Update-date: Dec 27 2024
Maruyama Park, home to the famous "Gion Shidarezakura" cherry tree, boasts hundreds of cherry blossoms in full bloom throughout the park. The cherry tree-lined path along the Kamo River creates a corridor of flowers. This area, surrounded by geisha districts and bustling shopping streets, is one of the most popular spots for strolling in springtime Kyoto. If one is looking to stop by on the way to and from cherry blossom viewing, these five restaurants are highly recommended.
Niku-tei Yui
Counter kaiseki or private room yakiniku? Enjoy premium wagyu in your preferred style.
Just a 2-minute walk from Kyoto City Hall Station, Nikutei Yui is a restaurant where one can enjoy the rare Ozaki beef from Miyazaki Prefecture and Hirai beef nurtured by the great nature of Kyoto Tamba. From a variety of a la carte options such as meat sushi, sukiyaki, steak, and cutlets to carefully crafted courses, guests can choose their preferred style. The lunch menu also offers a rich selection of high-quality wagyu that can be enjoyed casually.
The interior is a sophisticated space that exudes a Japanese aesthetic. The first floor features a counter with 10 seats, focusing on selected premium wagyu and Kyoto cuisine in a meat kaiseki style. The second floor has 5 private rooms where guests can enjoy grilled beef from selected brands. The restaurant is located near Takase River and Kamo River, which are lined with cherry blossoms, providing a perfect location to enjoy spring in Kyoto. It is also close to a subway station, making access to famous sites such as Heian Shrine and Nanzen-ji Temple convenient.
Nikutei Yuhi
Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 7,000 JPY
Access: About 2-minute walk from Exit 2 of Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station, 4-minute walk from Exit 12 of Keihan Sanjo Station, 14-minute walk from Exit 1A of Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi Station
Address: 503-2, Kamikoriki-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 7,000 JPY
Access: About 2-minute walk from Exit 2 of Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station, 4-minute walk from Exit 12 of Keihan Sanjo Station, 14-minute walk from Exit 1A of Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi Station
Address: 503-2, Kamikoriki-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Enman Izakaya Kogetsu
A cozy izakaya with the owner's special dish and delicious rice cooked in a clay pot.
Located on the second floor of a building just a 4-minute walk from Kyoto City Hall Station, Enman Izakaya Kogetsu offers a calm atmosphere where guests can enjoy Japanese cuisine and sake. The restaurant is proud of its 'Iberico Pork Kakuni' that is richly infused with flavor, the fluffy 'Dashimaki Tamago', and rice cooked in a donabe pot upon order. Guests are encouraged to try the rice as onigiri or tamago kake gohan to savor the deliciousness of the rice itself.
The restaurant features a cozy space with 6 counter seats and 4 table seats. The seasonal Japanese tableware and the works of creators displayed in the restaurant provide a visual delight. With a selection of carefully chosen sake, primarily from Kyoto, it is also recommended for sake lovers. Enjoying a drink while nibbling on Kyoto-style obanzai after cherry blossom viewing is exceptional.
Enman Izakaya Kougetsu
Open: Dinner 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: 4-minute walk from Exit 3 of Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station/ 6-minute walk from Exit 7 of Sanjo Station
Address: 2F, Kawaramachi Sanjo Bldg., 435-3, Ebisu-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: 4-minute walk from Exit 3 of Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station/ 6-minute walk from Exit 7 of Sanjo Station
Address: 2F, Kawaramachi Sanjo Bldg., 435-3, Ebisu-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
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Kyoto Kani Gin Kawaramachi Branch
Unlimited crab, black wagyu beef, sushi, and more to their heart's content!
Just a 2-minute walk from Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, Kyoto Kani Gin offers an all-you-can-eat course featuring snow crab, king crab, and black wagyu beef shabu-shabu and sukiyaki. The course is limited to two hours and includes all-you-can-eat options for nigiri sushi, fried foods, side dishes, salads, and more. Desserts can also be enjoyed, with choices like matcha ice cream and strawberry parfait (one per person).
With a capacity of 155 seats, this spacious restaurant has a seating capacity of 155. Reservations for seats only are available, making it a reassuring choice for dining in crowded Kyoto during cherry blossom season. The restaurant offers an English menu, and the staff can assist in English, Chinese, and Korean, providing peace of mind. Additionally, customers can add an all-you-can-drink option for an extra charge. After enjoying the cherry blossoms at Maruyama Park and along the Kamo River, why not indulge in Japan's luxurious ingredients?
Kyoto Kanigin Kawaramachi Branch
Open: [Monday-Friday, Day Before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm), [Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 12:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: Take Exit 3 of Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, and go north on Kawaramachi Dori from the Shijo-Kawaramachi intersection. Walk for about 2 minutes, and you will find the restaurant on your right.
Address: 5F, Kawaramachi DECK by COAST, 291, Naraya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: Take Exit 3 of Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, and go north on Kawaramachi Dori from the Shijo-Kawaramachi intersection. Walk for about 2 minutes, and you will find the restaurant on your right.
Address: 5F, Kawaramachi DECK by COAST, 291, Naraya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Gion Tō
Enjoy luxurious charcoal-grilled dishes made with premium ingredients in Gion, where food enthusiasts gather.
Just a 3-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station, Gion Tō is a restaurant located in a charming geisha district that offers luxurious charcoal-grilled dishes featuring A5-ranked black wagyu beef and Ise lobster. In addition to the juicy, flavorful beef, guests can also enjoy charcoal-grilled yakitori and seasonal Kyoto vegetables. The selection of wines, champagnes, and sake curated by the sommelier pairs perfectly with the dishes.
The concept of Gion Tō is a fusion of traditional Japanese beauty and modern sophistication. Upon stepping into the renovated town house located on a stone-paved alley, one is greeted by a contemporary and stylish Japanese space. In addition to counter seats where the live cooking experience can be enjoyed, there are also semi-private rooms with a calm atmosphere and fully private rooms, allowing adults to spend a leisurely and luxurious time.
Gion Katana
Open: 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: -
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Keihan Main Line Gion-shijo Station / 298m from Gion-shijo Station
Address: 69-2, Motoyoshi-cho, Higashi-iru, Yamato-oji, Shimbashi-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation
Closed: -
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Keihan Main Line Gion-shijo Station / 298m from Gion-shijo Station
Address: 69-2, Motoyoshi-cho, Higashi-iru, Yamato-oji, Shimbashi-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation
Gion Kankanderi Rei
Enjoy a fusion of Japanese cuisine, teppanyaki, and Korean dishes in a charming geisha district.
Located a 5-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station, Gion Kankanderi Rei is situated in an area popular for its charming streets. The restaurant boasts unique course meals that blend Japanese cuisine, teppanyaki, and Korean dishes, paired with sake. They are committed to using local ingredients such as brand pork from Kyoto, local chicken, duck, Kyoto vegetables, and fresh fish from nearby waters, allowing guests to enjoy dishes crafted by a chef with 30 years of experience in Japanese cuisine, in collaboration with a registered dietitian.
The restaurant is located on the first and second floors of a building, featuring a Kyoto-style exterior that incorporates the atmosphere of a traditional town house at the entrance. The interior is inspired by Gyeongju, the ancient capital of Korea. There are counter seats, table seats, and private rooms with sunken kotatsu, allowing guests to relax in their preferred style. In front of the restaurant, there are the famous cherry blossom spots of Shirakawa and Tatsumi Bridge, making it a popular photography location that exudes the charm of the geisha district.
Gion Kankanderi Rei
Open: [Monday-Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / [Monday-Saturday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm) / [Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 11-minute walk from Exit 1A of Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on Hankyu Kyoto Main Line / 6-minute walk form Exit 9 of Gion-shijo Station on Keihan Main Lin
Address: 1-2F, Nikoto Bldg., 2-391, Hashimoto-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
More Details Reservation
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 11-minute walk from Exit 1A of Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on Hankyu Kyoto Main Line / 6-minute walk form Exit 9 of Gion-shijo Station on Keihan Main Lin
Address: 1-2F, Nikoto Bldg., 2-391, Hashimoto-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
This article was written by AI Translation.
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
