Photo= The converted teahouse "Malebranche Cacao 365 Gion" (Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto)

The number of chocolatiers has been increasing in the Gion area of Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. Many renowned restaurants are located around there, and it is expected they will receive word-of-mouth publicity as they win the support of food and drink connoisseurs. Additionally, Gion is in a good location in order to transmit information both domestically and internationally as a Kyoto brand that is a Japanese and Western fusion.

Roman Life Inc., in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto, developer of the confectionery "Malebranche," opened their first chocolatier "Malebranche Cacao 365 Gion" on Hanami-koji Street. The converted teahouse store has an area of approximately 80 square meters and also an inner garden.

"Cacao 365" is a sweet consisting of melt-in-your-mouth ganache covered with thin bitter chocolate which is stamped with a different crest, based on motifs of Kyoto's events and the four seasons, every day. A pack of two costs 972 yen. Company staff said, "We would like to increase the range of products in addition to existing cakes and baked sweets. Gion is the most typical place of Kyoto. We hope we can first gain favor from local gourmets, followed by support from tourists."

The handmade chocolatier "Dari K" in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, opened a new store called "Gion Akishino" near Yasaka Shrine, in cooperation with the well-established Japanese restaurant "Akishino" after a referral from the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry last fall. They offer special powdered green tea chocolate truffles and other confectioneries in limited quantities. One chocolate truffle costs 360 yen.

Company staff said, "As the locality is suitable for pursuing delicacies, regardless if they are Japanese or Western, we can promote the attraction of Kyoto and Japan."

Following the Mariebelle Kyoto main store in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, the first overseas store of the chocolatier "Mariebelle," which originated in New York, U.S.A., another new store was established along Kawabata Street last fall.