4 | LUXlife Magazine or vegetarian and vegan travellers visiting Japan, it can be difficult to find a place to eat that serves traditional Japanese food whilst catering to their dietary requirements. Although Tousuiro Gion is not an exclusively plant-based restaurant, it does have a delicious vegetarian and vegan menu that offers a great taste of authentic Japanese cuisine. Tousuiro Gion has been serving dishes made with tofu, a well-known vegetarian staple, since its establishment. However, until relatively recently, there was no vegetarian or vegan culture in Japan. For this reason, when Tousuiro Gion’s customers began suggesting a vegan menu, it did not know where to start. Despite this, the restaurant was motivated to create a menu that would meet the needs of those who do not eat meat, seafood, or dairy. Following a rigorous testing process, the restaurant finally perfected its vegan offering, which is now one of its most popular courses. Available when requested in advance, Tousuiro Gion’s vegan course is a tofu kaiseki, consisting of a range of interesting and artfully presented dishes. Guests can enjoy tofu in all its forms: chilled, boiled, fried, grilled, sweet, savoury, and even as an ice-cream. Those who order the full menu should set aside ample time for the experience since they will be served several courses to enjoy consecutively. Today, Tousuiro Gion is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Being located in the traditional Gion district, only a 15-minute walk away from Gion-Shijo station, the restaurant is close to Yasaka shrine, Kodaiji temple, and Kiyomizu temple, making it the perfect spot to stop for a bite to eat after a day of sightseeing in Kyoto. Boasting a calm, warm, and classically Kyoto atmosphere, Tousuiro Gion is situated within a renovated 130-year-old merchant house. This quaint venue offers a unique, relaxing space in which people can enjoy a delicious meal. However, given its popularity and size, it is important to make your booking early to avoid disappointment! Competing with many other restaurants in the area, Tousuiro Gion sets itself apart through its exceptional staff members, who are all trained and motivated to create beautiful and delicious food. Keen to see customers smile and enjoy their experience, the staff are also very friendly and welcoming in nature. Furthermore, whilst many traditional Japanese restaurants are hesitant to interact with customers from overseas due to language barriers, Tousuiro Gion communicates confidently with all its guests. The restaurant contacts them by email before their booking, sending them all the information they need in advance. This facilitates seamless communication between parties and makes guests feel more welcome and comfortable when they arrive at the venue for their meal. As a result of the hard work of its employees, Tousuiro Gion has received several positive reviews over the years. Impressively, the Best Tofu Restaurant 2023 - Kyoto Located in Kyoto, Tousuiro Gion is a serene eatery serving traditional kaiseki cuisine, including a variety of seasonal tofu dishes, freshly dipped yuba, assorted sashimi, and more. The establishment has become known for its specialised vegan kaiseki course called“Rokuhara”,whichismadewithoutanyseafood,meat,ordairyproducts.Thissetisalsoavailablewithadjustmentstomake it completely gluten-free. F establishment has amassed a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor and a 4.3star rating on Google. For example, one satisfied customer describes their experience at Tousuiro Gion, sharing, “Exceptionally high-quality food, presented with so much attention to detail. Waiting staff and chef were very friendly and welcoming. Options available for pescatarians, vegetarians, and vegans. I’m a big fan of tofu and this is the best I’ve tried!” Another thrilled customer comments, “I reserved the vegetarian meal and was amazed by every course. Tofu sashimi and the tofu skewer were my favourites! I loved the friendly service here as well. The chef asked if I eat egg and since I don’t, the meal was vegan. I think the price was worth it given the high quality of the ingredients and amount of food. Will definitely be back!” Lastly, one customer explains, “This meal was fabulous. There were so many different styles and preparations of tofu. The service was perfect. The chef walked us through how to eat each course (we were absolute beginners and knew nothing) and the servers were always immediately ready as soon as we finished courses and began the next ones. All in all, this was a great experience and I’d highly recommend it if you’re in the Gion district.” In light of its excellent reputation and the wealth of praise it has received online, it is no surprise that Tousuiro Gion has been recognised in the Global Vegan Awards 2023. For its outstanding menu and the exceptional standard of service delivered by its staff, the restaurant has been named Best Tofu Restaurant, Kyoto, by LUXlife. In the modern day, things are changing at a rapid pace in Japan. Tousuiro Gion has noticed that, in comparison to previous years, more customers are coming to Kyoto from other prefectures and even from overseas. Having embraced the opportunity to create a unique vegan offering, the restaurant’s mission is to continue evolving and improving to satisfy the needs and desires of customers from all over the world. To achieve this goal, Tousuiro Gion has recently launched a glutenfree kaiseki course at its Gion branch. Through this, it hopes to allow even more people to enjoy Japanese cuisine during their trip to Kyoto, regardless of their dietary requirements. Since this new offering was introduced in March, many customers have ordered it and expressed satisfaction. For anyone visiting Kyoto who loves tofu or wants to try something new for lunch or dinner, Tousuiro Gion is a great option. The experience of enjoying elaborately prepared cuisine in such a special location is certainly worth the trip! Contact: Shigenobu Nakai Company: Tousuiro Gion Web Address: tousuiro.com
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