Boys and girls take note: this is an ideal spot for a date. 茂庵 isn’t cheap (by any means), but such a lovely cafe in such a beautiful setting, can get away with the mick-taking prices. Set deep in the woods of Mount Yoshida, on the second floor of an old wooden building, it is a quiet spot in a sea of green. The windows on the west look out over dramatic views of the city, and the windows on the east look over towards Daimonji Yama. Here are some pictures. You can click through to flickr for a closer look.
Mo・An also hosts a series of events, music shows, work-shops, tea ceremony lessons and Yose, a traditional type of Japanese vaudeville. When you visit the cafe be sure to sign up for the mailing list for up-and-coming events. Finding Mo・An is a bit of an adventure in itself. The easiest way is from the Ginkakuji Bus-stop on Imadegawa. Go south down Kaguraoka Dori (神楽岡通) until you get as far as the “In the Mood” craft shop on your left. Just before that on your right, there is a flight of stone steps leading up the hill. You should see the sign for Mo・An (see above) at the bottom of those steps. At the top of the steps, there is another tiny sign bearing the 茂庵 Chinese characters. Follow the sign left and then on up the hill and you will eventually come to a gateway into a wooded garden. Charming lanterns will light the way up and up until you reach the top. Enter through the curtained entrance, take off your shoes and head on up to the second floor. Here is a map.
Mo・An is open every day but Mondays 11:30 ~ 18:00. Lunch is available from 11:30 ~ 14:00. Tel: 075-761-2100.
See also:
Cafe Mole
Cafe Gospel
Ahh, glad to know that this place is still up and running.
I worked as an intern for a gardening company called Wakusei Sanga back in 2005. The owners home and office shared the same mountain (Yoshida) as Moan, so we often did them service by clearing their paths of fallen leaves, etc. In return they always gave us green tea and some type of macha cake.
Excellent place.