Kyoto "Gastronomic Capital" 1: Grilled Eel / うなぎ

When I travel Europe, mainly Italy, Spain and Portugal, where I can manage communications with local people, I enjoy searching so-called "local speciality" and tasting it. Many countries in Europe has a food diversity in each region. In fact there are some people who drive to a town or village nearby on weekends to do their gastronomic tour. The development of rapid tranport has made easier for people to deliver food products to other places. As a result, food nationalation occurres. To a certain extent, this may be happening all over the world.
I would say, this phenominon is remarkable in Japan.
You can taste "Sushi", "Sashimi", "Tenpura" and "Soba" anywhere in the country. Lobsters from Ise (伊勢海老) and Ooma Tuna (大間の黒鮪) are largely traded in fish market in Tokyo, Osaka and other big cities to be served in expensive restauants. They are not largely consumed in local population.
So, if you are fond of gastronomic tour, you won't be successful by visiting many places to taste different food in Japan because food is nationalized. Instead, you would decide which place to stay to taste something truly traditional and exquisite. My sugguestion is Kyoto.
Kyoto has a lot of small "Machiya" style restaurants which can contains 30-40 people maximam. Some are only 15 to 20, I guess. Cooks who we met are very friendly and we enjoyed some talks. In some restaurants, you can also observe how food is made!
I took my friend, Nuno to eat grilled eel.









Address：〒605-0074　京都市東山区祇園西花見小路四条下ル（祇園）花見小路から西側に並行した通りにある。
Phone ： 075-551-9966
Open ：12:00-14:00, 17:00～21:00
closed : Monday
Access ： 京阪電鉄本線四条駅　徒歩7分
By BUS get off at Shijo Kawaramachi, by Metro get off Shijo Station and go along the “Shijo Dori(四条通り)"　street to the east until you get to the crossing with famous "Hanami Kouji (花見小路) which is indicated with a stone-made post. Then turn right and go down the street to south until you reach the first small crossing on your right. Turn right and then take the first turn on the left to go down parallel to the "Hanami Koji" main street. You find the restaurant on your left.

Site ：http://www.yagenbori.co.jp/tenpo/u/index.html