This city full of traditional Japan culture actually quietly exudes a foreign side
Kyoto, a city full of Kyoto machiya houses ("front shop back house" style, which is the element that connects the lives of ordinary people to the city as a whole), has a strong Japanese atmosphere, and is a must-visit destination for many people who love Japan culture.
△来源 / unsplash
In this quaint city, many visitors will yearn for a Japanese-style breakfast at a Kyoto Machiya restaurant in a traditional Japanese building built with wooden wooden buildings Japan, flower arrangements and tatami mats.
But this city full of traditional Japan culture actually quietly exudes a foreign side.
Breakfast in Kyoto: Ninety percent of the people eat bread
What comes to mind when you think of breakfast in Kyoto?
Many people may have in their minds images of a Japanese drama beating an egg on a bowl of rice, then digging a hole in the middle to pour soy sauce on it, and a well-grilled saury, a bowl of miso soup, and a small plate of pickles on the side.
Kyoto people's breakfast in Japanese dramas is always appetizing, but the reality is always cruel.
△来源 / pakutaso
According to a street survey conducted by TBS TV in Japan, 90% of Kyoto residents say that bread is their breakfast preference.
Even the geisha, who is synonymous with Kyoto beauty, said in a Kyoto accent in an interview, "I like bread for breakfast." There is even a temple abbot who cuts France baguette into thin slices and eats them together in soup.
It can be seen that not only the people of Kyoto in general, but also monks and geisha, who are closely related to Kyoto's traditional culture, have been conquered by bread.
△ Bread set provided by a local bakery / provided by the author
According to the "Household Expenditure Survey" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan in 2016~2018, the average household in Kyoto City spends 27,435 yen a year on bread (excluding toast), which is the highest in Japan.
In addition, the total number of bakeries in Kyoto is also ranked second in the country. Even in recent years, the number of bakeries in Kyoto has remained in the top three.
The bread-eating habits of the people of Kyoto
The way people eat bread in Kyoto is also very different from other parts of Japan.
In Tokyo, for example, it's not difficult to see white toast sliced into 8 cuts, but in Kyoto, you can't see it except for the factory-made white toast sold in supermarkets. This is because Kyoto people prefer thick-cut toast over thinly sliced toast.
Amazingly, although 8-slice toast is rare in Kyoto, you can see traces of 10-slice white toast, and the sales are not bad. The reason for this is that this thin slice of white toast can be used to make sandwiches for Kyoto people.
In addition, because the bread industry is booming in Kyoto, Kyoto is also among the top consumers in Japan for cream, milk, and coffee, which are often eaten with bread.
△ A dazzling array of handmade bread in the window / provided by the author
The first France bread in Japan
Speaking of bread, one of the star items is the taste that everyone in Kyoto must have eaten, and it is called Karune.
This is a salty bread created by a Kyoto bakery chain founded in Showa 23 (1948), and this bread has been loved by Kyoto people since its introduction in 1975.
According to the official, the origin of this bread is taken from the French word "subway coupon", hoping that it can be repurchased by customers as often as the concept of coupons. Judging by its high sales in the past, the name is right.
△ Karune bread with super popularity / provided by the author
There is one more thing that Kyoto people who love bread can proudly proclaim: the first bakery in Japan to start selling France bread came from Kyoto.
This bakery was founded in the 2nd year of Taisho (1913) and has a history of 108 years. Now in Kyoto, it is also a well-known bakery chain.
The founder, Mr. Xu Muqi, was baptized by France literature and French when he was in college, and accumulated profound knowledge of France culture. Under the high standard control of bread quality in Sumuqi, the bakery gradually became famous in Kyoto and became the first choice for Kyoto people to buy France bread.
Nowadays, there are many Western-style restaurants that even use France bread from this bakery as part of their set menus.
Why Kyoto's bread culture is prevalent?
There have been many opinions on this issue. However, a Kyoto cultural researcher has said that one of the main reasons why bread is so popular in Kyoto is that it is "easy to eat".
△来源 / pakutaso
Kyoto has been a city full of merchants and craftsmen since ancient times. Against this backdrop, mornings in Kyoto are always busy, and bread is the first choice for Kyoto's merchants and craftsmen rather than for breakfast.
The expansion of bakeries in Kyoto began in the Meiji era. During the Meiji era, Kobe opened to trade, and many Westerners moved to Kobe, bringing bread culture to the Kansai region.
Kyoto people, who have always adhered to the image of traditional culture, actually love new things in their hearts. As a result, the people of Kyoto brought bread-making techniques back to Kyoto, and developed a bread culture unique to Kyoto.
Nowadays, in addition to the chain bakeries scattered throughout Kyoto, there are also many unique local bakeries in the alleys. I hope that after the epidemic is over, travelers will be able to visit Kyoto again.
In addition to enjoying a Japanese breakfast, why not go into the alleys and explore the bakeries of Kyoto. Take a deep breath and feel for yourself the unique "Western flavor" that this quaint city exudes.