A delicious treat that I stumbled upon by accident: I encountered authentic Chanko Nabe in Maruyama Park, Kyoto

Hi, everyone! I decided to do something different on this free trip to Kyoto. My goal was to taste the authentic "chanko nabe"! Before I left, I heard that there was a chanko nabe called "Hiranoya Honten" hidden in the quaint park. Just imagining the scene was full of poetry. So I set "Hiranoya Honten Chanko Nabe in Tanzan Park" as the highlight of my food list. However, this food trip gave me an interesting surprise. An unexpected episode in the search for food First of all, I want to clarify with everyone that the "Tanzan Park" I was looking for is actually the very famous "Maruyama Park (円山公園)" in Kyoto. It is adjacent to the Yasaka Shrine and is the oldest park in Kyoto City. It is famous for the "Gion weeping cherry blossoms" in spring. When I followed the map with great expectations, passed through Yasaka Shrine, and came to the picturesque Maruyama Park, I soon found the quaint shop with the curtain of "Hiranoya Honten". Its architecture exudes a strong sense of history, and the garden landscape is also quite elegant, which completely meets my imagination of an old shop. Just as I was about to go in and have a feast, I glanced at the menu at the door and found something strange. The signature dish of "Hiranoya Honten" is not the sumo hot pot that I have been thinking about, but the traditional famous dish of Kyoto - "Imobo". This is a dish that stews shrimp taro (a kind of sea taro) and cod (dried cod) together. It has a long history of more than 300 years and is also a Kyoto delicacy loved by many literati and poets. It turns out that the restaurant next door to it actually sells sumo hot pot, which is called "Sumo Tea House Ikoro"! These two restaurants are located next to each other and their architectural styles are very similar, so it's no wonder that people would misunderstand them. For me, a traveler who only wants to eat hot pot, this is really a beautiful misunderstanding. However, since the goal is clear, I went to "Sumo Tea House Ikoro" without hesitation. Heart-warming and stomach-warming sumo hot pot experience "Sumo Tea House Ikoro" is also a restaurant full of Japanese style. It is said that it was opened by a former sumo wrestler from the sumo stable (a place where sumo wrestlers are trained), and it has inherited the most authentic taste. As soon as you step into the store, you can feel the heroic and warm atmosphere. Consumption method: The consumption in the store is mainly based on set meals, divided into lunch and dinner time. * Lunch: We offer a more affordable "Mini Chanko Gozen" (ミニちゃんこ御膳), which costs about ¥2,200. It is very cost-effective for travelers who want to experience it, and the portion is quite sufficient. * Dinner: We mainly offer Chanko set meals, which are named after the ranks of sumo wrestlers, which is very interesting! * Sekiwake set meal: about ¥4,180 * Ozeki set meal: about ¥5,280 * Yokozuna set meal: about ¥6,380 In addition to the main Chanko pot, the set meal also includes appetizers, sashimi, etc. The higher the rank, the richer the dishes. The soup is soy sauce-based "soppu dashi", which is rich in flavor but not too salty. It is filled with a lot of Kyoto vegetables, chicken meatballs, tofu, mushrooms and other ingredients. It is a big pot that makes people salivate just by looking at it. The essence of all the ingredients is integrated into the soup, and every bite is satisfying. This time I ordered the "Ozeki Set". The hot pot served on the table is full, the ingredients are rich and fresh, and the soup is so delicious that people want to drink it all. In the slightly cool weather, it is a great enjoyment to sit around a pot of warm hot pot with your travel companions. How to get there? The transportation to Maruyama Park and "Sumo Tea House Ikoro" is very convenient: * Take the bus: Take the city bus No. 100 or No. 206 system from JR "Kyoto" Station, get off at "Gion" station after about 20 minutes, and walk about 5 minutes to Yasaka Shrine. Maruyama Park is across the shrine. * By train: * Take the Keihan Main Line to Gion Shijo Station and walk for about 10 minutes. * Take the Hankyu Kyoto Line to Kyoto Kawaramachi Station and walk for about 15 minutes. Basically, as long as you find Yasaka Shrine, you will find Maruyama Park, and these two delicious restaurants are in the park. Travel Tips * Identify the restaurants: Remember, if you want to eat Chankoro, please go to Sumo Tea House Ikoro; if you want to taste Kyoto's traditional taro stick cuisine, it is "Hiranoya Honten". Both are great restaurants, you can choose according to your preferences. * Reservations are strongly recommended: Especially during dinner time, these two restaurants are very popular. It is recommended to make reservations in advance by phone or on their official website to avoid disappointment. * Wear comfortable shoes: You need to walk through the park to get to the restaurant, and Kyoto is a city suitable for walking, so a pair of comfortable shoes is definitely your travel companion. * Visit nearby attractions: After eating and drinking, you can take a walk in Maruyama Park, or continue to visit nearby famous attractions such as Yasaka Shrine, Chion-in Temple, Kodaiji Temple, and Hanami-koji to experience the ancient capital style of Kyoto. Although there was a small episode in this pot-hunting record, it gave me a deeper understanding of Kyoto's food culture. Being able to taste the sumo hot pot full of energy and warmth in such an elegant environment is definitely one of the most unforgettable memories of my trip. Recommended to all of you who plan to come to Kyoto and want to try some special food!