Tohkasaikan is a Chinese restaurant specializing in Beijing-style cuisine in a Spanish baroque style building by the Kamo River. Before Tohkasaikan, a western-style restaurant Yao Masa was in the building Tohkasaikan currently is, but Yao Masa closed down because of business difficulties around the time of the Second World War. In 1945, Yao Masa’s owner’s friend, Yu Yongshan, a native of China’s Shandong province, took over the business, and made it Tohkasakan. Right after entering the restaurant, you get to see the high ceiling and elaborate pillars, and feel the gorgeous atmosphere. The lift of the restaurant is one of the oldest in Japan, and requires a staff member to operate it – the lift felt like it was out of a Ghibli movie! They have many private rooms, so you can enjoy the scenery of the Kamo River from the quietness of your own room. Moreover, every summer they have a “beer garden” type of event in the rooftop, where you get to enjoy both Chinese cuisine and beer at the same time – outside!