Summer is settling into the valley, and Kyoto is shifting its pace. The heavy humidity is back, forcing us to slow down, find the shade, and seek out the quiet, textured corners of the city where time moves a bit differently. Here is what’s keeping me grounded this week.
01 / THE PULSE - CANOPY ESCAPE
When the heat radiating from the city center’s asphalt becomes an absolute wall, the only real solution is to look up and head toward the green canopy of the surrounding hills. A morning walk up the worn stone steps of Kyoto's quieter, less-traversed temple paths offers an instant, sensory reset.
The temperature drops noticeably under the thick cedar and maple leaves, replaced by a much-needed breeze of crisp mountain air. It’s a grounding reminder of Kyoto's unique geography, no matter how dense the urban heat gets, deep nature and silence are always just a fifteen-minute bike ride away.
02 / THE BREW - Coyote the ordinary shop
For years, Kurasu was the lonely pioneer holding down the specialty coffee scene near Kyoto Station, acting as the sole oasis for commuters seeking a proper pour-over. Enter Coyote. Located even closer to the tracks, this spacious, beautifully minimalist spot has quickly become my go-to refuge before jumping on a train or right after returning to the city.
While the pastries and sweets are honestly a bit average and could use some refinement, the coffee program itself is exceptional, focused, clean, and showcasing incredible single-origin lots. It’s the ideal, airy space to take a breath, open the laptop, and reset in an otherwise chaotic transit hub.
03 / THE BITE - Babbi - Kyoto
As the evenings finally cool down, the Kamo River becomes the focal point of the city's social life. Babbi, an Italian gelato spot sitting right on the riverbank near Kawaramachi, offers the perfect way to experience a classic Kyoto summer luxury: their kawayuka (the traditional elevated wooden terrace built over the running water).
It’s admittedly on the pricier side, but the quality of the gelato and the prime location make it entirely worth it. Situated right next to Flow, a favorite coffee spot I’ve mentioned before, Babbi stays open until 10 PM, making it the ultimate tactical stop for a cold, refined dessert after a late dinner in central Kyoto.
04 / THE SIGNAL - The Kawaii and retro Kakigori Bear
Pure analog cooling. I picked up this vintage-inspired Kyoro-chan bear shave-ice machine for Natsu last summer, and it has easily become one of my favorite functional design objects in the apartment.
Produced originally by Tiger, this retro reissue brings back a brilliant piece of mechanical playfulness: as you turn the top orange crank to shave the ice block, the bear’s oversized eyes roll back and forth from left to right.
It’s a nostalgic, tactile slice of Japanese pop culture that sits beautifully on a shelf next to bags of specialty coffee, proving that everyday appliances can still hold a genuine sense of wonder and craftsmanship.
05 / THE THOUGHT - The 11:00 AM Curfew
Living and working on a night-owl schedule in Japan comes with a built-in, daily penalty: completely missing out on the neighborhood bakeries and artisanal donut shops. Here, the culinary philosophy relies heavily on daily, fixed batches rather than continuous production or freezing dough.
If a popular local bakery sells out of its signature croissants or shokupan by 11:00 AM, they don’t bake another round; they simply pull down the metal shutter, flip the sign, and close for the day.
While deeply frustrating when you finally head out at noon, there is an organic honesty to this model. There is no waste, no cutting corners, and no compromise on freshness. It forces a certain respect for the craft, and serves as a daily reminder that the city’s best textures belong exclusively to those who adapt to the morning.
You might have noticed a slight shift in the layout today. Moving forward, I’ll be keeping the format organic, occasionally swapping standard sections to match the actual rhythm of my weeks. THE SPIN will definitely be back in the next issue with some fresh vinyl finds, but expect more of these subtle variations like THE BITE to keep the stories varied and true to the moment.
Stay grounded, and see you next week.
-Nicolas
