Update-date: Jan 28 2025
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
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
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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
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Yosuke Yamaji
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
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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
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Wagyu Restaurant Bungo Gion
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
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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
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Gion Okumura
Gion Okumura, located on Hanamikoji Street in Kyoto’s Gion district, is a pioneer of "French Kaiseki," blending Kyoto Kaiseki with French cuisine. With over 40 years of history, it continues to be cherished by locals and tourists. Led by Chef Kamitsuji, who has dedicated his life to the restaurant, it offers a unique dining experience using Kyoto vegetables and innovative techniques. The two types of "Omakase French Kaiseki" for lunch and dinner, paired with fine wines, provide a memorable experience in private dining rooms of a renovated machiya.
Gion Okumura
Open: [Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (L.O. 1:00 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 7:30 pm)
Closed: Monday, Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 12,000 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Gion-shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line
Address: 570-6, Gionmachi-Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Closed: Monday, Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 12,000 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Gion-shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line
Address: 570-6, Gionmachi-Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Yakiniku no Meimon Tendan Gion Main Branch
Located on Kawabata-dori Street, Kyoto, Tendan Gion Main Branch is a renowned Yakiniku restaurant founded in 1965, famous for introducing "Yakiniku with dashi broth." The golden, clear dashi sauce, made from beef bones, offers a refreshing finish. The restaurant features spacious table seating, counters, private rooms, and a kid’s room ideal for families or celebrations. With seasonal menus and sommelier-selected wines, it offers an exceptional dining experience for any occasion.
Yakiniku no Meimon Tendan Gion Main Branch
Open: [Monday - Friday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:15 pm), [Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 11:30 am - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:15 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: 2-minute walk from Gion-shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line. 4-minute walk from Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.
Address: 2F, 1-225, Miyagawa-suji, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: 2-minute walk from Gion-shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line. 4-minute walk from Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.
Address: 2F, 1-225, Miyagawa-suji, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
