The Kyoto Shimbun
  • Home
  • Shiga
  • News
  • Bonji Cafe Latte Gains Popularity
    Guardian Deities in Latte, Enryakuji Temple's Precincts

    20 September 2017 - Shiga//Sightseeing/Events
    Photo= "Bonji Latte" with Sanskrit characters written on the surface (Enryakuji Kaikan, Sakamoto Honmachi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture)

    Photo= "Bonji Latte" with Sanskrit characters written on the surface (Enryakuji Kaikan, Sakamoto Honmachi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture)

    A teahouse at Enryakuji Temple, the head temple of the Tendai Buddhist Sect, located in Sakamoto Honmachi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, started providing "Bonji Latte," which has a Sanskrit character floating on the surface of a cafe latte, and it is gaining popularity among visitors. After asking customers the Japanese zodiac signs which correspond to their birth years, waiters draw Sanskrit characters representing each guardian deity. "We hope that a cup of coffee can make a visitor feel happy," said a representative.

    The teahouse "Reiho" inside "Enryakuji Kaikan," the temple's lodgings, began serving it in mid-August. Powdered cocoa is sprinkled to form of a Sanskrit character over the surface of foamed milk floating on the coffee.

    There are Sanskrit characters which represent various Buddhist guardians. For example, the years of the Tiger and the Ox correspond to the Sanskrit character "Trāḥ" representing Akasagarbha, and the year of the Rooster corresponds to the Sanskrit character "Hāṃ" representing Acala. Gyokai Imadegawa, the temple's worship director, proposed creating a menu unique to Enryakuji Temple. He made repeated trials, changing the amount of milk, type of powder and so on, as well as making plastic plates cut into the form of Sanskrit characters by himself, and managing to successfully sell lattes.

    The coffee has been popular even during the hot summer season, so they sometimes receive orders for nearly 50 cups in a day. Director Imadegawa said, "We want visitors to know their own guardian deities and enjoy a happy moment as they have a drink." One cup costs 650 yen.

    (Translated by Mie Hiuzon, Psyche et l’Amour, Inc.)
  • Also in Shiga//Sightseeing/Events:

    Through a Russet Tunnel
    Row of Metasequoia Trees Undamaged from Typhoons
    22 January 2021

    Yahisa holding "AMAHAGAN" (Nagahama Distillery, Asahi-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture)

    Whiskey Nurtured by Lake Biwa and Mount Ibuki
    Third Version Released
    18 November 2019

    A cross-shaped Western sword owned by Fujisaka Shrine = courtesy of the Koka City Board of Education, Shiga Prefecture

    "Minakuchi Rapier" Found to Be Japan Made
    Traditional Rapier Handed Down to Shrine in Shiga
    29 October 2019

    Participants observe the rethatching of Kojo-in Kyakuden (Onjoji-cho, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture)

    National Treasure Repair at Close
    Construction Tours at Miidera Branch Temple, in Otsu
    6 September 2019

    Last year's event to experience hot-air ballooning. It had the highest number of participants ever. (Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu City)= Provided by Kusatsu City

    Bird's Eye View of Lake Biwa during "Five-Minute" Flight
    Popular Hot-air Balloon Experience Event Celebrating 10th Year
    11 July 2019

News Archive
  • January 2021
  • August 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • More...
Categories
  • Sightseeing/Events
  • Temples/Shrines
  • Tradition/Culture
  • Local topics
  • Education/University
  • Business/Company
  • Traffic
  • Gourmet
  • 1min Kyoto
  • Kyoto
  • Shiga
Web site
Introducing Privacy Policy Japanese Site
Copyright © 1995-2021 The Kyoto Shimbun Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
We use cookies for a number of reasons, such as keeping our websites reliable and secure, providing social media features and to analyze the performance of ads. Accept & continue Read More
Privacy Policy