659118 Tue Oct 13 08:59:20 -0700 2009 10 45 Japan 0 5099529 I'll be traveling to Kyoto tomorrow. Where can I get some take home stuff from Kyoto? It doesn't have to be mindblowing and expensive, but something reasonable I can give to my coworkers and family. Thanks! -kainzero Tue Oct 13 08:59:20 -0700 2009 28756 kainzero 1 5099610 Where is home for you, Kainzero? I ask because you can find almost anything in Tokyo so it gets really tricky. Tue Oct 13 09:23:09 -0700 2009 5099529 226923 kikisakura 1 5100358 I'm thinking maybe hit a Wagashi Ya like Turuya's homebranch in Kyoto. Obviously wagashi is a specialty in Kyoto but the home branches of those shops will have things that you can't get in the depachikas in Tokyo. Tue Oct 13 13:07:01 -0700 2009 5099529 226450 Notorious P.I.G. 2 5100616 Good call on the wagashi. If the OP's gifts are for people in Japan, they might be very impressed with Sasaya Iori's dorayaki. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/265234#4230928 Tue Oct 13 14:25:07 -0700 2009 5100358 10509 E Eto 3 5100721 ah. my gifts are for people in the US, so I guess it needs to last long and it's gotta be plane friendly. i was definitely thinking wagashi but i am unsure where to find it, since my japanese is limited at best. Tue Oct 13 15:11:40 -0700 2009 5100616 28756 kainzero 4 5100800 As long as you don't get Namagashi you should be fine but even if you do get Namagashi depending on how long after you leave you may be able to swing it. E Eto's recommend for Dorayaki would be a good one. Also, Kyoto has its own take on Namayatsuhashi. They add cinnamon which is my personal fav. I go to a good place on the way to Kiyomizu Temple, touristy I know, but the Namayatsuhashi there is amazing. It has the consistency of fresh pasta almost. Now if I could just remember the name... Tue Oct 13 15:51:29 -0700 2009 5100721 226450 Notorious P.I.G. 5 5100908 Are you talking about Otabe or Nishio? Yasuhashi is definitely the most famous/common omiyage from Kyoto: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yatsuhashi Anyhow, I know this is going to sound lazy but I get most of my omiyage shopping done at Kyoto Isetan and Takashimaya in Shijo-Kawaramachi. Isatan is espcially convenient for travelers because of its location (right next to or more like within the main Kyoto station). Isetan has the usual food hall in the basement but I go for the green tea sponge cake (抹茶カステラ／maccha kasutera) from the teashop/cafe on the 6th floor. You can't miss it because there is always a long line in front of the store for the cafe. It's about $11 for 5 slices and they last about 10 days at room temperature. You'll find many more wagashi at the basement in Takashimaya and if you walk around the Nishiki market, you'll find yet even more. If you have friends/coworkers who wouldn't exactly enjoy sugary treats, there is a spice store on the way to Kiyomizu called Shichimiya (七味家). My mother only uses their spices and wouldn't go near industrial stuff. Enjoy Kyoto and eat well. :) Tue Oct 13 16:35:10 -0700 2009 5100800 226923 kikisakura 1 5101238 I agree with going to a department store depachika or Kyoto Station. You can find a variety of products in one place. Personally, I'd go with something like the Green Tea langues de chat from Malebranche. It's a French-influenced Kyoto-based sweets shop, and their langues de chat are pretty amazing. It will be familiar enough to your family and co-workers, plus it will be matcha-flavoured giving that Japanese touch. Plus you will never find cookies in the US that come close to the quality of what you can get in Japan. They're also beautifully wrapped and light, and are readily available at a number of depachika. http://www.malebranche.co.jp/gift/chanoka.php Then you can also pick up some greet tea at Ippodo or similar tea shop (also available at a number of depachika). Ippodo is great because they have pamphlets in English about the proper brewing of the tea. Tue Oct 13 19:06:48 -0700 2009 5099529 55178 prasantrin 1 5101274 One more thing, regardless of what you buy, you can ask about the best before date. You may be able to bring some kind of namagashi, as long as it doesn't have to be refrigerated (although I bring that kind of stuff back to Canada, too). I don't know the proper Japanese, but if I say, "Itsu made taberaremasu ka?" they understand what I mean, and they show me the dates. Just be aware that they often use Japanese years on packaging, so 2009 would be printed as "21" and 2010 as "22". Tue Oct 13 19:26:12 -0700 2009 5099529 55178 prasantrin 2 5101299 Also, depending on where you are most places can put a dry ice pouch in with your goods. Makes a difference. Tue Oct 13 19:33:49 -0700 2009 5101274 226450 Notorious P.I.G. 2 5101347 expiration date = 賞味期限　shômi kigen Tue Oct 13 19:52:09 -0700 2009 5101274 226923 kikisakura