10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jun 04 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Sushi Kyoto

The old capital, Kyoto, is a fantastic place to soak in traditional Japanese culture. If you stay for lunch or dinner in its townscape full of history, you should opt for a traditional delicacy like sushi, don't you think? This is the ultimate selection of 10 of the best and most popular sushi restaurants in Kyoto.

See full listings of Sushi restaurants found in and around Kyoto.

1. Temari Sushi and Nihoncha SOUDEN

Situated just off Oike Street, on Shinmachi Street, this quaint restaurant specializes in Temari sushi and Japanese tea. Upon entering through the wooden door, you're welcomed into a serene space with a striking, single-board wooden table. The owner's meticulous attention to detail is reflected in the understated yet elegant interiors and tasteful tableware. The carefully brewed monthly selection of Japanese tea invites you to relish the true essence of tea. Seasonal ingredients are skillfully used to create visually stunning and flavorful delicacies. With its tranquil ambiance, the aroma of traditional Japanese tea, and beautiful Temari sushi, this place offers a truly tranquil and enjoyable experience.

Temari Sushi and Nihoncha SOUDEN

Open: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm (L.O. 3:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Lunch] 3,000 JPY
Access: Get off at Karasuma Oike Station on the Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line, and it's a 6-minute walk from exits 5 and 6
Address: 110-1, Machigashira-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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2. Fukuyoshi

Fukuyoshi, opened in November 2019, offers sushi and a la carte dishes made with fresh seafood and seasonal ingredients sourced from Tokyo, Kansai, Hokkaido, and Nagasaki. The chef personally ensures the use of exceptional rice, observing its cultivation up to harvest. In addition to quality ingredients, the restaurant offers a seasonal alcohol menu including wine and sake. Housed in a renovated 120-year-old Kyoto townhouse, the elegant Japanese ambience is enhanced with counter seats for watching food preparation and private tatami rooms for intimate gatherings.

Fukuyoshi

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) *Only Japanese tatami room is available at lunch time. / Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: 18-minute walk from Imadegawa Station on Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line
Address: Yakunin-cho, Kuromon Higashi-iri, Nakadachiuri-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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3. Kikyu Sushi

Kikyu Sushi, a friendly sushi and Japanese restaurant rooted in the Kyoto Katsura community, sources its carefully selected fresh fish daily from the Central Market and serves each piece with heartfelt care. Aside from sushi, they offer seasonal delicacies using fresh ingredients. Enjoy seasonal tastes such as bamboo in spring, pike in summer and autumn, and pufferfish in winter. The quiet atmosphere is perfect for families and couples where conversation flows naturally. They also accept orders for Matsukado bento boxes for celebrations and Buddhist services. Feel free to inquire.

Kikyu Sushi

Open: [Sunday - Tuesday,Thursday - Saturday,Holidays,Day Before Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm (last order 10:30 pm)
Closed: Wednesdays and third Thursdays (open on public holidays)
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY
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4. Kyo sushi Ookini

Ookini is a nationwide popular sushi restaurant run by chef Murata, who prioritizes his philosophy over convenience. Specializing in fresh natural fish and organic Kyoto vegetables, without any chemical seasonings or preservatives, their affordable "Ookini Lunch" is a hit. The restaurant's unique sake served in a one-litre barrel is a signature offering. Despite offering authentic sushi, the ambiance is casual and even welcomes infants. The owner's dedication to valuing customers is palpable.

Kyo sushi Ookini

Open: [Sunday - Tuesday,Thursday - Saturday] Dinner 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (last order 8:00 pm) / Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm (last order 2:00 pm)
Closed: There are basically two consecutive holidays per month. The holidays in May are the 1st, 7th and 8th, 13th to 16th, 21st and 22nd, and 29th.
Average price: [Dinner] 7,500 JPY / [Lunch] 2,500 JPY
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5. Sushi Eiro

"Sushi Eirou," a sushi restaurant operated by a tuna specialty shop, opened on July 28, 2022. Their signature dish is the "Authentic Tuna Nigiri," handpicked by the president of the specialty shop, featuring tuna from famous regions like Aomori and Miyagi that change seasonally. Enjoy rare cuts and fresh tuna that you won't find elsewhere. Seafood other than tuna is sourced from the Kyoto Central Wholesale Market. Their menu includes sushi, sashimi, and tempura using seasonal ingredients. The restaurant offers a calm atmosphere with only 13 counter seats, serving high-quality a la carte dishes in a relaxed setting.

Sushi Eiro

Open: [Sunday,Monday,Thursday - Saturday,Holidays,Day Before Holidays] 11:30 am - 9:00 pm (last order 8:30 pm)
Closed: Tuesday,Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 10,000 JPY
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6. Gion Sato (Gion-shijo)

Established in a renovated machiya (old merchant's house) from 150 years ago that oozes the old Kyoto feel, Gion Sato offers Japanese cuisine and sushi with a focus on the seasonality of the ingredients. Once you've enjoyed an assortment of their delicious sashimi of seasonal fish, leave some space for their [Saba Sushi] (1,000 JPY), which is mackerel sushi. Different from the so-called Edo-style nigiri, this one is made by pressing marinated mackerel on top of vinegared sushi. Eating this during festivals or celebrations is believed to bring about good luck. You'll love its taste and texture!

Gion Sato

Open: [Opening hours] 17:00 - 23:30
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: About a 7-minute walk from Keihan Line, Gion-Shijo station.
Address: 570-118 Minamigawa Gionmachi , Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Map
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7. Nijo Kizuki

When you feel like trying different Japanese dishes, especially nigiri sushi, Nijo Kizuki comes highly recommended. Its stylish interior offers both wooden counter seats and casual tables for families and friends. Here, you'll be served course meals with sushi as the main dish. Ideal for when you want to eat something light, the popular [Aoi Course] (5 servings, 3,500 JPY) includes an appetizer, a platter of 6 nigiri, and other delicacies. When you're particularly hungry, go for the 9-dish [Tsuki Course] (5,000 JPY) instead.

Nijo Kizuki

Open: Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Address: 1F, Vine Oak Fine, 659, Seimei-cho, Yanagi no Banba Higashi-iru, Nijo-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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8. Daiki-Suisan Kaiten-Zushi

This popular kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurant is inside Kyoto Tower, right in front of Kyoto Station. Accessible in just 2 minutes on foot from there, it's a great opportunity to enjoy delicious sushi made with seasonal ingredients at the convenient prices typical of kaiten-zushi spots! Above all, make sure you try their [Hon-maguro Toro] (350 JPY). It's a fatty cut of tuna that is considered to be the king of nigiri (hand-formed sushi). There are other delicacies, such as the [Today's Seafood Kushiage] (580 JPY), the deep-fried seafood on skewers, and the [Octopus Karaage] (350 JPY), which is the deep-fried octopus.

Daiki-Suisan Kaiten-Zushi

Open: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 1,400 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from the central exit of JR Kyoto Station, in Kyoto Tower
Address: 721-1, Higashishio-Koji Cho, Karasuma Dori Shichijo Sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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9. Sushi Gion Matsudaya

Sushi Gion Matsudaya is popular among Kyoto's discerning food experts. This tiny and simple restaurant furnished with a white wooden counter that has only 7 seats offers the truly superb sushi! Starting from delicious tuna caught in the adjacent sea, they exclusively use seasonal and natural fish stocked from the local Nishiki Market or Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. Order their luxurious [Omakase Nigiri] (from 16,500 JPY) for a starred sushi experience you'll never forget!

Sushi Gion Matsudaya

Open: [Tuesday - Saturday] 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 10:00 pm)
[Sunday] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) *Reservations required for lunch up until the day before, Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
[National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: Monday, Irregularly closes 1 day each month
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 15,000 JPY
Address: 570-123, Gion-machi Minami-gawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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10. Sushi Matsumoto

When you ask for a recommended sushi spot around Gion, you'll most likely get Sushi Matsumoto as the reply. The owner, who trained at Sushi Shimizu in Shinbashi, Tokyo, makes old-school sushi in perfect Edo style. Stocked every morning from either Akashi, Kansai's first harbor, or Tsukiji Market, their seasonal fish is boiled, scorched, or marinated, depending on the traditional recipes of Edo-style sushi. You'll only find 2 options on the menu, the [Omakase Nigiri] and the [Snacks and Nigiri], but they properly express the chef's fine taste and skills!

Sushi Matsumoto

Open: [Monday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm), Dinner 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
[Tuesday, Wednesday] 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 9,000 JPY
Address: 570-123, Gion-machi Minami-gawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Did any of these 10 sushi spots in Kyoto pique your interest? These are only a few of the many popular restaurants in Kyoto, a city visited by millions of tourists every year. Check out the locals' reviews and pick your favorite!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.