Where to Purchase Condiments, Sauces and Spices in Kyoto
Traditional Japanese Spices
Shichimi 七味 (seven flavor chili spice)
Sansho 山椒 (Japanese pepper, Japanese rendition of Sichuan pepper)
Ichimi 一味 (one chili spice)
Shichimi, sansho and ichimi are popular on noodle and donburi (rice bowl) dishes in Japan. Sansho is common on chicken and tempura as well. Shichimi and sansho are very unique in flavor, however ichimi, just being fairly mild chili powder may not impress visitors from abroad.
Shichimi is made of ground chili, hemp seed, poppy seed, rape seed, Sichuan peppercorns, sesame seeds, and ground dried orange peel. It is a unique flavor to Japan but can easily lend itself to many modern, ‘fusion’ recipes. Kuroshichimi, or black shichimi is our favorite.
Gion Hararyokaku 原了郭
Gion Hararyokaku is a shinise purveyor of Japanese spices like sansho and shichimi and has been in business since 1703. This shop is especially known for its kuroshichimi, or black shichimi. Products can be purchased in delightful bamboo dispensing containers which make excellent omiyage (souvenirs).
location: Hararyokaku is located in Gion just south of Yasaka Shrine, on the north side of Shijo Street, it is on the corner of Shijo Street and Hanami Koji Street.
no website
tel: 075-561-2732
京都市東山区祇園町北側267
Shichimiya Honpo 七味家本舗
Shichimiya Honpo is the other Kyoto shinise spice company. Shichimiya Honpo has been in business for 350 years. It is located in the on the hill going up to Kiyomizu Temple. Shichimiya offers its spices in nice boxed ‘omiyage’ sets and beautiful ceramic containers.
location: In the scenic Kiyomizu neighborhood on Sannenzaka-kado (Sannenzaka ‘corner’). If you are going here you are also surely going to Kiyomizu Temple, just walk up Sannenzaka Hill from Higashi-oji Street and refer to your map.
website (no English): http://www.shichimiya.co.jp/annai/index.html
tel: 075-551-0738
京都市東山区清水産寧坂角
Flavored Miso
Yosan 八百三
Yaosan is one of those remarkable Kyoto shinise, it has a single very famous product that has been popular for generations: yuzu miso. Yuzu is a lemon-like citrus that is an important flavor in Japanese cuisine. Flavored miso is used in shojin-ryori (temple food) and Yaosan’s has been used by the imperial family and many of Kyoto’s major temples for several hundred years.
Yaosan’s yuzu miso comes in a beautiful yuzu shaped ceramic container.
location: Yaosan is located just east of Karasuma Street on the north side of Anekoji Street. The Oike Subway Station (Kawasuma Line) is just one block away and the trendy Shinpukan Shopping Center is just across the street.
website: Yaosan is a tiny and ancient store and I wonder if they have heard of the internet, they of course have no website.
tel: 075-221-0318
京都市中京区姉小路通東洞院西入ル
