DAY1
CONTENTS
- Starting from Osaka and Heading to Fukuchiyama, Kyoto
- Menya Somi’s
- Pâtisserie Mountain × CELLAR DE CHOCOLAT by Naomi Mizuno
- Ayabe Industrial Park Exchange Plaza
- Michi-no-Eki Nagomi
- Onward to Our Final Destination
- A Journey Through Fukuchiyama, Ayabe, and the Yura River – With Inaka no Taihō as the Final Destination
Starting from Osaka and Heading to Fukuchiyama, Kyoto
To reach Fukuchiyama from central Osaka, take Osaka Municipal Route 9 Kujō-Umeda Line, then follow Naniwa-suji to enter Hanshin Expressway Route 11 (Ikeda Line). Exit at Ikeda, merge onto Chūgoku Expressway, and at Yokawa JCT, join the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway. Exit at Fukuchiyama IC, then follow National Route 9 to Fukuchiyama Station Front Shopping Street.
The total journey is approximately 1 hour 29 minutes (106 km), including toll roads, making it a smooth and efficient route.
Menya Somi’s
Upon arriving in Fukuchiyama, the first recommended stop is Menya Somi’s, a beloved ramen shop popular with both locals and visitors.
This restaurant is renowned for its additive-free, chemical-free broth and house-made noodles, ensuring a natural and deeply flavorful ramen experience.
At Menya Somi’s, a must-try dish is “THE★Shoyu Wantan”, featuring a rich soy sauce-based broth with delicate, flavorful wontons.
For an extra indulgence, add “Chāshū Choi-Mashi”, which gives you a generous portion of tender, slow-cooked chāshū (braised pork), enhancing the depth of the dish.
The noodles are smooth and silky, effortlessly gliding with each bite.
They perfectly absorb and lift the umami-rich soy sauce broth, which is deeply infused with the flavors of dried sardines (niboshi) and chicken, creating a harmonious and satisfying balance.
The delicate broth pairs beautifully with the silky smooth texture of the wontons, creating an elegant and refined mouthfeel.
For an even richer experience, adding “Chāshū Choi-Mashi” is highly recommended, enhancing the dish with its succulent, flavorful pork.
If you’re looking for ramen in Fukuchiyama, Menya Somi’s is an absolute must-visit.
With its additive-free, all-natural broth, house-made noodles, and carefully selected ingredients, every bowl is crafted with precision and dedication, delivering a truly exceptional ramen experience.
Pâtisserie Mountain × CELLAR DE CHOCOLAT by Naomi Mizuno
Also located in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto, Pâtisserie Mountain is a prestigious pastry shop led by Chef Naomi Mizuno, a World Chocolate Masters champion.
One of its signature creations is a chocolate inspired by his award-winning piece, themed around “Apricot and Salt.” This exquisite confection achieves a perfect harmony of sweetness and saltiness, delivering a deep, multi-layered flavor experience.
Just a 10-minute drive from Menya Somi’s, Pâtisserie Mountain is the ideal next stop on your culinary journey through Fukuchiyama.
The showcase displaying chocolates and macarons is designed to resemble a cave-like atmosphere, creating an immersive space where guests can fully indulge in the world of chocolate.
On the second floor, there is an eat-in space where guests can enjoy freshly made cakes right in the store.
Paired with carefully selected coffee or tea, this setting offers a luxurious moment to indulge in world-class pastries.
“Apricot and Salt” – A Signature Creation of Pâtisserie Mountain
One of Pâtisserie Mountain’s most renowned creations, “Apricot and Salt,” masterfully blends fragrant apricot essence with smooth milk chocolate, enhanced by carefully selected Dead Sea salt to accentuate the fruit’s natural brightness.
This chocolate offers a perfectly balanced harmony of milk chocolate’s sweetness, apricot’s gentle acidity, and the subtle salinity of the salt.
Each bite unfolds a dynamic evolution of flavors, ensuring a captivating and never monotonous tasting experience.
A Diverse Selection of Cacao-Themed Cakes
Pâtisserie Mountain also offers a variety of cacao-inspired cakes, each showcasing the depth and richness of chocolate in unique forms.
One standout creation is “Cacao,” a cake designed in the shape of a cacao pod.
This exquisite dessert is coated in a glossy chocolate glaze, with a caramel mousse topping sculpted to resemble a cacao pod.
Inside, it features layers of bitter chocolate mousse and orange mousse, creating a harmonious balance between deep, rich chocolate and the bright, citrusy notes of orange.
“Caramel Poire” – A Refined Harmony of Flavors
The “Caramel Poire” is an elegantly crafted dessert that perfectly balances the deep, rich flavor of caramel, the bold intensity of bitter chocolate, and the fruity sweetness of pear.
This exquisite combination results in a sophisticated and well-rounded taste, offering a delicate yet indulgent experience with every bite.
The sweets at Pâtisserie Mountain boast an exceptionally high level of craftsmanship, allowing guests to indulge in world-class chocolate creations. Each dessert is meticulously crafted, offering an unparalleled experience of fine chocolatier artistry.
Ayabe Industrial Park Exchange Plaza
Designed by Tadao Ando
Next, the journey continues from Fukuchiyama to neighboring Ayabe City.
The Ayabe Industrial Park Exchange Plaza is a striking modern structure designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando. Featuring his signature exposed concrete design, the building showcases a seamless blend of simplicity and sophistication.
Additionally, this location is recognized as a filming site for the movie Parasyte, making it an intriguing stop for both architecture and film enthusiasts.
One of the most talked-about aspects of this site was the stunning reflection of the building on the pond’s surface, enhancing its architectural beauty.
However, the pond is no longer maintained, and the landscape now presents a different impression from its original water-featured design.
A distinctive feature of the building is the gently sloping ramp that encircles the entire structure.
This architectural design seamlessly connects the exterior and interior, allowing visitors to experience a dynamic shift in perspective as they walk, enhancing their engagement with the surrounding landscape.
The architecture itself creates an art-like space, making it a truly captivating site.
Its open and tranquil atmosphere not only serves as a venue for training and exchange programs but also makes it a must-visit destination for architecture enthusiasts.
Michi-no-Eki Nagomi
If time allows, a highly recommended stop is Michi-no-Eki Nagomi, which offers easy access from both Fukuchiyama and Ayabe.
Located along the scenic Yura River, this area is renowned as one of Kyoto’s top ayu (sweetfish) fishing spots. The pristine water quality nurtures exceptionally flavorful natural ayu, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking to experience the culinary richness of Kyoto’s freshwater cuisine.
Ayu Garden
If you visit Michi-no-Eki Nagomi during the summer, don’t miss the seasonal “Ayu Garden” event.
This special summer experience allows guests to enjoy grilled salt-seasoned ayu (sweetfish) caught from the pristine Yura River, as well as participate in a hands-on ayu-catching activity.
It’s a unique opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the flavors and traditions of summer in Kyoto.
Catch lively ayu (sweetfish) with your bare hands in a dedicated fish tank!
The fish you catch can be grilled on the spot with salt, offering a luxurious and hands-on culinary experience.
Catching ayu (sweetfish) by hand was much harder than I expected!
With their quick, agile movements, they slipped away every time I reached out… But after several attempts, I finally managed to catch one!
The freshly caught ayu, immediately grilled over charcoal, was crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside—the ultimate reward!
There’s something truly special about the taste of a fish you’ve caught yourself—a flavor that feels even more satisfying and delicious.
Ayu Garden – A Special Place to Enjoy Nature and Sweetfish
“Ayu Garden” is more than just a place to enjoy delicious food—it’s a unique experience that allows you to connect with nature while savoring ayu (sweetfish).
From the perfectly grilled salt-seasoned ayu to the hands-on fish-catching activity, this is an experience that will surely become a lifelong memory.
If you’re planning a visit to Michi-no-Eki Nagomi, be sure to check out the summer-exclusive Ayu Garden!
Onward to Our Final Destination
Arrival at Inaka no Taihō
A Hidden Culinary Sanctuary – Arrival at Inaka no Taihō
Leaving Fukuchiyama, traveling through Ayabe, and venturing even deeper into the mountains, we finally reach our ultimate destination—a secluded gourmet retreat.
This is Inaka no Taihō, a hidden restaurant nestled in nature, where every dish tells a story of sustainability, respect for ingredients, and the beauty of farm-to-table dining.
This is where the journey truly comes to life.
After parking the car, we continue walking along a narrow path, venturing deeper into the landscape.
Suddenly, a breathtaking scene unfolds—a river and rice fields stretching before us, creating a world that feels entirely separate from the ordinary.
It’s as if we’ve been invited to a secret retreat dedicated to gastronomy, a hidden sanctuary for true culinary experiences.
For more details about Inaka no Taihō, please check here.
A Journey Through Fukuchiyama, Ayabe, and the Yura River – With Inaka no Taihō as the Final Destination
This journey was not merely about gastronomy—it was about experiencing the beauty of nature and the preciousness of life.
At Inaka no Taihō, each dish represented a harmonious fusion of the land’s blessings and human craftsmanship, reminding us of the profound connection between food and nature.
The gentle flow of the Yura River, the expansive rural landscape, and the cycle of life experienced through food all contributed to an unforgettable experience.
In northern Kyoto, there awaits a journey that allows time to slow down, enrich the soul, and deepen one’s appreciation for the natural world.
As I reflect on this trip, I find myself already wondering—which season should I return next?
Leaving Inaka no Taihō and Heading to the Next Destination
After spending a luxurious and tranquil time deep in the mountains of Ayabe, I set off toward the next destination.
Driving through the winding mountain roads, I take in the surrounding scenery, still immersed in the lingering emotions of the journey.
As I continue, the landscape gradually opens up, and suddenly, the Biwako Bridge appears before me.
From here, the journey takes on a new dimension, crossing over Lake Biwa with the fresh breeze rushing past.
Leaving behind the serene mountains of Ayabe, I embrace the anticipation of new landscapes and the next chapter of my adventure.
The contrast between the quiet solitude of the mountains and the vast openness of the lake is something truly unique to this route, making the drive itself an integral part of the journey.
DAY2
The Journey Continues Here
- TAGS
