Update-date: Nov 13 2024
One of the must-visit tourist areas when you visit Kyoto is Gion. With its streets paved with cobblestones and lined with traditional teahouse architecture, it is a historic entertainment district that exudes the quintessential charm of Kyoto. It is also a gourmet town supported by the discerning tastes of Kyoto's elite. Why not indulge in a gourmet experience in Gion, where various types of restaurants fiercely compete? You are sure to have a luxurious time that will satisfy both your heart and your stomach.
Gion Vitra
Savor Gion-inspired French cuisine with all your senses in this chic hideaway spot
Gion Vitra, located just a 3-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station, is a restaurant that fuses French and Japanese cuisine to create a gourmet style commonly coined Kyoto French. You can enjoy course meals that emphasize local production for local consumption and seasonal ingredients. Savor dishes like 'Roasted Wagyu Beef with Hojicha Smoke' and 'Uni Kettle' that highlight Japanese ingredients with all your senses, and finish with 'Vitra Rice' cooked in a clay pot, produced in-house. The sommelier's pairing suggestions for each dish are also a delight.
From the restaurant facing Kawabata Street, you can get a panoramic view of the streetscape of Kamogawa and Pontocho. The interior has a chic atmosphere, perfect for a chic hideaway spot. With the desire for you to spend a special time surrounded by high-quality items, the space is extraordinary, with carefully selected furnishings ranging from tableware to chairs and paintings. There are also paid private rooms available, recommended for those who want to enjoy an even more luxurious time.
Gion Vitra
Open: Dinner 6:00 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 30,000 JPY
Access: About 3-minute walk from Gion-shijo Station on Keihan Electric Railway Keihan Main Line
Address: 2F, 4-4, Kawabata 4-jyo agaru Benzaiten-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 30,000 JPY
Access: About 3-minute walk from Gion-shijo Station on Keihan Electric Railway Keihan Main Line
Address: 2F, 4-4, Kawabata 4-jyo agaru Benzaiten-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Sushi Matsumoto
A renowned restaurant that has established traditional Edomae sushi in the geisha district of Gion
Sushi Matsumoto, located a 5-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station, offers authentic Edomae sushi crafted by a master who honed his skills at Sushi Shimizu in Shimbashi, Tokyo. The restaurant is committed to using the finest ingredients, with seasonal natural seafood and rice blended in consultation with a rice dealer and seasoned with red vinegar. Enjoy the exquisite harmony of the toppings and rice with the omakase course.
The restaurant, marked by a white shop curtain with the character for sushi written on it, stands on a stone-paved street exuding the charm of Kyoto. As you pass through the stone-paved front garden, a space filled with the warmth of wood unfolds before you. The interior features abundant use of bamboo and a tsuboniwa (quasi indoor garden), creating a distinctly Kyoto atmosphere. In the stylish district of Gion, this restaurant offers a luxurious and wonderful experience of enjoying the best possible cuisine.
Sushi Matsumoto
Open: Lunch (Monday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays) 12:00 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) / Dinner 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 9,000 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from Gionshijo Station on Keihan Main Line
Address: 570-123, Gionmachi-Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
More Details
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 9,000 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from Gionshijo Station on Keihan Main Line
Address: 570-123, Gionmachi-Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
Kyoboshi
Savor the full extent of tempura techniques passed down through three generations
Kyoboshi, located a 4-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station, is a tempura specialty restaurant that has been in business for three generations. You can enjoy delicate tempura created with secret techniques passed down through the family, such as a light batter without eggs and a unique blend of salt that resembles fine powdery snow. The menu consists only of a course with 17 to 18 items. The tempura of small fish like wakasagi (Japanese smelt), which looks as if the fish are swimming, is so exquisite that it can be called a work of art.
The restaurant is quietly nestled in a narrow alley on the east side of Hanamikoji. Inside, there are only 10 counter seats. The seats are arranged with consideration to ensure guests are not seated next to each other, allowing for a relaxed experience. Being located in the luxurious Gion area, one might expect an intimidating atmosphere, but the unpretentious atmosphere and warm hospitality make it easy to relax and enjoy tempura, even on your first visit.
Kyoboshi
Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY
Access: 384 meters from Gionshijo Station
Address: 1F, Futaba Bldg., Hanamikoji-Sueyoshicyo-Higashiiru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
More Details
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY
Access: 384 meters from Gionshijo Station
Address: 1F, Futaba Bldg., Hanamikoji-Sueyoshicyo-Higashiiru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
Yosuke Yamaji
Enjoy the culinary skills of a chef who has captivated the world's VIPs at a renowned French restaurant
Yosuke Yamaji, located on a charming path just a 5-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station, is a restaurant where a chef who has captivated gourmets around the world showcases his skills. The restaurant's name, which is the full name of the chef who has held important positions in top-level French gastronomy, raises expectations. Each dish, combining the techniques he has cultivated with Japanese ingredients, offers a blissful taste that delights all five senses.
Stepping into the Kyoto townhouse that stands out against the cobblestone streets, you'll find a natural space filled with wood, greenery, and light. With the desire to 'refine everyday life and create an exquisite healing space,' the interior is meticulously designed with a focus on natural elements. The counter seats, which prioritize comfort, are a testament to this dedication, with the table height determined after testing in 1cm increments. The comfort is truly convincing.
Yamaji Yosuke
Open: [Tuesday, Sunday, Holidays, Day Before Holidays] Lunch 12:00 - (last order 13:30) / Dinner 18:00 - (last order 21:00)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 8,000 JPY
Access: Five-minute walk from Exit 6 at Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line.
Address: 570-151 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
More Details Reservation
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 8,000 JPY
Access: Five-minute walk from Exit 6 at Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line.
Address: 570-151 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
Wagyu Restaurant Bungo Gion
Luxuriously enjoy the finest Oita Wagyu with 'Yakiniku without grilling' served all-in
Bungo Gion, a Japanese beef restaurant located a 7-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station, offers a unique experience of enjoying rare Oita Wagyu without grilling. You can savor premium cuts like Chateaubriand through an all-serve course meal. The 'Hana Niku Shabu White Miso Beef Bouillon,' where beef bouillon is poured over flower-like arranged meat to enjoy in a shabu-shabu style, features a hidden touch of white miso that provides a mellow and comforting flavor.
The interior of the renovated Kyoto townhouse, facing the atmospheric Shinbashi-dori lined with traditional teahouses, exudes a serene and calm ambiance, almost like a hidden retreat. The tables made from solid Oita cypress wood are just the beginning; the furnishings are also remarkable. There are counter seats and four private rooms available for a fee, each offering a different charm. You can also experience a traditional tatami room for an additional charge, making it a place where you can fully enjoy Kyoto's culture.
Wagyu Restaurant Bungo Gion
Open: Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm / Reservations only. Reservations are available at 17:00, 18:00, and 19:00. Each one is 2 hours and 30 minutes. Some days may have reservations available for 20:00 (please ask the restaurant for details).
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 16,000 JPY
Access: 7-minute walk from Exit 8 of Gion-shijo Station on Keihan Railway. It is located along Shimbashi-dori Street.
Address: 56, Motoyoshi-cho, Yamatooji Higashi-iru, Shimbashi-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 16,000 JPY
Access: 7-minute walk from Exit 8 of Gion-shijo Station on Keihan Railway. It is located along Shimbashi-dori Street.
Address: 56, Motoyoshi-cho, Yamatooji Higashi-iru, Shimbashi-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
