🍜 Temari Fin and Japanese Tea, Sōda手鞠鮨と日本茶 宗田

On Shinmachi Street, which retains many ancient machiya buildings, there is a Japanese restaurant where you can enjoy temari sushi, Japanese tea, and exquisite cuisine. Passing through the beautifully grained wooden door, you will find a serene interior featuring a large wooden dining table and a sleek black counter adorned with shimmering rice ears. The restaurant's name, temari sushi (手鞠寿司), originates from the convenience of small bites for maiko during their performances at the theater, specifically crafted into one-bite sizes. The small sushi rice is topped with beautifully arranged, colorful ingredients that are truly eye-catching. The toppings are carefully selected seasonal fresh vegetables and seafood delivered directly from the Maizuru fishing port. Even the seasonings, including soy sauce, insist on using local Kyoto ingredients. Another signature item is the restaurant's selection of the most fragrant and delicious seasonal Japanese tea. Soft water is boiled in an iron kettle, and hot water is carefully poured into the teapot at the right temperature, brewing each cup with attention to detail. A must-try is the "Three Tea Variety Set," which allows you to appreciate the characteristics of different tea leaves. During lunch hours, the "Monthly Set" featuring temari sushi paired with Japanese tea is highly recommended.

You can taste the seasonal ingredients in the temari sushi and enjoy delicious seasonal Japanese tea. The lunch offers a set menu that allows you to easily enjoy temari sushi. The space decorated with Yuzen and wagasa is also worth noting.