【Teacher Li Youqun】Enjoy coffee by the Kamo River in Kyoto and have an afternoon picnic!

Originally published inLi Youqun

Tonight, let’s all dream about having a picnic together.

Walking along Hanamikoji Street in gorgeous kimono, riding a red bicycle in front of Heian Shrine, leisurely sitting on a cooling bed by the Kamo River in the evening while savoring Kyoto’s local sake and yudofu (tofu hot pot), staying at the century-old sake brewery-turned-Kyomachiya guesthouse Kinpyo—"Choshi." Having visited Kyoto so many times, and wanting to see this nostalgic city from a more local perspective, what else is there that I haven’t done yet? “A picnic?”

Perhaps fueled by fashion magazines, picnicking has become a trend in recent years. It seems like you’re out of style if you haven’t had a grassy gathering with friends on a sunny holiday.

Unfortunately, I’ve always been a bit of a rebel, and the more everyone else does it, the less I want to follow. Coupled with the perfect excuse of being too busy with work, the idea of picnicking had faded from my memory ever since I was a kid, when I used to eat sandwiches and throw frisbees on the grass at Taipei Youth Park.

Thanks to Kyoto’s bright afternoon and its relaxing vibe, I found myself falling in love with the idea of a picnic again.

After our bike ride, we headed to a small coffee shop on Kitaoji Street called “Wife&Husband.”

Hanging at the entrance were several rows of small wooden chairs, tables, stools, and straw mats, along with an upside-down bicycle. The “WIFE&HUSBAND” coffee shop, converted from a residential home, is not very large, but its various antique props and wooden-toned interior give this low-key café a warm yet extraordinary feel.

True to its name, and it’s clear the wife comes first—the operators of “WIFE&HUSBAND” are a young couple, Mr. Yoshihara Kyōichi and Miss Kimi. Pushing open the wooden door, the aroma of coffee wafts over, and a beautiful biracial shop assistant greets us.

“Come on in.” I pointed to the wooden chairs outside, indicating that we’d like to get some coffee to take with us for a picnic.
“I’m sorry, but our picnic setup is usually only available until around four in the afternoon. If you don’t mind the time being a bit short...” “Not at all. I’d be happy to have the chance to enjoy coffee on the grass by the Kamo River on such a nice day.”

So the shop made an exception and allowed me to order the “Picnic Basket Set” I had been looking forward to. You can choose the chairs, small tables, or straw mat stools you want to rent, and they’ll give you a lovely woven picnic basket containing a coffee pot, cups, tablecloth, sugar jar, creamer, and handmade cookies—perfect for taking with you to find a spot on the grass by the Kamo River to sit and enjoy.

There are six types of coffee beans to choose from. I went with the shop owner’s pride and joy, the first blend he ever created, which he treats like his own daughter: the BLEND coffee “DAUGHTER.” Made from Brazilian coffee beans, it’s the result of the shop’s repeated trial and error to find the perfect roasting method. It has a slightly bitter taste but is smooth and easy to drink.

Since Mr. Yoshihara insists on brewing the coffee fresh after you order, the staff asked us to wait inside the shop for a bit. Just as the Yoshiharas said, they start each day by roasting coffee beans. Listening to the changing sounds of the roasting process, the little shop is enveloped in the rich aroma of coffee—it’s a moment of pure bliss.
We carried our picnic basket filled with freshly brewed coffee and small chairs toward the grassy area of Kamo River Park, found a spot, set out the coffee and snacks from the basket, and a long-awaited picnic day had finally returned.

I don’t usually add creamer or sugar to my coffee, but I savored the aroma of “DAUGHTER” as I gazed out at the joggers in the distance and the gray-blue sky, letting my mind wander. The muggy afternoon felt a bit cooler, and time flowed slowly, slowly—I was starting to feel more and more like a local in Kyoto.
Interested friends can check out the official website here:http://www.wifeandhusband.jp/

Li Youqun / International Fashion Director

A leading figure in the Chinese fashion industry, holder of the record for most fashion magazine founding editor-in-chiefs. Active in the entertainment world, he is a designated collaborator on fashion shows like “Women’s Greatest” and a go-to stylist for international brands and top celebrities. With fashion at its core, he is the only person in China who spans multiple roles as editor-in-chief, fashion director, stylist, and author.

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