2025-12-09
Kabuki and Winter Food
In December, the Minamiza Theater's "Kichirei Kaomise Performance" is held, a traditional event in Kyoto during the last month of the year.
Kaomise is a traditional annual performance in Kabuki that has been held since the Edo period. It is the first performance after a change of actors to introduce the new cast to the audience. At the front of the theater, a signboard called "Maneki" with the actors' names written in a unique calligraphy style (Kanteiryu) is raised.
Period: December 1st (Mon) to 25th (Thu), 2025
Daytime session: 10:30 AM
Evening session: 4:30 PM
Minamiza website here >>
When the weather gets colder, you start to crave "yudofu." The area around Nanzenji Temple is said to be the birthplace of yudofu, and there are many famous restaurants there.
Yudofu originated as a Buddhist vegetarian dish served at Nanzenji Temple. It's an incredibly simple dish, with tofu warmed in kelp stock and eaten with a soy sauce-based sauce and condiments, but the taste of tofu made with Kyoto's high-quality water is exceptional. At long-established restaurants such as Junsei and Okutan, you can dine while looking out at a beautiful garden, making it a very valuable experience.
