Enjoy a Tofu Lunch With Us | Kenji Eats Japan (Patreon)

Join our team for a peaceful tofu lunch at Yudofu Sagano in the scenic Arashiyama area of Kyoto.

Content & Community Manager Erin here with an invitation for you to enjoy a tofu lunch with us in the next episode of Kenji Eats Japan!

Kyoto was our team’s first stop during our visit to Japan in April of this year. Before we left the city, we knew we had to explore tofu cuisine a bit deeper and a donabe filled with broth, simmering away over an open fire gave us the perfect opportunity to dive right in.

But first, some background.

The Tofu Capital:

As the former capital, prior seat of the Emperor, and once-largest city in Japan, Kyoto holds a lot of historic and cultural cachet—especially when it comes to religion. As Zen Buddhism thrived in the city, so did shojin ryori, traditional Buddhist cuisine made without meat or fish. And where shojin ryori thrives, so does tofu.¹

Born out of this tradition, yudofu and yuba became signature dishes of the city.² It was with this in mind that we headed to the aptly named Yudofu Sagano restaurant in the Arashiyama sightseeing district.

Literally translating to "hot water tofu," yudofu is a staple for the winter months in which tofu simmers in hot water seasoned with kombu and is served alongside simple condiments and sides. Yudofu was the heart and soul of our meal here while yuba (tofu skin) was one of the many side dishes, served dipped into soy sauce and topped with freshly grated wasabi. Other side dishes included goma (sesame) tofu, dashimaki tamago (rolled egg omelette), roast duck, seasonal produce, and more, followed by a tempura and subsequent dessert course.

Exploring Arashiyama:

Fortified by a hearty, hot tofu meal, we were off to explore Arashiyama a bit further. To this day, Kyoto hosts over 2,000 Buddhist and Shinto religious sites and our team headed around the corner to visit one such place, Tenryū-ji temple.

This temple practices the Rinzai school of thought from Zen Buddhism and was first built way back in 1339. While its buildings have been rebuilt over the years, its landscape garden has survived across the centuries, allowing us to explore it in its original, meditative design.³

Directly next door, we wandered through the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before taking row boats across the Katsura river (as you may have seen in episode one of Kenji Eats Japan). From there, we hiked up a mountain to explore a park that’s home to habituated macaque monkeys who we got to witness enjoying their own gourmet meal: peanuts and cubed apples.

Kyoto, in general, was a peaceful city compared to the bright sights and sounds of Tokyo, but this was a particularly idyllic field trip for our troupe. So kick back and enjoy joining us for this tofu lunch. And, if you ever find yourself in Kyoto, make sure to try some yudofu yourself.

— Erin, Content & Community Manager

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