Osaka Cuisine and Hidden Gems: A Family Guide to Local Food & Secret Spots

Matcha Curry: A Unique Culinary Experience Itohkyuemon is a long-established tea shop that was founded in the late Edo period. They continue to produce their unique teas in Uji City, following the traditions of the Ito family’s tea gardens. Beyond matcha, they offer a wide array of matcha-based sweets and traditional Japanese confections, making their products ideal Kyoto souvenirs! The Buzz Around "Uji Matcha Curry" One of Itohkyuemon's standout offerings is the "Uji Matcha Curry." You might wonder how a tea shop famous for matcha sweets ventured into curry, but this intriguing collaboration has become a sensation on social media. At one point, it was so popular that it sold out frequently. Nowadays, it’s readily available, even at their Kyoto Station store. What About the Taste? So, what does it taste like? The curry sauce's deep green hue might seem a bit unconventional at first glance. However, it's packed with surprisingly large chunks o...

AEON Mall Takanohara: A Shopping Experience Straddling Prefectural Borders AEON Mall Takanohara is a uniquely positioned shopping mall that straddles the border between Nara Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. While its official address is in Kyoto, the nearest station, Kintetsu Takanohara Station, is located in Nara City, just a one-minute walk from the mall. This unusual location adds a touch of novelty for visitors. Within the mall, you'll find signs and monuments indicating the prefectural border, making it easy to see where Kyoto ends and Nara begins. These monuments are decorated with local motifs from both sides, making them popular photo spots for tourists. For locals, crossing the prefectural border is a daily occurrence, and it's not something they give much thought to. However, the parking lot also spans the border, leading to the quirky experience of car navigation systems announcing "Entering Kyoto Prefecture" and "Entering Nara Pre...