Salon de thé François

The front of Salon de thé François features a high, curved wooden window that resembles the prow of a ship. This building opened in nineteen thirty-four, shortly after the founder, Shoichi Tatebayashi, traveled to Europe and returned with a vision for a space modeled after a Mediterranean ocean liner. While the city outside follows the pace of Kyoto, the interior maintains the dark, polished woodwork and red velvet seats from the early Showa era, preserved by a loyal staff for generations.