The "Kyoto Exhibition," showcasing Kyoto's traditions and masterpieces, is being held at the 6th floor event space of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building. It runs until January 13th. The theme of the exhibition is "Tradition Meets Modernity." The venue also features a special "Young Master's Teahouse," a collaboration between four young masters from long-established Kyoto restaurants. The four guests are Shinichi Kitamura of "Imobo Hiranoya Honke," a restaurant with over 300 years of history; Katsugo Sasaki of "Izuu," which serves mackerel sushi, a staple at Kyoto festivals; Soichiro Hidari of "Tatsumiya," a matcha restaurant that originated as a tea wholesaler and expanded into tea-eating cuisine in the Taisho era; and Yoshinori Tanaka of "Toriyone," a restaurant in Arashiyama famous for its live chicken dishes. The "Kyoto Feast" course (3,675 yen) created by the four masters is available for dine-in. A special roundtable discussion between the four masters is also available on a special website. In addition to groups of women, the eat-in corner is also popular with men, who can be seen visiting alone and carefully savoring the dishes prepared by four artisans. The event's sales manager commented, "It's rare to have the opportunity to taste the flavors of Kyoto chefs while the food is still warm, so this is a valuable opportunity." Other special items on sale at the event include "Ume no Kaori" (Plum Fragrance), a revolutionary chocolate that combines mochi and chocolate, from Satomi Fujita by KAMEYA YOSHINAGA (chocolate or white chocolate, 840 yen each); "Kinana Parfait" (1,050 yen), a refreshing orange sorbet layered with chocolate ice cream and brownies, from Gion Kinana; and "Beef Steak Cutlet and Foie Gras Mousse Golden Combo Sandwich" (2,520 yen, limited to 20 per day, limited to 20 per day).
As you walk through the venue, the sweet smell of mitarashi dango and the fragrant aroma of tea fill the air, creating a space where you can experience Kyoto cuisine through your sense of smell.
In addition to food, Kyoto-style items such as kaishi paper, sandals, and Gosho basket sets are also on sale. All of them are based on Kyoto tradition and mix with a modern flair.
