Kyoto · Food
Where to Eat in Kyoto: Tofu, Kaiseki, Obanzai, Matcha, Ramen and Sake
17 places to eat · checked October 20, 2026
17 places to eat in Kyoto, grouped by what you eat
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 20, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Nishiki Market錦市場
Food market street · Downtown (Shijo)
A 390-metre market street in central Kyoto whose shop directory runs from pickles, tofu and fish to sweets, restaurants and taverns. Each shop keeps its own hours and closing days.
Opening and closing times are set by each shop, not by the market.
- Access
- About 3 minutes on foot from Shijo Station (Karasuma subway line) or Karasuma Station (Hankyu), about 4 minutes from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (Hankyu), about 10 minutes from Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan).
- Hours
- Varies by shop
- Closed on
- Varies by shop
2Menami御料理めなみ
Obanzai (Kyoto home cooking) · Kiyamachi (Sanjo)
An obanzai restaurant on Kiyamachi-dori that gives its history as more than 80 years. Open from mid-afternoon into the evening.
- Access
- Kiyamachi-dori just north of Sanjo-dori: Sanjo Kiyamachi Building II, 1F, 96 Nakajima-cho, Nakagyo-ku.
- Hours
- 15:00–22:00 (last order 21:30)
- Closed on
- Wednesdays
3Pontocho先斗町
Restaurant alley · Pontocho
A long, paved alley of wooden buildings between Sanjo and Shijo streets, parallel to the Kamo River, lined with restaurants and bars that are busiest at night. In summer close to 100 riverside platforms (yuka) are set up along the river; Japan's national tourism organization advises booking them.
Each restaurant sets its own hours and booking rules.
- Access
- Nearest stations: Sanjo and Gion-Shijo (Keihan) and Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu). From Kyoto Station, city bus 4, 5, 17 or 205 to Shijo Kawaramachi.
- Hours
- Varies by restaurant
4Nanzenji Junsei南禅寺 順正
Yudofu (simmered tofu) restaurant · Nanzenji
A tofu restaurant at the approach to Nanzen-ji serving yudofu courses for lunch and dinner. The two yudofu courses are ¥7,700 and ¥9,350.
- Access
- About 5 minutes on foot from Keage Station (Tozai subway line), exit 2.
- Hours
- Lunch 11:00–15:30 (last order 14:30); dinner 17:00–21:30 (last order 19:00)
- Closed on
- Irregular; closing days are posted on the website
- Price
- Yudofu courses ¥7,700 and ¥9,350 (tax included)
5Shigetsu at Tenryu-ji天龍寺 篩月
Shojin ryori (temple cooking) · Arashiyama
The shojin ryori restaurant run by Tenryu-ji, inside the temple, serving sets that change with the season. The garden entry fee of ¥500 is charged on top of the meal.
Booking ahead is required: 2 days for the ¥3,800 set, 3 days for the others.
- Access
- Tenryu-ji is in front of Arashiyama Station (Keifuku/Randen); about 13 minutes on foot from Saga-Arashiyama (JR) and 15 minutes from Arashiyama (Hankyu).
- Hours
- 11:00–14:00
- Closed on
- Thursdays
- Price
- ¥3,800 / ¥6,500 / ¥9,000, service charge extra, plus ¥500 garden entry. Book the ¥3,800 set 2 days ahead; the other two 3 days ahead, for 2 or more
6Hyotei瓢亭
Kaiseki; morning rice porridge in the annex · Nanzenji
A kaiseki restaurant near Nanzen-ji with a main building and an annex. The annex serves morning rice porridge (asagayu) from 8:00 and a shokado lunch box; the main building serves kaiseki at lunch and dinner and raises its prices on 1 November 2026.
The price revision on 1 November 2026 that Hyotei announces is for main-building kaiseki.
- Access
- About 6 minutes on foot from Keage Station (Tozai subway line).
- Hours
- Annex 8:00–11:00 (last order 10:00) and 12:00–14:00 (last order 13:00). Main building lunch 12:00–15:00 (last order 13:00), dinner 17:00–21:30 (last order 19:00)
- Closed on
- Main building Wednesdays, annex Thursdays, plus irregular days
- Price
- Annex: asagayu ¥5,445 (16 March–30 November), quail porridge ¥5,445 (1 December–15 March), shokado box ¥7,260. Main building kaiseki from ¥31,625 lunch / ¥37,950 dinner; from 1 November 2026, ¥44,275 / ¥50,600. Tax and service included
7Kikunoi Honten菊乃井 本店
Kaiseki · Higashiyama (Yasaka Shrine)
The main restaurant of Kikunoi, serving kaiseki courses at lunch and dinner. Guests arrive within set windows, and a 15% service charge is added to the course price.
- Access
- Shimokawara-dori, just south of the Yasaka Shrine torii (459 Shimokawara-cho, Higashiyama-ku). Parking for 2–3 cars only.
- Hours
- Lunch: arrive 12:00–12:30. Dinner: arrive 17:00–19:30
- Closed on
- First and third Tuesdays, and over the New Year; may change by month
- Price
- Lunch ¥16,500–¥110,000; dinner ¥33,000–¥110,000, with a shorter ¥22,000 course. Tax included, 15% service extra
8Izuuいづう
Saba-zushi (mackerel sushi) · Gion
A Kyoto-style sushi shop in Gion, established in 1781, whose speciality is saba sugata-zushi (whole mackerel sushi). It has a room for eating in; takeaway orders can be collected from 8:00 by reservation.
- Access
- Yasaka Shinchi, Gion: 367 Kiyomoto-cho, Higashiyama-ku. A second counter is in the basement of Daimaru Kyoto on Shijo-dori (10:00–20:00).
- Hours
- 11:00–22:00 (eat-in served until 21:30); Sundays and holidays 11:00–21:00 (served until 20:30)
- Closed on
- Tuesdays (open on holidays and festival days)
9Sohonke Nishin Soba Matsuba, main shop総本家にしんそば松葉 本店
Nishin soba (herring soba) · Gion (Shijo-Ohashi)
A soba shop at the east end of Shijo-Ohashi bridge, next to the Minamiza theatre, that gives its founding as Bunkyu 1 (1861) and serves nishin soba (soba topped with herring).
- Access
- Right outside exit 6 of Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan), beside Minamiza.
- Hours
- 10:30–21:00 (last order 20:30)
- Closed on
- Wednesdays (open when a holiday); may change by season
10Saryo Tsujiri, Gion main shop茶寮都路里 祇園本店
Matcha sweets and tea café · Gion
A tea café on the second and third floors of the Gion Tsujiri building on Shijo-dori, serving matcha sweets, drinks and meals.
- Access
- About 3 minutes from Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan) exit 6, along Shijo-dori (south side); city bus to Gion.
- Hours
- 10:30–20:30 (last order 19:30); may change without notice
- Closed on
- Irregular
11Kagizen Yoshifusa, Shijo main shop鍵善良房 四条本店
Japanese sweets and tearoom · Gion
A Japanese confectioner on the north side of Shijo-dori in Gion, with a tearoom. The winter menu from 1 October adds oshiruko and kibi-mochi zenzai (sweet red-bean soups). Tearoom items are eat-in only.
- Access
- North side of Shijo-dori in Gion: 264 Gion-machi Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku.
- Hours
- Shop 9:30–18:00; tearoom 10:00–18:00 (last order 17:30, earlier when busy)
- Closed on
- Mondays (the next weekday when Monday is a holiday)
- Price
- Oshiruko and kibi-mochi zenzai ¥1,400 each (winter menu, until around 31 March)
12Nakamura Tokichi, Kyoto Station shop中村藤吉 京都店
Uji tea café and tea counter · Kyoto Station
The Kyoto Station shop of the Uji tea merchant, with a café and a tea counter on the restaurant floor of JR Kyoto Isetan. The main shop is in Uji, where the café is open 10:00–17:30 (last order 16:30).
- Access
- JR Kyoto Isetan, restaurant floor Eat Paradise, 3F, in front of the JR west ticket gate.
- Hours
- Café 11:00–22:00 (last order 21:00); tea counter 11:00–21:00
13Honke Daiichi-asahi, main shop本家第一旭 本店
Kyoto ramen · Kyoto Station
A ramen shop near Kyoto Station that opens at 6:00 and closes at 1:00. Plain ramen is ¥980.
- Access
- 4 minutes on foot from JR Kyoto Station.
- Hours
- 6:00–1:00
- Closed on
- Thursdays
- Price
- Ramen ¥980 (tax included)
14Tenka Ippin, Sohonten (head shop)天下一品 総本店
Ramen · Ichijoji (northeast Kyoto)
The head shop of the Tenka Ippin ramen chain, in Ichijoji in northeast Kyoto, open from late morning until 1:00.
- Access
- 94 Ichijoji Tsukuda-cho, Sakyo-ku (Maison Shirakawa 1F). The shop page lists 22 parking spaces and gives no train or bus directions.
- Hours
- 11:00–1:00 (last order 15 minutes before closing)
- Closed on
- New Year's Day
15Kyoto Ramen Koji京都拉麺小路
Ramen food court · Kyoto Station
Ten ramen shops together on the 10th floor of the Kyoto Station Building, south of the department store and the Grand Staircase.
The ten shops on the floor can change; the building's page gives the current list.
- Access
- Kyoto Station Building, 10F.
- Hours
- 11:00–22:00 (last order 21:30)
16Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum月桂冠大倉記念館
Sake museum with tasting · Fushimi
A sake museum run by the Fushimi brewer Gekkeikan. Adult entry includes a tasting of three sakes and a souvenir. Payment is card or QR code only; cash has not been accepted since 1 July 2026.
Card or QR-code payment only. Shorter hours on 26 October and 7, 10 and 20 November 2026.
- Access
- 5 minutes on foot from Chushojima Station (Keihan Main Line); 10 minutes from Momoyamagoryo-mae (Kintetsu Kyoto Line) or Fushimi-Momoyama (Keihan).
- Hours
- 9:30–16:30 (last entry 16:00). Shorter days: 26 October 9:30–13:00, 7 November 13:00–16:30, 10 and 20 November 9:30–14:00
- Closed on
- 13–16 August, 28 December–4 January, and occasional days
- Price
- Age 20 and over ¥600, including three tastings
17Inoda Coffee, main shopイノダコーヒ 本店
Coffee house and breakfast · Downtown (Sanjo)
The main shop of a Kyoto coffee house, on Sakaimachi-dori just south of Sanjo-dori. It opens at 7:00 every day of the year and serves breakfast.
- Access
- About 5 minutes on foot from Karasuma-Oike Station (Karasuma and Tozai subway lines); about 10 minutes from Karasuma (Hankyu); about 15 minutes from Sanjo (Keihan).
- Hours
- 7:00–18:00 (last order 17:30)
- Closed on
- Open every day
Good to know
The 17 places below are grouped by what you eat and sit in six parts of Kyoto: downtown around Nishiki Market, Pontocho and Kiyamachi; Gion along Shijo-dori; Nanzen-ji near Keage Station for tofu and kaiseki; Kyoto Station for ramen and tea on arrival or departure day; Arashiyama for temple cooking; and Fushimi for sake. Hours, closing days, prices and access were checked on 20 October 2026 against each place's own site, or Japan's national tourism organization for Pontocho.
Booking rules differ. Kikunoi and Hyotei take reservations by phone or online, and Shigetsu at Tenryu-ji asks for 2–3 days' notice; the Kagizen tearoom takes no reservations. Kikunoi adds a 15% service charge to its course prices; Hyotei's prices include tax and service. Hyotei's main-building kaiseki prices rise on 1 November 2026, and the Gekkeikan sake museum has shorter hours on 26 October and 7, 10 and 20 November and takes card or QR-code payment only.
This page lists where to eat. For which Kyoto dishes are worth their price, see Kyoto Food, Ranked under In depth.
Where in Kyoto to eat: the areas compared
Built only from the places on this page and their listed hours.
| Area | Food on this page | Earliest / latest | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown: Nishiki, Kiyamachi, Pontocho, Sanjo | Market food, obanzai, restaurant alley, coffee-house breakfast | Inoda from 7:00 · Menami to 22:00 (last order 21:30) · Nishiki and Pontocho by shop | Nishiki 3 min from Shijo (subway) or Karasuma (Hankyu); Pontocho by Sanjo, Gion-Shijo (Keihan) and Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu) |
| Gion (Shijo-dori) | Mackerel sushi, herring soba, matcha sweets, Japanese sweets | Matsuba from 10:30 · Izuu to 22:00 (Sun and holidays 21:00) | Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan) exit 6: Matsuba right outside, Saryo Tsujiri about 3 min |
| Nanzen-ji and Higashiyama | Yudofu, kaiseki, morning rice porridge | Hyotei annex from 8:00 · Junsei dinner last order 19:00 · Kikunoi dinner arrival by 19:30 | Keage Station (Tozai Line): Junsei about 5 min, Hyotei about 6 min; Kikunoi near Yasaka Shrine |
| Kyoto Station | Ramen, Uji tea café | Daiichi-asahi 6:00–1:00 · Ramen Koji last order 21:30 · Nakamura Tokichi last order 21:00 | Daiichi-asahi 4 min from JR Kyoto Station; Ramen Koji and Nakamura Tokichi inside the station building and JR Kyoto Isetan |
| Arashiyama | Shojin ryori at Tenryu-ji | 11:00–14:00, closed Thursdays | In front of Randen Arashiyama; 13 min from JR Saga-Arashiyama |
| Fushimi | Sake museum with tasting | 9:30–16:30 (last entry 16:00) | 5 min from Chushojima (Keihan) |
By kind of trip
First trip: one Kyoto meal of each kind
A market street, a yudofu course, herring soba and a matcha café, each within a few minutes of a station. Nishiki is 3 minutes from Shijo or Karasuma; Matsuba and Saryo Tsujiri are by Gion-Shijo exit 6; Junsei is 5 minutes from Keage.
Nishiki Market · Nanzenji Junsei · Sohonke Nishin Soba Matsuba, main shop · Saryo Tsujiri, Gion main shop
Kaiseki or temple cooking below dinner prices
Shigetsu's simplest set is ¥3,800 plus the ¥500 garden fee. The Hyotei annex serves morning porridge for ¥5,445 and a shokado box for ¥7,260. Kikunoi Honten's lunch starts at ¥16,500 plus 15% service.
Late at night
Honke Daiichi-asahi (closed Thursdays) and the Tenka Ippin head shop both stay open until 1:00. Izuu serves until 21:30 and Menami takes last orders at 21:30.
Honke Daiichi-asahi, main shop · Tenka Ippin, Sohonten (head shop) · Izuu · Menami
Arrival or departure day at Kyoto Station
Kyoto Ramen Koji is on the 10th floor of the station building and Nakamura Tokichi is in JR Kyoto Isetan by the JR west ticket gate; Daiichi-asahi is a 4-minute walk.
Kyoto Ramen Koji · Nakamura Tokichi, Kyoto Station shop · Honke Daiichi-asahi, main shop
Breakfast and early starts
Inoda Coffee opens at 7:00 every day. The Hyotei annex serves porridge from 8:00 (last order 10:00), and Matsuba opens at 10:30.
Inoda Coffee, main shop · Hyotei · Sohonke Nishin Soba Matsuba, main shop
Questions
Do I need to book restaurants in Kyoto?
It depends on the place. Kikunoi Honten takes bookings by phone (075-561-0015, 10:00–22:00) and online through its English and Chinese pages. Hyotei books by phone or online, from 2 guests for the main building. Shigetsu at Tenryu-ji asks for 2 days' notice for its ¥3,800 set and 3 days for the others. The Kagizen tearoom does not take reservations. For Pontocho's summer riverside platforms, Japan's national tourism organization advises booking.
What is open late in Kyoto?
Honke Daiichi-asahi near Kyoto Station is open 6:00–1:00 (closed Thursdays), and the Tenka Ippin head shop in Ichijoji 11:00–1:00. At Kyoto Station, Ramen Koji takes last orders at 21:30 and the Nakamura Tokichi café at 21:00. In Gion, Izuu serves until 21:30 (20:30 on Sundays and holidays).
What is the least expensive way to eat kaiseki-style food in Kyoto?
On the places listed here: Shigetsu's ¥3,800 shojin ryori set (plus ¥500 garden entry and a service charge), the Hyotei annex's morning porridge at ¥5,445 or its shokado box at ¥7,260, and Kikunoi Honten's lunch from ¥16,500 plus 15% service. Hyotei's main-building kaiseki costs ¥31,625 at lunch until 31 October 2026 and ¥44,275 from 1 November.
What time does Nishiki Market open and close?
The market sets no single hours; each shop keeps its own opening times and closing days. The street is 390 metres long and about 3 minutes on foot from Shijo Station (Karasuma subway line) or Karasuma Station (Hankyu).
Can I taste sake in Fushimi?
The Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, 5 minutes from Chushojima Station (Keihan), charges ¥600 for visitors aged 20 and over, including a tasting of three sakes. It is open 9:30–16:30 (last entry 16:00), with shorter hours on 26 October and 7, 10 and 20 November 2026, and takes card or QR-code payment only.