One of the five national museums in Japan. Kyoto was the capital of Japan and its cultural center from 794 until March 1869, and as a result, the museum holds various artworks, including many national treasures.

A special exhibition will be held from April 19 until June 15, 2025, during ICSE2025. This will be a great opportunity to view masterpieces by Katsushika Hokusai (good chance to see "Bigwave") and others. [https://rutsubo2025.jp/]

It takes time to see everything, so if possible, we recommend visiting before the conference.

Kyoto, despite having been Japan's capital for over a thousand years and retaining many old traditions and customs throughout the city, is known for its residents' love of new things. It’s said that many households start their mornings with bread and coffee. While the preferred type of coffee varies by region in Japan, Kyoto tends to favor darker roasts. In addition to modern cafes, many traditional "kissaten" (Japanese-style coffee houses) still remain, where locals gather in the morning to read the newspaper and enjoy bread and coffee. Chairperson is fond of the coffee at "Café Verdi" near the Rekisaikan, while committee member Atsushi recommends "Circus Coffee." You can enjoy coffee at various places, from cafes with their own coffee roasters to kissaten like "François" and "Soirée," which are popular among women. Be sure to find your favorite spot!

Although Fushimi Inari is not included in the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (a Cultural World Heritage Site), it is probably one of the most popular spots for international visitors to Kyoto. The countless red torii gates create a mystical path that leads worshippers into an enchanting world. The name "Inari" comes from the word "Ine-nari," which originally meant "the ripening of rice," symbolizing bountiful harvests of crops. The fox is believed to be the divine messenger, and you can see stone statues of foxes in various places. Since it is believed that these foxes have a fondness for fried tofu (thinly sliced tofu fried in oil), udon topped with soy sauce and sugar-seasoned fried tofu is called "kitsune(fox)-udon," and sushi made with rice wrapped in fried tofu is known as "inari-sushi.

Soy sauce is a seasoning that people all over the world often use when eating sushi. Mayonnaise (especially Kewpie mayonnaise, which is popular in Japan) and ketchup are also commonly used by Japanese people and are not much different from those found overseas. However, there is one seasoning that Japanese people love, but is almost unknown or unused by foreigners. That is “sauce."

"Sauce” is an essential condiment when making or eating dishes like “yakisoba (stir-fried noodles),” “takoyaki (octopus balls),” “okonomiyaki (savory pancakes),” or “fried foods like tonkatsu (pork cutlets).” It’s hard to compare it with any Western condiments. Originally, it was modeled after Western Worcestershire sauce, but it’s probably quite different from that now.

If you ever visit Japan and try Western-style food, or if you buy fried foods or tonkatsu at a department store or supermarket, be sure to try it with “sauce.” It’s also great to enjoy takoyaki or yakisoba for a quick and tasty experience. 

Before diving into this topic, I need to explain that in Japan, there are two main types of sweets: “wagashi” (traditional Japanese sweets) and “yogashi” (Western-style sweets). Yogashi refers to cakes, cookies, and baked goods of Western origin, which you can find in many stores throughout Japan. On the other hand, wagashi are sweets that have developed uniquely in Japan. Some are luxurious confections served with matcha tea during tea ceremonies, while others can be easily bought at local shops. The most common ingredients in wagashi are sweetened adzuki beans, called “anko,” and mochi (glutinous rice) or gyuhi, a softer variation made from rice flour. Kyoto, a city with a rich history of tea culture, is home to many wagashi shops. While some foreigners may find the idea of “sweetened beans” unusual, I highly recommend giving them a try. The chairman’s top recommendation is “Demachi Futaba’s Mame-mochi.”