Retro coffee shops and cafes in the south area of Kyoto Station.

Minami Ward, Kyoto City, located south of JR Kyoto Station.
Toji Temple, registered as a World Heritage site, attracts many tourists every day.
However, many people may feel that there are no cafes or restaurants in Minami-ku other than those around Toji Temple when they do their preliminary research in guidebooks or tourist websites.
Therefore, this article introduces some recommended cafes for sightseeing in the South District.

Table of Contents

What is the south side of Kyoto Station like?

■Coffee Shop YC Kyoto

■West Side

■Cafe Yamaguchi

■Cafe Pansy

■Jun-Shocha Minami

■Irene Cafe

coffee shop ishi

Coffee House Senka

Coffee Shop Yamamoto

■Cafe Crown Hachijo

■Cafe Bar Maple

■ Summary

■What is the south side of Kyoto Station like?

Minami-ku, Kyoto, bordered by Fushimi and Higashiyama wards to the east by the Kamo River, and by Muko and Saikyo wards to the west, Ukyo and Shimogyo wards to the north, and Fushimi ward to the south, is a prosperous area with a population of about 100,000.

The area also has a mix of facilities, from tourist attractions such as shrines, temples, and souvenir shops to residential areas and corporate offices. The east side of Minami-ku is close to famous tourist attractions, and there are several modern and fashionable cafes due to the extensive railroad network.

Conversely, the west side is dotted with historical buildings, as it used to be the starting point of Suzakuoji, the main street of Heian-kyo. It is recommended to take a leisurely stroll when visiting the area for sightseeing, as you may happen to find stylish cafes and hole-in-the-wall places of interest among the many buildings in the environment.

■Coffee Shop YC Kyoto

Coffee House YC Kyotois a coffee shop with a retro atmosphere where you can enjoy a wide variety of coffee beans.
Opened in 1987, the store is filled with antiques and has an atmosphere of a different space that cannot be imagined from the outside.
When it first opened, it was in the midst of the bubble economy, so it is furnished with chairs, tables, and other furnishings that give it a luxurious feel.
While inorganic cafes are all the rage these days, here you can enjoy a cup of coffee with an old-fashioned atmosphere.

The most distinctive feature is the extensive coffee menu. You can choose from 10 types of coffee, including original coffee blends and straight beans such as Blue Mountain and Mocha Matari. If you tell the staff your preference for bitterness or acidity, they may be able to recommend a coffee for you.

A great point is the wide variety of food items that go well with coffee and tea. We recommend the omelette sandwich with a thick omelet, which is familiar to Kyoto residents and Kansai people but a bit unusual for Kanto people, and the hearty BLT sandwich with multiple layers of thickly sliced bacon.

Since they open early in the morning, they of course have a morning menu. There are three types of toast, sandwiches, and hot dogs, all with salad and fruit. Coffee or tea is included, making it perfect for a light breakfast.

It is also good to visit for a short break between or after sightseeing.
How about homemade pudding for dessert to fill your stomach? With the recent boom in junshocha, pudding with cherries on top is a stable and popular menu item that looks great in photos.
Another item that comes highly recommended is the baked cheesecake made with Maribor cheese, which has a subtle sourness that goes well with coffee, and can only be found here.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

■Coffee Shop YC Kyoto
Address: 5, Higashi-Kujo Minami-Matsunoki-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075-671-3566

HP:https://yckyoto.wixsite.com/coffeehouseyc

■West Side

This is a coffee shop in Kichijoin Shimanomazume-cho, Minami-kuThe West Side.The restaurant is a local favorite for its delicious menu of traditional Western-style dishes. The restaurant is loved by locals for its delicious menu of traditional Western-style dishes.
In addition to tea and coffee, there is a wide range of menu items to choose from, including daily bento lunches, spaghetti, toast, yakiniku donburi, curry udon, and yakisoba noodles.
The set meal also includes soup, salad, and a drink, so it is a great way to fill up on a light meal.
It is a small coffee shop, but it is a warm place where you can feel the hospitality of Kyoto.
Among the extensive meal menu, omelette rice is one of the most popular dishes.
The omelette is skillfully wrapped around an egg, and the fragrant demi-glace sauce on top of it enhances the flavor of the omelette.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

■West Side
Address: 42-2 Shimanomazume-cho, Kisshoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: 075-671-6999

HP:https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260604/26033990/　(Eating Log)

■Cafe Yamaguchi

Located near Jujo Subway Station"Cafe Yamaguchi."。
It is easy to tell from the exterior, but the building has a sense of history, giving it a "THE Showa-era coffee shop" feel. The store's calm atmosphere and retro-inspired furniture, including the counter and chairs, make you feel as if you have time-traveled back several decades.

While the restaurant offers a standard menu of coffee shop-style items such as omelets and sandwiches, it also offers side dishes such as oden and ham cutlets, and staples such as yakisoba, fried rice, and cold noodles, attracting customers of all ages during lunchtime.
Among them, there are three types of curry, including "red curry," which is unique for a coffee shop, and many visitors order it.
The curry is also served with miso soup, which may seem like an unexpected combination, but it goes together quite well and is delicious. The fact that you can refill the curry roux is also a nice point.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

■Cafe Yamaguchi
Address: 1, Higashi-Kujo Kawabe-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: 075-671-6534

HP:https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260604/26010409/　(Eating Log)

■Cafe Pansy

Located in Kuze-Nakakuze-cho, Minami-ku"Cafe Pansy."。
From the outside of the store, there is a good old-fashioned atmosphere. The store's sign also has a cute flower logo, as the name of the store is "Pansy.

The coffee shop is loved by the locals for its master's good reputation and delicious food, and many regulars visit the store frequently.
Customers come one after another from the neighborhood to take a break from work or have lunch, and the sight of them drinking coffee or iced coffee gives you a sense of Showa-era style.

Not only do regulars come here for lunch, but the restaurant also operates as a "karaoke night pansy" in the evening after 7:00 p.m., and has many fans during that time.
It is recommended not only for coffee, but also for those who want to enjoy it as a snack in the evening.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

■Cafe Pansy
Address: 2-106-2, Kuze-Nakakuze-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: 075-934-6969

■Jun-Shocha Minami

Store located in the Avanti commercial facility on the Hachijo Exit side of Kyoto Station"Pure Café Minami."。
As a restaurant that retains strong traces of the Showa period, it is popular not only among residents of the neighborhood but also among businessmen visiting on business trips.

A feature of the restaurant is its wide selection of old-fashioned iced drinks such as coffee, cola, and cream soda.
In addition to the royal toast, there are also light meals such as fried rice, Japanese mushroom pasta, and omelette rice, so it is recommended to visit when you are hungry.

Another popular item on the menu is homemade curry and rice. You can choose from several types of curry, including a large serving, curry with egg, and omelette rice curry. When a raw egg is added, it is well mixed with the roux and rice to create a rich flavor.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

■Jun-Shocha Minami
Address: Avanti Building 1F, 31 Higashi-Kujo Nishi Sanno-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: 075-661-3968

HP:https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260101/26035698/　(Eating Log)

■Irene Cafe

The glass-walled storefront is filled with sunlight and is generally bright and cheerful, and is always well received by customers who come to the store.Irene Cafe。
Many local customers visit the restaurant to enjoy the interaction with the friendly master.

The cakes and muffins are handmade, and the carefully brewed coffee tastes comforting.
Daily lunch specials, such as minced cheese cutlet with mini salad, are popular. Lunch includes rice, salad, and soup in addition to the main dish, and is reasonably priced, making it an excellent cosmetic choice. The Yuzu Kosho Grilled Chicken, which appears regularly on the menu, is especially appreciated for its sweet and spicy sauce and tender chicken meat.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

■Irene Cafe
Address: 8 Kamitoba Omizo, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: 075-671-1707

HP:https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260601/26011916/　(Eating Log)

coffee shop ishi

A little far from Kyoto Station, but there is a parking lot and it is convenient to go there by car.Cafe Ishihas a mahjong parlor on the second floor and a coffee shop on the first floor.
The interior of the restaurant has a nostalgic feel, and many customers have been coming to the restaurant for many years.
In addition to coffee, tea, and other beverages, the restaurant also offers many hearty set meals, so it is in demand as a set meal restaurant used by people from nearby offices and factories during lunchtime.
Among the hearty menu items such as curry rice and pork cutlet, many customers order the chicken cutlet set meal. The hearty chicken cutlet is a perfect match for the demi-glace sauce, making it a delicious meal.
It is open on Sundays, so please visit.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

coffee shop ishi
Address: 412-3, Kuse Oyabu-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: 075-934-1414

HP:https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2607/A260702/26018562/　(Eating Log)

Coffee House Senka

If you are looking for a long-established shop where you can get delicious home-roasted coffee in the Kujo area, you can find it at the following places.Coffee House SenkaThe restaurant is located in the heart of the city's historic district of San Francisco. Enjoy coffee and toast in a classical atmosphere for a moment of morning bliss.

The exterior is a brick-style house with a sense of history. When you enter the restaurant, you will find an open space with a vaulted ceiling. Tables and chairs are neatly arranged, and looking up, you can see a massive chandelier. The cash registers are the same as they were when the store opened, and overall, the coffee shop has a Showa-era feel.

Morning sandwiches and toast are popular, but the most orthodox of them all, the toast and coffee set, is by far the most popular.
The toast is cut into thirds with the ears cut off, and is served on a tray with coffee. The toast is exquisitely cooked to a perfect degree of doneness, and you can taste the skill of a mature chef. The coffee also has a mild taste that will soak into your body from the morning.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Coffee House Senka
Address: 60, Higashi-Kujo Kami-Goryo-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: 075-672-6678

HP:https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260604/26012642/　(Eating Log)

Coffee Shop Yamamoto

Walking along Omiya Street from Kintetsu Jujo Station, you will seeCoffee Shop Yamamoto.The signage and the storefront give a distinctly retro feel to the place. From the sign and the storefront, you can sense the retro atmosphere. As you sit down and wipe your hands with a hand towel while looking around, you will feel as if you are being greeted by antique furnishings, and you will be able to take a rest and relax.

The store has several standard menu items that are unique to a coffee shop. Among them, we recommend the egg sandwich.
Four sandwiches with overflowing eggs sandwiched between fluffy bread are more hearty and satisfying than they appear.
Immerse yourself as much as you like in the old-fashioned gentle taste and space.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Coffee Shop Yamamoto
Address: 106-19 Nishi-Kujo Gokouda-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

■Cafe Crown Hachijo

Cafe Crown, Hachijoexudes an old-fashioned nostalgia even from the front of the store. The store is generally bright, and table game machines are used as tables, although they seem to have stopped working now, making it a great place for retro game lovers!

The meal menu includes a wide variety of sandwich items such as ham sandwiches, pancakes, curry spas, curry with pork cutlets, and bento boxes.
The morning service includes toast, coffee, and boiled eggs, so you will be satisfied from morning.

Suddenly, have you ever heard of a drink called "Cupid"?
Here, you can order cupid, a well-known item at coffee shops in the Kansai region that is becoming a mirage.
Cupid is a drink made by mixing calpis and cola, and young people in the Showa period were all about it.
It is rare in Kyoto to be able to enjoy such a taste even in the modern age of 2038.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

■Cafe Crown Hachijo
Address: 1-2 Nakagawara Nishiyashiki-cho, Kisshoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Phone: 075-313-8989

HP:https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260604/26011827/　(Eating Log)

■Cafe Bar Maple

It is impressive for its fairy tale and cute appearance, just like a mountain lodge.Cafe Bar Maple.The restaurant is open until late at night. As the name implies, this place is a café during the day and a bar at night, so it is lively until late at night. Even though it is a café, it gives the impression that male customers can easily come in.

This place is recommended for those who want to have a solid meal, with a variety of dishes from the royal café menu such as beef curry, toast, and cakes, to hearty dishes such as hamburgers and hamburger steaks for lunch. Single items include hamburgers and cheeseburgers, some of which can also be taken home.

Also, when it comes to coffee shops, you want to enjoy cake with your coffee. Rare cheesecake, with its slightly sweet and creamy texture, is often ordered.
On days when you want a light drink, you may want to visit at night during bar time.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

■Cafe Bar Maple
Address: 80-1 Nishiura-cho, Kichijoin Nishinosho, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: 075-925-5535

HP:https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260604/26032288/　(Eating Log)

■ Summary

In this issue, we have introduced a coffee shop that offers a wide variety of food menus, mainly coffee, but also morning meals and desserts. Located just the right distance from Kyoto Station for a stroll, they are easy to visit before, after, or in between sightseeing. We hope you will take advantage of these cafes when sightseeing in Minami-ku, including Toji Temple and Tofukuji Temple.