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Deep Kyoto Insights by Michael Lambe
November recommended cafe & events
Hideout for great food, drinks and antiques
Kei's Cafe Oggi on Gojozaka is famous for its antique furniture and for its light and fluffy rice-filled omelettes. However when I went I wasn't in an ome-rice (fried rice with tomato sauce wrapped by thin egg) mood. I went for the vegan option and got myself a fantastic vegetable sandwich instead.
The colors of those fresh vegetables simply leap out at you. The dressing was lovely too. Set in the heart of tourist country, (it's on the approach to Kiyomizu Temple), this cafe is naturally pretty foreigner friendly. The menu is in both English and Japanese and they'll give you a local tourist map if you want one (also bi-lingual).
Be sure to check out the card on each table (Japanese on one side, English on the other) that tells you all about the various antiques in the shop. Basically all of the furniture is antique and all of it in superb condition. The Seiko clock on the wall dates from 1921. The register, of a type nicknamed Daruma after the lucky Japanese roly-poly dolls, dates from 1918 and is apparently the only working model of its kind.
If you're lucky, when you pay the bill they might let you wind the handle that makes the receipt pop out. It's fun to look about you and admire all this fine furniture. Some of it are from the mid-19th century or even earlier. It's also a very tasty spot to eat and the coffee is very good too.
To find Kei's Cafe Oggi, walk east up Gojo away from Higashioji and towards Kiyomizu Temple. You'll soon see a small parking area with some shops behind it on your left and that's where it is. Open: 9:30-18:00; Closed Thurs., but open every day during the busiest tourist seasons; Tel: 075-533-0881.
This Month's Deep Kyoto Events
Fri., November 6th
JunKroom supports ''For Gaza'' - an avant garde and awareness raising extravaganza of music, dance and performance at Kiyamachi's Urban Guild. Check the Urban Guild or the JunKroom websites for details: http://junkroomkyoto.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.urbanguild.net/ .
Wed., November 25th 19:30-21:00
Our old friend Koichi Yoshida will be performing a shakuhachi recital at Urban Guild. Together with piano, bass, guitar, sitar, tabla, cello and percussion he will perform a set ranging from classic (J.S Bach) and improvisationto traditional shakuhachi music. Entry: adv. 2000 yen, door: 2300 yen (at least 1 drink must be ordered); Urban Guild: http://www.urbanguild.net/ .
End of November
''Sing Around the Table'' at Irish Pub Gnome. Felicity Greenland will be conducting a traditional sing-along of British and Irish tunes. This event is free and a lot of fun. Come along and make some noise. Check Felicity's blog for details: http://lookingathouses.blogspot.com/
This article and its content was written by Michael Lambe. Visit his superb blog: www.deepkyoto.com to learn more about Kyoto!
2009 November
Published on the 1st
of every month.
The 237th issue, since 1987.