Kyoto Souvenirs 京都みやげ たまにはお菓子以外でどうでしょう

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I have been collecting these dolls since last year. They are sold at Kogatanaya Chubee (Japanese only) in Kyoto and there are 13 types in total. This summer, I bought the central one, a boy holding a chimaki, usually meaning a Japanese desert, but an amulet for this (for details read this). The store was first founded in 1656 as a hotel, but now sells these dolls and other variety of Japanese dolls.

In addition to this cute boy doll, I bought this Japanese tea mug at Horaido Chaho, too which I found when taking a walk around Sanjo. It was so beautiful that I couldn't keep my eyes off it for a while. I got it to drink hot shochu (not Japanese tea), but have been using it for wine, too. The color of red wine matches that of the kannyu cracks of the mug.

Both shops sell traditional Japanese dolls and teaware and all of them are kawaii and beautiful. It's worthwhile to take a look at them. The shops are both in Sanjo, Kyoto, five to ten minutes apart.




普段はお菓子ばかり買う私だが、この夏は、人形と湯呑を買った。人形は小刀屋忠兵衛、湯呑は蓬莱堂茶舗。湯呑は焼酎のお湯割りに使うつもりだったがワインにも合う！赤ワインの色と貫入の色がぴったりだ。どちらのお店も三条にあり、歩いて5分か10分くらい。歴史のある古い店だが、商品はかわいくてともてきれい。お勧めです。