Tokoroten @ Takinoya, Kiyomizu Dera, Kyoto

Yeap, you saw that correctly. There is a tea house in one of the most beautiful spots in Kyoto, and probably Japan. And after a long hike around the surrounding hills and the large temple compound, Takinoya seems like a good pitstop to have a short break. 

Such beauty

Founded in the early Heian period, the Kiyomizu-dera temple (清水寺) is a truly must visit. There is not a single nail used in the entire structure and despite that, the spires, pagodas and temple halls has a majestic and mystical presence to them . It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water.

The main structure is undergoing severe renovation, hence the scaffolding.
A shame really, as it is really beautiful on the inside

And having so much to cover, it makes sense that shops are located within the temple grounds for tourists and pilgrims to have a sit down. Located in the enter of the temple, this was a very convenient resting spot. And after a long walk heading to the temple and exploring the temple grounds, I believe my feet deserve a break and my stomach, a snack.

Argh the sun!

I liked the feel of the premises. After all, it is an old fashion tea house. And it faces the city of Kyoto, which was a breathtaking view. What is not to like? 

Glossy. 

There was not much to see in the menu, and it has the usual suspects for a "tourist hotbed" like soba and udon if you know what I mean. However, "tokoroten" (ところてん) did catch my attention. For the uninitiated, it is agar-agar jelly noodles, that is commonly eaten during summer time. It was the beginning of the fall, but the heat was still present and I needed something to cool down. Jelly on a hot day always sounds like a good idea. 

Look how translucent it is!

The noodles were relatively simple. Served with a brown sugar syrup called kuromitsu (黒蜜) , it is often eaten as a snack or dessert. Craving for something sweet, this was what I really needed. The sugar syrup was stick, sweet and dense. And being brown sugar, it had that nutty profile, something you would not get from basic white sugar. No surprises there, as kuromitsu translates to black honey. 

A sneak peek from my vantage point

The noodles themselves are actually tasteless. However, the syrup sticks onto the noodles and it made up for it. The noodles somehow tempers the sweetness, making this dish more light and balanced. Chewy, sugary and cooling, this is some summer special that could not be missed. This was a bit pricey, standing at ¥500. But being in a center of a popular tourist attraction, and I needed a break from all the walking, perhaps it a bit more justifiable. 

Inside the shop/ 

There are many tea houses that sell tokoroten if you know where to look. However, it is not as famous as other Japanese treats like mochi rice cakes and red bean puddings. So finding an English menu stating a shop sells this is in itself a challenge. But at least there is one establishment that I can confirm sells this! Located near the Otowa-no-Taki waterfall, its quite easy to spot. And if you are there, why not have some agar-agar? 

Tourists waiting in line to drink from the waterfalls. I told you it was close!