it when you see the variety and number of restaurants on the vicinity, screaming 'Convenience' to you when you just going to take the train/after your journey..

This Udon/Soba Speciality restaurant was not my first option at first but then seeing how popular it was, I was intrigued. And I didn't regret trying it, especially after I bought the Soba Cha/Tea made from wheat and just tasted wonderful. They were serving the tea in the restaurant and when I drank this different taste of tea, I was loving it. And they did sell it in package of 500 Yen/Bag.

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This restaurant was located at Arashiyama, you would not miss it if you visisted the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and going to the famous river direction. It is located along the road with variety of other restaurants and souvenir shops. It styled as washoku diner with some in table and chair arrangement and some in tatami style. The staff do not speak English but just point out what you want from the window display.
I must said this restaurant had one of the best sobas and tempura I had.