Feb. 01, 2023 UPDATE
Seigenin
- 西源院 -Traveler Friendly
English and Simplified Chinese menu is available
Menu
Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese
Languages spoken
Japanese
Story & Recommendation
Sit down for a Shojin Cuisine in Ryoan-ji Temple
Seigenin is a place where Shojin cuisine, or Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, is served inside of Ryoan-ji temple. Overlooking the beautiful garden, guests are seated on tatami floor in front of a very low wooden table. Seigenin is without a question not an ordinary restaurant. Shojin means “improving the soul.” Guests will feel as if they are being in part of peaceful and harmonious Buddhist way of life. Many visit here to enjoy the view of the garden especially in spring and fall seasons. This is a popular location to eat Shojin Cuisine that during busy seasons, there may be some waiting time before being seated.
1Recommended
Yu-dofu
/ ￥1,800 serving for one person
Yu-dofu literately means boiled tofu. It’s served in a hot pot with various types of vegetables such as Napa cabbage, carrots, and shiitake mushrooms. The flower shaped fu, a common Japanese ingredient made out of wheat bran, is also in the hotpot. Yu-dofu can be ordered from one-person serving. Pictured on the left is a serving of two-people. If sharing a one-person serving between multiple people, each person will be served and charged for the dipping sauce.
2Recommended
Yu-dofu with Vegetarian dishes (Shojin Cuisine)
/ ￥3,800
Shojin cuisine at Seigenin comes with four vegetarian dishes with rice and side of pickles. We suggest you to come hungry if planning to endure this meal. With the Yu-dofu, this Shojin Cuisine is very filling. Vegetables have magnificent flavor that you may be surprised to find out through these dishes that vegetables can be enjoyed in beautiful ways.
3Let's Try!
Dipping sauce for Yu-dofu
/ ￥200
To enjoy Yu-dofu, you must first pour the soy sauce into the bowl of daikon radish, ginger, and green onions. If you want to lessen the bold flavors of soy sauce, add in some hot water from the hotpot using a ladle. Add more soy sauce if you need to throughout the meal according to your liking. Scoop out the tofu using the ladle with the wholes.
