Cool summer dishes to recharge your energy to the max!

A table full of delicious food, but no appetite to eat— the weather is just too hot, making people only want cool drinks to quench their thirst. But in truth, relying on drinks and ice all summer isn’t nutritious and can have negative effects on bodily functions. In fact, various ethnic diets around the world reveal traditional secrets for beating the heat and stimulating appetite during summer. For example, Japanese cuisine always emphasizes the trinity of ingredients, cooking skills, and dining environment, with an emphasis on light, minimally cooked flavors. Naturally, these light dishes are very appealing even in summer. Southeast Asian cuisines, on the other hand, often go the opposite route. Due to year-round heat, they use bold spices to stimulate appetite while also helping dispel internal heat and humidity. Now, let’s take a look at this introduction to cool summer dishes from Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

◎ Japan

Kawadoko is a representative summer tradition in Kyoto. It refers to bamboo or wooden platforms built over gently flowing streams, allowing diners to enjoy exquisite meals while listening to the sound of running water. The most famous kawadoko experiences in Kyoto are found along the Kamo River near Kamigamo and the Gion area, with the one on the Kamo River also known as “Noryo-dai.” Kamigamo is the most renowned spot for kawadoko dining. Due to its high elevation, the average temperature in Kamigamo is about 10 degrees cooler than central Kyoto. That means, while central Kyoto often sees temperatures above 30°C in July and August, Kamigamo stays around 20°C—pleasantly cool and comfortable.

Besides the cool air, the Kamo River area is lush with greenery, and even better, the dishes served at kawadoko are made with local ingredients, adding to their freshness and flavor. In early summer, the stars of kawadoko cuisine are salt-grilled ayu (sweetfish) and hamo (pike conger), which is finely boned and rolled into snow-white flower-like shapes. Both are iconic summer delicacies of Kyoto, celebrated for their incredibly tender flesh.

Along the Kamo River, the wooden-shop-lined street of Pontocho is Kyoto’s liveliest nightlife destination, with narrow alleys lined with restaurants and bars—it’s a great choice for tourists to enjoy the evening. “Tousuiro” is tucked away deep in Pontocho and is famous for its tofu dishes. Using pure traditional methods to make delicious tofu, rich with the deep fragrance of soybeans, a variety of creative tofu-based dishes are especially popular among women. The signature limited lunchtime set “Machiya Zen,” featuring yudofu (boiled tofu), is not to be missed.

“Tousuiro” is a machiya townhouse building dating back to the Taisho era, with over 90 years of history. Facing the Kamo River and Mount Higashiyama, it offers especially scenic views. Especially in summer, the outdoor riverside kawadoko seating extending along the Kamo River is extremely popular—you’ll need to reserve a spot a week in advance.

• Tousuiro Pontocho Main Shop
• Address: 517-3, Kamigobancho, Kiyamachi-dori Sanjo-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
• Transportation: 3-minute walk from Exit 1 of Tozai Subway Line “Kyoto City Hall” / 5-minute walk from Keihan Main Line “Keihan Sanjo”
• Phone: 075-251-1600
• Business Hours: 11:30–14:00, 17:00–22:00; Sundays and public holidays 12:00–21:00
• Closed: Mondays
• Website: http://www.tousuiro.com

Located by the Kamo River, “Ikesuzume” holds a place in modern Japanese history—it was the residence of Kido Takayoshi, a Meiji Restoration politician (also known as Katsura Kogoro, “Mr. Katsura” from the TV drama Ryomaden), and his beloved geisha wife, Ikesuzume. The room where Ikesuzume lived is still preserved, along with the antique armor-decorated entrance, both designated as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan, making it highly significant historically. Today, “Ikesuzume” has transformed into a renowned kaiseki ryotei serving authentic Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine, and it is also a traditional Japanese inn where guests can stay.