笹乃雪, Tofu restaurant in Uguisudani, Tokyo
Sasanoyuki is a tofu restaurant in Uguisudani, Tokyo, where every dish is built around tofu made using water drawn from the restaurant's own underground spring. The menu centers on preparations that showcase tofu in many forms, from soft and silky to firm, cooked in broths or served cold.
The restaurant was founded in 1691, when a tofu maker from Kyoto came to Tokyo after receiving an invitation from the imperial abbot of Kanei-ji temple. That original connection to the temple helped open the door to the imperial court in the years that followed.
The restaurant has long held a close tie to Japan's Imperial Family, regularly supplying them with tofu made on the premises. This connection is still felt today, and locals speak of the place with a quiet sense of pride.
The restaurant is a short walk from the north exit of Uguisudani Station, so it is easy to find on foot. Booking ahead is a good idea, as seating is limited and the place draws a steady flow of visitors.
The name Sasanoyuki came from a prince who compared the white tofu to snow resting on bamboo grass, and the owner adopted that poetic image as the restaurant's name. In Japanese, sasanoyuki translates literally to "snow on bamboo grass".
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