From Kyoto vegetables and sake to exquisite sweets! 4 must-buy souvenirs from Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture

Kameoka City, the third largest city in Kyoto Prefecture after Kyoto City and Uji City, spreads out around the Kameoka Basin, with the Hozugawa (Ōigawa) River flowing gracefully through its center. During the Azuchi-Momoyama period, it developed as a castle town around Tanba-Kameyama Castle, which was built by Mitsuhide Akechi as a base for his conquest of Tanba.

Even today, Kameoka City retains much of its natural beauty and is actively engaged in cultivating Kyoto vegetables. There are plenty of souvenirs made with fresh Kyoto vegetables. This time, we've rounded up only the kinds of souvenirs that truly represent Kameoka. Be sure to check them out!

1. Kyoto Vegetable Jam

If you're buying souvenirs in Kyoto Kameoka, “Mameya Kurobee” is the place to go. A popular destination for tourists visiting Kameoka City, the shop offers a wide variety of souvenirs made with vegetables harvested in Kameoka, the heartland of Kyoto vegetables. One highly recommended item is the “Kyoto Vegetable Jam.” It’s a jam made generously with Kyoto vegetables.

The idea of making jam from vegetables is rare enough, but when the ingredients are Kyoto vegetables, it's a must-buy. From Kamo eggplant and Shogoin turnip to Tanba chestnuts, Tanba grape beans, and Horikawa burdock, the variety is almost endless. Each type offers a mild sweetness that gives way to a gentle flavor of the ingredients. These colorful, charming jams, about 5cm in height, make for perfect Kameoka souvenirs!

2. Terrine Chocolat

A dessert featured in magazines and receiving a flood of orders can be found at a patisserie in Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture. Éprouver Ishikawa's “Terrine Chocolat” is an exquisite sweet made with the finest Italian Domori chocolate “Apurimac.” This luxurious chocolate cake, with 75% cacao, will amaze you with its rich aroma from just one bite.

The cake is accentuated with figs, which enhance both flavor and texture. A sprinkle of Guérande salt adds even more depth to the taste. This chocolate cake is the pride of the owner-chef, who trained in the sweets capitals of France and Belgium—a must-have souvenir from Kameoka!

3. Miyama Tengori

Miyama Tengori, made from rice grown in Miyama—a village famous for its thatched-roof houses—is a representative sake of Kyoto. It is the signature product of “Tanba Oishi Shuzo,” headquartered in Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture. It has won numerous medals in the “SAKE category” of the International Wine Challenge held annually in London, including in 2017.

It is characterized by a sweet aroma that gently spreads in your mouth and a refreshingly clean aftertaste. You might forget it's sake and end up drinking too much! At the direct sales store “Sake no Yakata,” in addition to purchasing “Miyama Tengori” and other souvenirs, you can also tour the brewery. After seeing the impressive, history-rich sake barrels, enjoy a lively time with Kameoka’s delicious sake and souvenir stories.

4. Creative Kyoto Pickles

The pickles from “Kamekura,” made with a focus on domestic ingredients, are perfect souvenirs from Kameoka City. Although “Kamekura” is still a relatively new Kyoto pickles shop, founded in 2005, it has become a local favorite in Kameoka thanks to nearly 20 years of pickling expertise and a youthful creativity not found in traditional stores.

Their signature “Senmaizuke” (thin-sliced pickles) is only sold in winter, but a variety of pickles are available in-store year-round. Particularly popular as souvenirs are their “Creative Kyoto Pickles” made with Kyoto vegetables. Highlights include “Aojiso Tomato,” pickled with cherry tomatoes, bamboo ginger, and perilla leaves, and “Kabotomato,” a hollowed pumpkin filled with tomato—these unique tomato-based pickles are top picks! Don’t miss the chance to try these inventive pickles that you won’t find elsewhere.

◎ Summary

We’ve introduced souvenirs that Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, proudly shares with the world. From jams and pickles made with Kyoto vegetables to delicious sake brewed from Miyama rice, these souvenirs showcase the natural richness of Kameoka. After enjoying the many activities Kameoka offers—like exploring castle ruins or rafting on the Hozugawa River—be sure to take your time and find the perfect souvenir.

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From Kyoto vegetables and sake to exquisite sweets! 4 must-buy souvenirs from Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture