- A Beloved Local Wagashi Shop in Nagaokakyo
Kikuharu is beloved in Nagaokakyo for its commitment to the finest ingredients and to confectionery rooted in the local community. Its craftspeople create elaborate seasonal designs in jo-namagashi. Beautiful to look at, each sweet fills the palate with a gentle sweetness. The shop avoids overpowering flavors, allowing the quality of its ingredients to shine and creating confections that guests want to enjoy again and again.
In this experience, you will use ingredients made by Kikuharu and learn about the world of Japanese confectionery from the shop's second-generation president, Mr. Nishiyama.
Private Temple Wagashi Experience
Shaping the Seasons in Wagashi
Nishiyama, Kyoto
Wagashi are more than sweets. Their colors, shapes, and ingredients reflect the changing seasons, transforming moments in nature into something that can be enjoyed through taste and design.
In this experience, guests learn directly from a local wagashi artisan while creating seasonal sweets by hand. Along the way, they gain insight into the techniques, aesthetics, and seasonal sensibilities that have shaped Japanese confectionery for generations.
The experience takes place in a privately reserved temple setting, creating a quiet atmosphere in which to appreciate both the making and the meaning of wagashi. Afterward, guests enjoy their creations with matcha while overlooking the temple garden.
More than a cooking activity, the experience offers an introduction to a uniquely Japanese way of observing and celebrating the seasons.
- Confections to Enjoy Again and Again
Kikuharu is beloved in Nagaokakyo for its commitment to the finest ingredients and to confectionery rooted in the local community. Its craftspeople create elaborate seasonal designs in jo-namagashi. Beautiful to look at, each sweet fills the palate with a gentle sweetness. The shop avoids overpowering flavors, allowing the quality of its ingredients to shine. During this experience, you will use ingredients made by Kikuharu and learn about Japanese confectionery from its second-generation president, Mr. Nishiyama.
- He says
“We hope you will discover the tradition and culture of Kyo-wagashi, experience the joy of making these sweets, and understand the wishes that we put into them.”
- Japanese Sweets Specialist
- The second generation, Motofumi Nishiyama
- Motofumi Nishiyama is the second-generation president of Kikuharu, a confectionery shop that has operated in Nagaokakyo, Kyoto, for more than 40 years. After training at a wagashi factory in Osaka, he continued learning the art of Japanese confectionery from his father, who created some of Nagaokakyo's finest sweets. Since taking over as president, he has worked to create distinctive wagashi that combine Japanese tradition with contemporary tastes.
Access
6 minutes by train and 15 minutes by taxi from Kyoto Station
The marker shows the approximate area.
The exact address will be provided when your reservation is confirmed.
Experiences
- Reserve
Seasonal Wagashi-Making at a Kyoto Temple
23,500 JPY / personLearn to shape seasonal wagashi with an artisan from Kikuharu, a confectionery rooted in the local community of Nagaokakyo. Using ingredients prepared by the shop, discover how color, form, and subtle flavor express fleeting moments in the Japanese seasons.
The experience takes place in a Kyoto temple setting, but the temple is not reserved exclusively for the group. Create one piece of each of two seasonal wagashi designs under the artisan’s guidance. The finished sweets may be enjoyed at the venue or taken home.
