Japanese sweets shop Onn opened in Kyoto's Gokomachi district in November 2023, renovating a 100-year-old Kyoto townhouse. In the store, you can enjoy handmade Japanese sweets and carefully selected Japanese tea. "We want to provide a time that warms both the body and the soul." Not only does the catchy store name reflect this concept, but everything at Onn is imbued with the owner Suzuka Yamaoka's thoughts.

The story of Japanese sweets that are good for your body and mind

Onn's Japanese sweets contain about half the amount of sugar as regular sweets. They are popular for their gentle flavor that makes the most of the natural goodness of the ingredients. The strawberries used in their signature dish, "Hanaichigo," are a variety called "Sorauki" from Kagawa Prefecture. Yamaoka carefully selected strawberries from all over Japan before settling on this exquisite product, and he purchases them fresh every morning.

Of course, no colorings are used. Among the colorful wagashi, the most striking is the blue of "jade." As its name suggests, the jewel-like, vibrant blue color comes from the butterfly pea flower. There is a steady stream of repeat customers from all over Japan looking for these beautiful, healthy wagashi.

The name "Moss Musubi" comes from the Japanese word "moss musubi" which means "eternal time". "Shizuka" was named after the deep crimson purple color of "Futari Shizuka" (two people quiet). Yamaoka says, "I thought of names so that Japanese sweets would be loved. I want people to feel the unique culture of Japan through the names of Japanese sweets."

The hidden attention to detail in creating the space

Furniture, vases, and lighting are also essential to creating the atmosphere at Onn. Customers can enjoy Japanese tea in a tea bowl of their choice. Yamaoka-san, whose hobby is collecting tableware, often talks about tableware with customers.

Part of the counter and the tables displaying the potted plants are made from black persimmon, one of Japan's finest woods, which is said to occur in only one of 10,000 trees. This wood has the characteristic of growing twisted, and it can only be handled with great skill. The furniture, each with its own story, creates a harmonious atmosphere in the interior of Onn.

The logo mark, which is the face of the store, is also filled with Yamaoka's thoughts. The unique vertical design has a Japanese feel to it, and there is a story behind it that you won't understand at first glance. If you visit the store, be sure to ask about the origin of the logo mark.

A mission to preserve traditional Japanese architectural techniques

Onn does not only have a new story created by Yamaoka. The 100-year-old Kyoto townhouse itself has a story of good old "tradition."

Yamaoka-san experienced living abroad during his student days and fell in love with Kyoto and Japanese culture all over again. Wanting to preserve beautiful Japanese architecture, he decided to renovate the Kyo-machiya. His passion was so strong that he personally negotiated with selected craftsmen to carry out the work. After undergoing a highly challenging project, the 100-year-old Kyo-machiya was transformed into Onn.

The most eye-catching feature in the store is the wall decorated with round windows. Its beauty makes you want to touch it. The "pebbles wash finish" applied by the hands of a plasterer is one of the good old Japanese architectural techniques. In order to ensure that this beautiful traditional culture will continue for the next 100 years, the entire building was subjected to an earthquake resistance analysis and metal reinforcement work was carried out.

Yamaoka says, "Onn is the culmination of the efforts of our craftsmen. We want to pass on this technique and preserve it." The craftsmen share the same sentiment. During construction, many young craftsmen came to observe in order to learn the techniques.

We want to be a presence that continues to convey the culture of Kyoto and Japan.

Our goal is to be a place where you can experience not only tea and sweets, but also traditional Japanese culture itself. Onn will continue to weave stories to convey this beautiful history.

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onn kyoto gokomachi-

電話：075-708-6446

Address: 341-1 Iseyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Access: 6 minutes on foot from Kyoto Kawaramachi Station

SNS:https://www.instagram.com/onn_kyoto?igsh=cDU3NHo1OTN6dXk5

For details on opening hours and closing days, please check the link above.