Owner-chef Shosaku Karatsu was deeply impressed by Kyoto foodstuffs and the elegance of Kyo-ryori. Whenever he visits Miyama, he is accompanied by experts on gathering edible wild plants or fishing for ayu, collecting delicacies along the way. Kyo-ryori, a culinary discipline that emerged over centuries of history, is deeply connected to shojin ryori. Karatsu’s use of sesame in his tsukuri and grilled foods is an idea borrowed from Shojin ryori.