Almost immediately after getting out of our cab from the train station, we were drawn in by this shop. We had yet to find the waiting area for our boat ride to the Hoshinoya. As we looked for the right address, we poked our heads into this confectionery/cafe. What a great discovery! Hourandou Togetu-kyō Bridge Head Store, a most excellent snack shop, which we would then visit every day. We had fallen for a kind of bean confection that was more like a flavored cracker. They came in hundreds of flavors and they were addictive. We would take bags back to the room, which we intended to give as gifts. Sure. The young man keeping the shop was friendly and very helpful. On our last visit the young shop keeper said he was a Yankee fan. I had no reason to doubt him.

On our first day we had lunch at Arashiyama Yoshimura, a noodle shop of the highest reputation across the river and right by the bridge. I had the Togetsu-Zen, which had a variety of small dishes beside the tempura and the soba and they served us a special kind of tea, thick and milky with a grain flavor. We sat by a window in the rear and had the most peaceful view while we ate. Only my third day in and I was beginning to believe that Japan had infinite resources of peace and charm.

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