Photo= Two cones of soft serve ice cream topped with gold leaf and silver leaf respectively (Hakusho Kin to Gin, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto)

In association with "Kinkaku-ji," or the Golden Pavilion, and "Ginkaku-ji," or the Silver Pavilion, a café specializing in gold and silver leaf, which sells gorgeous soft serve ice cream decorated with gold and silver leaf, recently opened near the Silver Pavilion in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto. Promoting the unique treat, the shop owner said, "We offer a luxurious experience available only here."

The store's name is "Hakusho Kin to Gin." The edible gold and silver leaf is made by "Hakuichi," a manufacturer headquartered in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Its thickness is one to two ten-thousandths of a millimeter and 10.8 centimeters square. In addition to soft serve ice cream, "Zenzai," or sticky rice balls in a sweet soup of red-bean paste, is also provided and a sheet of gold or silver leaf is arranged on each sweet.

After becoming acquainted with an artisan of "Makie," or gold-sprinkled lacquerware, in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture, the sixth generation proprietor of a cutlery wholesaler in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, opened the stores so people could freely touch gold leaf. This is the second store, following the first one located near the Golden Pavilion in Kita Ward which sells gold leaf soft serve ice cream. This time, in association with the Silver Pavilion, the menu has been increased with sweets using silver leaf and souvenirs using gold leaf and gold thread are available.

Zenzai and soft serve ice cream are priced at 800 to 950 yen. The shop owner said, "I want people to see and taste the delicate leaf, and then think that it is amazing." For more information, contact Hakusho Kin to Gin at 075-744-6480.