Strawberry Expo 2026 in Kyoto’s Umekoji: Experience Report

Strawberry Expo 2026
in Kyoto’s Umekoji
Experience Report

February 20 – March 22, 2026 | 20 Participating Shops

Writer
ちょれい
Chorei

21 years old (as of March 2026). Currently studying for Kyoto Level 2 Certification. Sweet tooth. Favorite dessert is tart. Claims to be the most cherished member of the Kyoto group. Shy about romance, but dreams of going out for sweets with a woman.

I participated in the “Strawberry Expo 2026” stamp rally event, touring strawberry sweets around Kyoto’s Umekoji area to find my favorites. Here are the featured strawberry sweets ranked in order of my personal favorites!

Dates February 20 (Fri) – March 22 (Sun), 2026
Edition 4th event in 2026
Shops 20 participating shops
Official URL kyoto-umekouji.com
Flyer Download PDF
Instagram @ichigohakurankai_kyotoumekoji

1

All Day Dining Kaza (Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto 1F)
Strawberry Sweets & Lunch Buffet
¥1,771–¥5,819

2

Lounge (Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto 1F, inside All Day Dining Kaza)
Strawberry Afternoon Tea Set ¥6,325 / Favorite Parfait ¥3,036 / Strawberry Colorful Barrett ¥3,289

3

BAIKAL CAFÉ (Kyō-Yumoto Hatoya Zuihōkaku 1F)
Luxurious Strawberry Parfait with Hot Spring Soft Serve
¥1,980

4

Umekoji Fermentation Lab (Inside Umekoji Potel Kyoto)
Strawberry Amazake Smoothie
¥650

5

Café Polum (Umekoji Potel Kyoto)
Strawberry Tart
¥1,280

6

City Tram Cafe (Umekoji Park, Shiden Hiroba)
Katakata Tsuriwa Bread (Strawberry) ¥440 / Miyama Strawberry Milk Soft Serve ¥600

7

Restaurant “Ume Goromo” (The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Umekoji 1F)
Strawberry Buffet
¥2,970

8

Sake Museum Kyoto Station Central Exit Store
Strawberry & Japanese Black Tea Gin Tonic ¥1,500 / Strawberry Komachi ¥1,500

9

FUKUNAGA901 (Kyoto Station Building 8F)
Strawberry Mountain
¥2,800

10

Western Sweets Baikal (Kyoto Porta Underground Mall B1)
Strawberry Shortcake
¥648

11

KYOTO SOUZEN (Kyoto Porta Station Building 1F)
Strawberry Chocolate Daifuku
¥756

12

Grandir (Kyoto Porta Underground Mall B1)
Bagel – Strawberry and Cream Cheese
¥290

13

AUX PARADIS (Kyoto Porta Underground Mall B1)
#05 Fraise (Eau de Parfum) 15ml
¥2,860

14

HOHO HOJICHA (Kyoto Porta Station Building 1F)
Strawberry Hojicha Tea Bags
¥650

15

Café Restaurant Le Temps (Hotel Granvia Kyoto 2F)
Strawberry Sweets Buffet
¥7,000

16

Lobby Lounge Grand Jour (Hotel Granvia Kyoto 2F)
Mille-feuille Style Strawberry Parfait
¥2,600

17

Pastry & Bakery Shop Le Temps (Hotel Granvia Kyoto 2F)
Tarte Saisonnière “Amaou Strawberry”
¥900

18

JR Kyoto Isetan B1 Japanese & Western Sweets Shops
JR Kyoto Isetan Spring Food Festival

19

ALL DAY DINING KAZAHANA (Kyoto Tokyu Hotel)
Gion Tsujiri Tea & Strawberry Afternoon Tea
¥5,500

20

TEA LOUNGE & BAR HORIKAWA
Kyoto Mairin Gen Strawberry Gin Tonic ¥2,400 / Rossini KTH-S ¥1,800 / Rossini Non-Alcoholic ¥1,800 / Strawberry Gin Tonic ¥1,750

This time, I chose shops and items based on the theme of enjoying strawberry sweets within a total budget of ¥5,000.

🎯 The 5 Sweets I Tried
Katakata Tsuriwa Bread @ City Tram Cafe¥440
Strawberry Shortcake @ Western Sweets Baikal¥648
Strawberry Hojicha Tea Bags @ HOHO HOJICHA¥650
Strawberry Amazake Smoothie @ Umekoji Fermentation Lab¥650
Strawberry Tart @ Café Polum¥1,280
Total¥3,668 ✅

👑
5
place
Katakata Tsuriwa Bread
@ City Tram Cafe ¥440
かたかたつりわぱん

A cafe renovated from a retro streetcar. The bread was uniquely shaped like a strap, with a crispy texture reminiscent of grissini (the stick-shaped bread from Italy’s Piedmont region). The flavor deepened with every bite, and the sweet-tart strawberry chocolate coating complemented the firm texture perfectly. Eating it inside the retro tram was all part of the experience. During the Expo season (late February–March), beautiful plum blossoms bloom in Umekoji Park — enjoying it while flower-viewing is highly recommended!

Shop
City Tram Cafe (Shiden Cafe)
Address
1-15 Kan’kiji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8835, Shiden Hiroba 505
Access
6-min walk from JR Umekoji Kyoto Nishi Station
Phone
090-3998-8817
Hours
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

👑
4
place
Strawberry Shortcake
@ Western Sweets Baikal ¥648
いちごのショートケーキ

The star strawberries charm with a delightful balance of pleasant tartness and sweetness. The fresh cream was rich yet light, harmonizing beautifully with the strawberries’ sweet-tart flavor. The sponge cake was fluffy and light, melting gently in your mouth. The combination of the airy sponge, delicate cream, and delicious strawberries maintained a perfect balance — a truly sublime taste.

Shop
Western Sweets Baikal
Address
902 Higashishionokojicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8216, Kyoto Porta Underground Mall, West Area
Access
1-min walk from JR Kyoto Station
Phone
075-353-0306
Hours
11:00 AM – 8:30 PM

👑
3
place
Strawberry Hojicha Tea Bags
@ HOHO HOJICHA ¥650
苺ほうじ茶

The sweet and tangy aroma of strawberries harmonized beautifully with the fragrant roasted Uji hojicha, creating an exquisite taste. Hearing the staff say, “This hojicha won the Platinum Award at the 2021 Japan Tea Awards,” I was thoroughly satisfied with its flavor. Warm strawberry hojicha is perfect for cold winter days — and with its distinctly Kyoto character, it makes an ideal souvenir for travelers.

Shop
HOHO HOJICHA
Address
901 Higashishionokojicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8216, Kyoto Station Building 1F, Omiyage Koji Kyoko-machi
Access
1-min walk from JR Kyoto Station
Phone
075-585-2650
Hours
8:30 AM – 8:00 PM

👑
2
place
Strawberry Amazake Smoothie
@ Umekoji Fermentation Lab ¥650
いちごの甘酒スムージー

This was my first time trying an amazake smoothie. The fresh, refreshing sweetness of strawberries perfectly harmonized with the mellow, deep aroma of their homemade koji amazake — it was truly delicious. Not overly sweet, with a surprisingly refreshing aftertaste, it was very easy to drink. I also loved that it’s made without added sugar, making it a gentle, healthy drink. The shop also offers experiences like making plum wine and koji, so I definitely want to go back!

Shop
Umekoji Fermentation Lab
Address
15 Kan’kiji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8835 (Inside Umekoji Potel Kyoto)
Access
4-min walk from JR Umekoji Kyoto Nishi Station
Phone
075-744-6557
Hours
10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

👑
1
place
🥇 Strawberry Tart
@ Café Polum ¥1,280
いちごタルト@Café Polum

The tart crust had a wonderful crispy texture, with a rich almond flavor permeating every bite. Topped with lightly sweet, refreshing whipped cream and generously loaded with large, juicy strawberries, it made me feel incredibly happy. The aroma, texture, and tartness harmonized perfectly — an exquisite creation. As someone whose favorite dessert is tart, this was #1 without question! Highly recommended for those relaxing between sightseeing at Kyoto Aquarium and the Railway Museum.

Shop
Café Polum
Address
1F Umekoji Potel Kyoto, 15 Kan’kiji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8835
Access
4-min walk from JR Umekoji Kyoto Nishi Station
Phone
075-284-1110
Hours
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Visiting the “Strawberry Expo 2026,” I was amazed at how each individual strawberry possessed such distinct flavors, aromas, and textures. Every dessert perfectly highlighted the strawberries’ best qualities, offering a unique delight with each bite. Every shop was wonderful, making me eager to try other menu items and new offerings from the shops I visited. Strolling while savoring each shop’s distinctive offerings was a blissful time — a special experience that let me truly feel the winter season in Kyoto.

I also entered the lottery for the “Strawberry Expo 2026.” I can hardly wait for the results!

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