Narutotaiyaki Honpo Gion Shijo — Local services in Kyoto

On a leisurely stroll through Gion, I paused at Naruto Taiyaki Honpo at Shijō Kawaramachi and chose their seasonal Naruto Kintoki Sweet Potato taiyaki. Even before the first bite, I was caught by its golden glow.

The thin, crispy shell — expertly baked one by one — gives way to warm, velvety sweet potato filling. It’s rich and sweet, but not cloying; the creamy kintoki flavor feels like summer sunshine from a Kyoto market. It’s the kind of treat that warms your palms and lifts your spirits in a single bite .

Walking along the historic streets, balancing past wooden storefronts and the scent of incense, each bite felt like a sweet echo of tradition. This isn’t just a snack—it’s a pocket of slow, golden joy...

My first time trying this Taiyaki in Gion. There was a queue and may need to wait in line for 10-15 mins. Best to eat it immediately while it’s hot and crispy. Love the red bean and custard filings. Red bean was not too sweet, my favourite of all. Will definitely come back for...

Compared to many other taiyaki, the pastry is chewy. The one we had was charred and tasted burnt. Custard was not very good, and was rather dry. We also had the matcha ice cream, which was underwhelming and didn't even taste...