November 24, 2019
by Ayuka Takashita and Yumika Ikeda
There are a lot of delicious things in Kyoto and many tourists enjoy these. Most people already know about famous traditional Japanese food but today I introduce tasty chocolates in Kyoto. Actually, so many stores specializing in chocolate are gathered there and these designs are unique. These are perfect products for souvenirs when you visit Japan. If you want to go to a little-known spot in Kyoto, you have check out these shops.
Chocolat BEL AMER
Chocolat BEL AMER is opened in 2015 and it aims to make Japan-like chocolate. They are using the traditional houses as the store and these contain a small Japanese garden. On the first floor, you can buy original products what you like. There are so many kind of sweets, for example, Gateau, Four sec, or Stick Chocolat, but I recommend “Tablet Chocolat” and “Chocolat”. First one is really beautiful design and its pattern with Japanese motifs such as Ginkakuji-Temple, Arashiyama and Maiko. Packages are made of Japanese paper and it feels not only gorgeous but also has a delicate impression. Second one is the most recommend products, especially bonbon chocolats are so good. These designs look like art. Some of them are made with Japanese sake or green tea as ingredients, so you can savor Japanese things both of sense of taste and sight. Incidentally, the most popular item of Chocolat Bel Amer is kinshi masamune and it includes sake. If you,don’t usually drink, you should choose ume, it mean Japanese apricot. Of course, this apricot is a product of Wakayama prefecture in Japan. On the second floor, there is a café named Chocolat BER. You can eat all foods and drinks only this store. Popular products of this café are green tea soufflé and fondant au chocolat. The former one is served fresh and it is not too sweet and you can enjoy different taste to pour milk chocolate sauce on it. Next is the latter one. You would be surprised when you eat it because the direction is so nice. The clerk is serves this product covered with glass case and inside is full of walnut’s smoke. The glass case is removed in front of you and it smells great. This sweets is enjoyable to eat with various sauces. Other foods are really delicious, so you find your favorite one. This nice shop’s address is 66 Masuya-cho, Kitagawa, Sakaimachi-higashi Agaru, Sannjo-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-city, KYOTO. You can get to there by taking the subway Karasuma Line and getting off at Karasuma Oike station. And it’s about 5 minute walk from this station.
Atelier du Munian
Munian is opened in 2009 and it is famous for chocolate truffles. This store is cooperated with Kakao tei; this is the chocolate brand. If you go there, you can see a building with a relaxing atmosphere and it has Japanese garden, too. Interior decoration reflects the chocolate wrapped foil and there is small café space. In the showcase, a lot of there are chocolate sweets, it’s MUNIAN truffle, Ganache Carre, Gateau MUNIAN, Gateau au Chocolat Blanc et Fromage, Gateau au Chocolat a la MUNIAN truffle. The most popular is MUNIAN truffle and I’m sure you have never experienced this texture before. It is bigger than normal one, but literally melt in your mouth. There are 12 flavors, including strawberry, green tea, vanilla, rose and so on. Matcha or gyokuro are good sellers because these products based on green tea but you would be satisfied with whatever flavor you choose. The store’s address is 416, Dainichi-cho, Shijou-Agaru, Gokomachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-city, KYOTO. You can get to there by taking the Hankyu Line and getting off at Kawaramachi station. But it is going to move to around Kyoto Imperial Palace, so you will have to check for the new address.
Salon de Royal
This store opened in 2012 in Kyoto and tries to combine Japanese and Western styles. Salon de Royal is the oldest of the three shops and has received a prize at Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat in 2017. Staffs in there are always try to make a space look unusual so these are beautiful and gorgeous atmosphere. When you come there, you can see colorful items inside the showcase like chocolate, cakes and macarons, Trade items of this shop are pecan nut chocolate and bonbon chocolat. First one is popular as a gift or souvenir because these are not too expensive and tastes so good. And then, the most featured chocolate is named “the Eiffel”, it is a chocolate actually in the shape of the Eiffel Tower. Any other items are really beautiful, so please go there and check out these products. Also, this shop has café space and it faces the Kamo-gawa River, so you can enjoy delicious chocolates or other sweets while feeling peaceful. Moreover, the veranda is opened in the summer season so it’s must-see. The address of this store is 502, Kamikoriki-cho, Oike-Agaru, Kiyamachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-city, KYOTO. You can soon reach it by foot from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Kyoto City Subway Tozai Line.
These three chocolate stores each have really unique and beautiful products and these will makes you happy. If you visit there, you can enjoy your trip to Japan even more.