Where is the Monchhichi shop Shine located, and how much do the Monchhichi dolls cost?

It is located in the middle of the fork in the road as you walk up Sannenzaka street. The Monchhichi dolls cost ~$13 each.

How much is the entrance fee for the main hall of Kiyomizu-dera, and what are the accepted payment methods?

The entrance fee for the main hall is 500 yen for adults and 200 yen for children. Payment is cash only, so you must prepare Japanese yen in advance.

Where can I experience lifting the iron staff at Kiyomizu-dera?

It was originally located near the main hall, but due to the large number of visitors, it has been moved to an outdoor area. There is a legend that lifting the iron staff brings honor and wealth, so the line to try it is usually long.

Can I eat the matcha parfait inside the Kyosendo Gion main store?

The first floor is mainly for takeout, but there is spacious table seating on the second floor where you can sit and eat comfortably. The price of the matcha parfait is 1,100 yen, and KakaoPay is also accepted.

What are the prices and features of the set menus at Kyoto Tonkatsu Katsuda Shijo Kawaramachi branch?

Set menus A and B are 1,970 yen each. The main feature is that A5-grade Wagyu is deep-fried immediately upon order, rested, and then served directly to the counter seats.

Kyoto Itinerary 2026: Kiyomizu-dera, Monchichi & Tonkatsu…

Osaka & Kyoto, Japan Trip

Kiyomizu-dera, Monchhichi Shop, & Kawaramachi Tonkatsu Spot

(Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto Monchhichi, Kyosendo Matcha Parfait,

and Wagyu Tonkatsu Katsuda)

Photos & Written by © Yappi

Hello everyone!

I'm back with Part 6 of my Kyoto travel series!

It's Yappi! haha

My husband and I traveled to Osaka and Kyoto

during the third week of May!

Continuing from Part 5, in this post,

I'm going to share a fully packed Kyoto sightseeing itinerary.

Filled with that classic, cozy Kyoto vibe,

let's dive right into today's adventure!

1. Monchhichi Shop (Monchichi shop with shrine)

✅ Hours: Daily 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

📍 Monchhichi shop with shrine
2-chōme-218-1 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0862 Japan

On our way up to Kiyomizu-dera,

we stopped by this Monchhichi shop

at the earnest (?) request of my sibling!

To be honest, it was so incredibly crowded

that I wouldn't highly recommend

making a detour just for this shop... T_T

But since it was right on our path up to the temple,

we decided to take a quick peek!

If you walk straight up Sannenzaka Street,

it sits right at the fork in the road,

so it's super easy to find.

I had no idea there were so many different kinds of Monchhichi

until this trip! haha

The moment the staff restocked the shelves,

they were snatched up instantly. Watching this precious (?) phenomenon,

I quickly grabbed two of the cutest ones

I could lay my eyes on!

The Original Monchhichi and the Bee Monchhichi!

I think they were almost ~$13 each,

so you should definitely be prepared to empty your wallet

before visiting... ^^

My sibling's ultimate pick was the Original Monchhichi!!

The shop is quite small and chaotic inside,

so we quickly paid and headed out.

Still, they have a massive selection—big ones, small ones, colorful ones, and more!

The variety is truly mind-blowing!

As we got swept along with the crowd again,

we accidentally stumbled upon this beautiful pottery shop!

Inside, there was an incredible array of plates and bowls

crafted by famous artists!

While exploring, we stepped out the back door

and found this hidden little gem of a space!

Since there wasn't a single person around,

we took a moment to recharge our completely drained energy before moving on 💙

Kyoto seems to be really famous for its ceramics and pottery!

There are pottery districts scattered around,

as well as studio workshops and tons of gorgeous plates.

2. Kiyomizu-dera Temple

✅ Hours: Daily 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM

✅ Main Hall Admission: Adults 500 JPY, Children 200 JPY (Cash only!)

📍 Kiyomizu-dera
1-chōme-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0862, Japan

Swept along by the massive crowd, we finally reached the entrance of Kiyomizu-dera!

If you can, I highly, highly recommend

making this your very first stop in the morning!! 🥲

But despite the overwhelming crowds,

the main temple building is still so majestic

and truly awe-inspiring.

Comparing Korean temples and Japanese temples...

It felt like a subtle, mysterious blend of styles.

I was curious about the main hall,

but with the massive crowds and the separate admission fee,

we decided to just take a casual stroll around the outside!

If we had just a little more time,

we would have loved to explore the main hall too—such a pity.

Just a quick tip: the main hall is cash-only,

so make sure to bring some Japanese Yen with you!

Actually, more than sightseeing at Kiyomizu-dera itself,

the place where my hubby and I spent the most time

was actually the 'Iron Pole Lifting' challenge zone! haha

Apparently, this used to be located near the main hall,

but because it got so incredibly crowded,

they moved it to an outdoor open area.

Which was actually even better! haha

Legend has it that if you can lift this heavy iron pole,

you'll be blessed with fame and wealth,

so there was a massive line of people waiting to try.

Of course, my hubby had to give it a go,

and he even tried twice...!

But unfortunately, he failed ㅠㅠ

Maybe with just a tiny bit more strength, he would've got it?!

We saw so many fit guys giving it their all,

but it looks like it's way harder than it looks!

In all the time we spent watching,

I only saw exactly two people succeed!

I even overheard a passing tour guide saying

they had never once seen anyone succeed in person.

So I thought, 'Wait, really? But I already saw two...?'

I guess we were just super lucky to witness it! haha

When someone succeeds, the whole crowd erupts in cheers!

And even when they fail, everyone comes together as one

to cheer them on—the vibe was just so fun and supportive.

If you think you've got the muscle,

you should definitely go and give it a try!👍

3. Kyosendo Gion Main Shop

✅Hours: Everyday 11:00~18:00

✅Menu: Matcha Parfait (1,100 yen), Kakao Pay ⭕

📍 Kyosendō Gion Main Shop
565-1 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0074, Japan

I really, really wanted to try an authentic Kyoto matcha parfait

and some chewy warabimochi,

so this was the spot we headed to!

We arrived just barely an hour before closing,

so we politely asked if we could still dine in.

They were so kind and immediately guided us

up to the seating area on the second floor.

The first floor seemed to focus mainly on takeout,

but the second floor was surprisingly spacious and comfortable!

As soon as we sat down, we ordered the parfait

and warabimochi, and they served them up in no time!

The presentation alone was an absolute 10/10,

but after just one bite, my husband and I locked eyes

and gave an instant thumbs-up! haha

Seriously, out of all the parfaits we had in Kyoto,

this was hands down the best!

The warabimochi had that uniquely soft and chewy texture

that is so hard to find back home.

Rolling it in the rich matcha powder made it

surprisingly filling and absolutely divine.

If you're looking for an authentic parfait hotspot in Kyoto,

make sure to stop by Kyosendo!

After quickly recharging my energy with a sweet parfait,

I took another lovely stroll along the Kamogawa River

which was right on my way back to the accommodation.

The views of Kyoto as I walked back and forth

were absolutely gorgeous 💙

4. Kyoto Tonkatsu Katsuda (Shijo Kawaramachi)

✅ Hours: Daily 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM

✅ Menu: Set Menu A/B (1,970 yen each), Draft Beer (830 yen)

📍 Kyoto Tonkatsu Katsuda Shijo Kawaramachi
Japan 〒600-8022 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Inarichō, 330-2 Kyoto Wagyu-kan 1F

Since it was close to my place, I'd had my eye on this spot whenever I passed by!

The dinner queue was always so long,

so I decided to save it for my final dinner of the trip.

They have an extensive menu,

and it's a specialty Wagyu tonkatsu restaurant

known for serving premium A5-grade Wagyu!

They fry and rest the meat right after you order,

and then serve it fresh right in front of you at the counter!

Thanks to that, I got to taste the juiciest, most piping hot

life-changing tonkatsu of my entire life.

Seeing them prep the meat right before your eyes

makes it feel so much more trustworthy and delicious!

By the way, they also serve matcha beer,

but the other travelers at the next table had a very mixed reaction,

so I played it safe and stuck to regular draft beer haha.

The young staff had such a lively and cheerful energy

that it was so much fun chatting with them!

The 'Premium Egg' included in the set

was also cooked to absolute perfection, just like a soft-boiled egg.

The portions were incredibly generous, so I felt completely food-coma'd!

It's at times like this that I really resent having a small stomach ㅠㅠ

This is a definite must-revisit the next time I'm in Kyoto! 👍

May Osaka & Kyoto Travel Vlog #5 | Kyoto Breakfast Spot Ogawa Shoyaku Restaurant Reservation, Ginkaku-ji Temple (Jisho-ji), Philosopher's Path, and Local Sushi Gem Sushi Ishimatsu

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