Today I’m sharing my experience at Waguri Senmon Saori, a dessert cafe in Kyoto where you can enjoy authentic Japanese chestnut Mont Blanc. On Google Maps, it appears as “Waguri Senmon Saori” with the word “senmon” (専門, meaning specialty) transliterated rather than translated.
Location and Access
Waguri Senmon Saori has two locations in Kyoto. The main shop sits along the Kamo River near Kawaramachi Station, a popular area for travelers to stay. The second location is on the first floor of Isetan Department Store at Kyoto Station. I visited the main shop by the Kamo River since my accommodation was near Kawaramachi Station.
Both locations are easy to reach. The Kiyamachi main shop is about 5 minutes walk from Kawaramachi Station, while the Kyoto Station location is convenient for visitors passing through the station area.
Business Hours
- Main Shop: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Isetan Branch: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
The main shop closes relatively early at 6 PM. I visited around 2 PM after lunch time, which worked out well for an afternoon dessert break.
Menu and Pricing
Waguri Senmon Saori is known as a popular dessert spot in Kyoto, and I had heard about potential wait times. When I arrived, I only looked at the takeout section, so I couldn’t assess the dine-in situation. There didn’t appear to be any obvious waiting though.
The menu differs between takeout and dine-in options. Takeout features ice cream-style versions of their Mont Blanc desserts, which are simpler formats. The proper Mont Blanc cakes are available for dine-in service. The dine-in desserts cost nearly double the takeout prices.
Since I planned to enjoy my dessert by the Kamo River, I ordered from the takeout menu. There were three options, all ice cream versions of Mont Blanc: the basic milk-based Mont Blanc, a matcha Mont Blanc, and a fruit-topped Mont Blanc. I chose the basic version.
The prices have increased by about 100 yen since my visit. It seems Japan has been experiencing significant inflation lately, as I noticed price increases at many restaurants after my trip.
The Japanese Chestnut Mont Blanc Experience
I ordered the basic Mont Blanc ice cream and got to watch the preparation process up close. The staff used a unique press tool to pipe the chestnut cream, which was interesting to observe. I recorded a video of this process for reference.
After picking up my takeout order, I walked to the nearby Kamo River to enjoy the dessert.
First, I tried the chestnut cream on top. Unlike typical Mont Blanc that tends to be quite sweet, this chestnut cream was less sweet than expected with a strong, natural chestnut flavor. This gave it a more refined taste.
Under the chestnut cream were cookies added for texture. One was soft like a butter cookie, while the other had a crispy texture similar to meringue cookies. This meringue-style cookie was particularly interesting because it had a subtle caramel flavor, making it taste somewhere between dalgona candy and a regular meringue cookie.
Below the cookies was milk ice cream. The sweet milk ice cream paired nicely with the less-sweet chestnut cream, creating a good balance. Enjoying this dessert by the scenic Kamo River made the experience even more pleasant.
Final Thoughts
That’s my review of Waguri Senmon Saori, a nice spot for Japanese chestnut Mont Blanc in Kyoto. While the price point of around 10,000 won (approximately 1,000 yen) is somewhat high, the rich natural chestnut flavor made it worthwhile. The quality of the chestnut cream stood out compared to typical Mont Blanc desserts.
Next time I visit, I’d like to try the proper dine-in menu items rather than just the takeout version. The cafe’s location near both Kawaramachi and Kyoto Station makes it accessible for most Kyoto itineraries, whether you’re exploring the Gion area or passing through the station.
