Kyo-Nishijin Kasho Sozen — Restaurant in Kyoto

Today I visited Souzen Café, a cafe located inside a 140 year old Kyoto machiya (a traditional Kyoto townhouse) where you can enjoy a variety of Japanese sweets and tea.

I indulged in their special turtle mochi zenzai set, which comes with a bowl of freshly made matcha tea, half frozen warabimochi (which tasted a bit like a sherbet), and some heart-shaped crackers (arare).

After snacking on these I was ready for the main event: the zenzai (sweet red bean soup) with turtle shaped mochi. These mochi are only sold at this particular shop and are a favorite of the Japanese imperial family. You grill the mochi yourself at your table until they puff up to look just like a turtle. They're almost too cute to eat!

The balance between the slightly salty taste of the mochi, the sweetness of the azuki beans and the bitterness of the matcha was exquisite!

It was a surprisingly filling treat, which means I'll have to come back another time to try the other sweets on their menu. Their parfait looks especially great!

Souzen Café is a leisurely bus ride away from Kyoto Station. Take bus 206 from platform A3 and get off at Kenryuko-mae (乾隆校前). The cafe has a great atmosphere, quiet and cozy with jazz music playing in the background. They also have a souvenir shop with a selection of authentic Japanese sweets. It's a great place to escape from the...

I had an unforgettable experience at Sozen Café, a traditional Japanese-style café that has been open for over 140 years — and still retains all its original charm and elegance.

We enjoyed a beautifully crafted course menu that included:

Ume kombu tea with three types of arare, Grilled mitarashi warabi mochi paired with fragrant hojicha, A hands-on “Imperial Offering” experience, where we toasted red and white tortoiseshell-shaped mochi, And finally, a stunning Nishijin parfait with matcha!

Every dish was full of seasonal flavors and presented with such care and attention to detail. The ingredients were high quality, and you could truly feel the dedication behind each item as they use ingredient that have been used for 100 years.

The ambiance was peaceful and deeply rooted in Japanese tradition, with beautifully preserved interiors that transport you back in time. They also have a lovely little souvenir shop, where you can purchase some of their original products.

The staff were incredibly polite, professional, and friendly, making the entire visit feel so warm and welcoming. Without a doubt, this was one of the best places I’ve visited in Japan — a perfect blend of culture, flavor, and...

I was looking for an affordable place to relax and enjoy Japanese sweets in a traditional, peaceful setting, and this shop was perfect. This shop has been around for 140 years, and the atmosphere is so calming—like stepping into old-school Kyoto. The staff were wonderful and explained the mochi toasting process to me in English. The matcha was also one of the best I’ve had—rich, smooth, and full of flavor. The Zenzai (red bean soup with toasted mochi) was warm, sweet, and incredibly comforting. It was also really cute to watch the turtle mochi rise, and then onsen in the redbean soup . The whole experience of enjoying Japanese sweets here was a really cool experience. Plus, the prices were reasonable. They also have some unique souvenirs, so you can take a little piece of Kyoto home with you. If you're looking for a relaxing, authentic, and budget-friendly Japanese sweets experience, this is the place to go. Great place to visit and wind down after visiting the...