Japanese restaurants to stop by on your way home from sightseeing at the popular Kinkakuji Temple and Nijo Castle Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Reservation Guide-

Update-date: Sep 28 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Japanese restaurants to stop by on your way home from sightseeing at the popular Kinkakuji Temple and Nijo Castle

Japanese cuisine is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. If you visit Kyoto, please try the authentic taste of Japanese cuisine. From the World Heritage sites of Kinkakuji Temple, Nijo Castle, the popular Heian Shrine, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Nagaokakyo, a hidden gem in the suburbs recommended for repeat visitors to Japan, we will introduce 5 restaurants close to the station where you can experience the depth of Japanese cuisine.

See full listings of Japanese Cuisine restaurants found in and around Kyoto.

1. IOTO - Kyoto Vegetable and Charcoal Grill -

Beautiful garden and delicate cuisine; a hole in the wall restaurant where you can feel Kyoto

IOTO - Kyoto Vegetable and Charcoal Grill - cuisine

IOTO - Kyoto Vegetable and Charcoal Grill - is a Japanese restaurant located in a resort hotel (Fufu Kyoto) with a beautiful garden. It is open to the general public for lunch only. We recommend the "Fukujyuzen" (reservation required at least two days in advance), a traditional wooden bowl filled with a variety of small potted dishes, which means layered good fortune. Each dish is a feast for the eyes and palate.

Approximately a 7-minute walk from Keage Station on the municipal subway line. Conveniently located near Heian Jingu Shrine and next to the popular Murin-an garden. It is also within walking distance of Nanzenji Temple and other sightseeing spots. The restaurant is an elegant Japanese-style space, complete with counter seats and private rooms overlooking the magnificent garden. No matter when you visit, you can relax and savor the taste and atmosphere of Japan while admiring the scenery of the four seasons.

IOTO - Kyoto Vegetable and Charcoal Grill -

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: About 7 minute's walk from Keage Station. It is located next to Murin-an. The main entrance is on the Lake Biwa Canal side
Address: 41, Kusagawa-cho, Nanzenji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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2. Kyo Yubadokoro Seike Nijojo Branch

Reservations required. If you like tofu, you must try the “Yuba" dish.

Kyo Yubadokoro Seike Nijojo Branch is a specialty restaurant where you can have a course of "Yuba" made from special soymilk using 100% Japanese soybeans. Several courses are available for both lunch and dinner, but we recommend the one including "Yuba ni nabe" in the photo. The rare yuba, of which only a small amount can be obtained in the manufacturing process, is a luxury, and you can feel the delicious flavor of the soybeans.

It is a short walk from Nijo Castle, a World Heritage Site. The restaurant has only 9 seats at the counter and offers only a course menu, so advance reservations are required for both dinner and lunch (reservations for seats only are also possible, where you can choose a course when you visit the restaurant). In a space with a relaxed atmosphere typical of Kyoto, you can try the yuba, which is light but full of the flavor of soybeans and prepared in various ways.

Kyo Yubadokoro Seike Nijojo Branch

Open: [Monday, Wednesday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) [Thursday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm (L.O. 7:30 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: 1 minute walk from Exit 3 of Subway Nijojo-mae Station. (Nearest bus stop: Nijojo-mae city bus stop)
Address: 233-4, Daimonjicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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3. Kappo Yumeshoubu

A short walk from Kinkakuji Temple, seasonal fresh fish is prepared in a variety of ways.

Japanese cuisine, Kappo Yumeshoubu, boasts the freshest seafood. The “Mackerel sushi" available only in fall and winter and the “Hamo (Japanese conger eel) dishes” available only in summer are popular among local customers. We recommend the sashimi, which is made from carefully selected seafood and delicately prepared in the Kyoto style. The restaurant selects and prepares the most delicious fish at the time of your visit, allowing you to experience Japan's fish-eating culture that values and savors the best of the season.

It is a 3-minute walk from Kinkakuji-Michi station along the city bus route. Open only in the evening, it is a perfect place to fill up on your way home from sightseeing or to enjoy a glass of sake while eating delicious fish. The restaurant has a spacious counter seating area and private rooms that can be easily used by individuals or families. A takeout menu is also available.

Kappo Yumeshoubu

Open: [Monday-Saturday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk (370m) from Light House-mae bus stop on Kyoto City Bus No. 206 route, 5-minute walk (390m) from Senbon Kitaouji bus stop on Kyoto City Bus No. 101 route
Address: 16, Kinugasa Kita-arami-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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4. Izakaya Asahi

Izakaya is in Nagaokakyo, a suburb of Kyoto, where you can enjoy the company of local customers.

Izakaya Asahi is a restaurant where you can enjoy classic dishes such as sashimi, deep-fried dishes, and hot pot dishes with alcohol in a popular atmosphere and at reasonable prices. We recommend the Dashimaki (Japanese omelette) made with high-quality domestic eggs. It is a popular dish with a fluffy texture and thickness, and when you take a bite, you can savor the gentle flavor of the dashi that only Japanese food can offer.

1-minute walk from Nagaokakyo Station on the JR Tokaido Honsen Line. Nagaokakyo, once the capital of Japan, is dotted with little-known historical sites and famous temples, and after a day of walking, you can have plenty to eat, drink, and relax at this homey izakaya. The restaurant has counter seats, box seats, tatami rooms, and private rooms.

Izakaya Asahi

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: 1-minute walk from Nagaokakyo Station West Exit on JR JR Tokaido Main Line, 15-minute walk from Nagaoka Tenzin Station East Exit on Hankyu Kyoto Main Line
Address: 1-3-19, Koutari, Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto Map
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5. Kirakutei

Japanese restaurants to stop by on your way home from sightseeing the Popular Kinkakuji Temple and Nijo Castle,

Serving dishes that focus exclusively on seasonal ingredients, there are many creative dishes on the menu that make the vegetables from around Kyoto come to life. Kyoto's rich water resources have made its vegetables renowned for their unique flavor and aroma, making them a must-try food. At Kirakutei, the chefs only use the finest local chicken and vegetables, imbuing them with seasonal flavors and drawing out the best from every ingredient. There is also a selection of local sake to enjoy with exquisite food. Not only that, the restaurant has the magical feel of a relaxing bath house, making it the perfect place to go to experience something different. Enjoying delicious food and raising a glass of sake in this place is sure to leave a lasting memory.

Kirakutei

Open: 17:00-01:00, last order for food at 23:30, last order for drinks at 00:30Lunch from 11:30-14:00
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 750 JPY
Access: A 1-minute walk from Marutamachi station on the Karasuma subway line
Address: Christer Plaza M1F , 215 Karasu Maru Takeya-cho Agaru Okura-cho, Chukyo-ku,Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.