The 10 unmissable restaurants in Kyoto and Osaka area, June 2019 Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: May 09 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Osaka Kyoto Kobe Nara Japanese Cuisine

The 10 unmissable restaurants in Kyoto and Osaka area, June 2019

Planning a trip to Kyoto and Osaka area and looking for something specific to eat? There are plenty of restaurants to suit every tastes. Discover the best places to eat here, from traditional meal and quintessentially comfort food to western-style dishes and varied ethnic cuisine.

See full listings of Japanese Cuisine restaurants found in and around Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara.

1. Gontaro Okazaki branch

[Gontaro Okazaki branch], in a cultural zone with the Heian-jingu Shrine and Kyoto Municipal of Museum of Art, is a renowned historical restaurant since the Meiji period, serving soba (buckwheat noodles) and udon (thick noodles). They currently have 3 branches in Kyoto city. The secret to their delicious dishes is the clear amber-colored [golden broth] which is made with carefully selected ingredients and carefully created by a skillful chef. Enjoy its delicate and deep taste. The most recommended dish is their specialty [Gontaro Nabe], a Kyoto-style hot pot with udon where you can fully enjoy various savory blessings from the mountains and the ocean in proud broth. Also, enjoy home-made udon served as a last hot pot ingredient to finish the dinner. Inside the restaurant is filled with a Japanese atmosphere, with table seats, raised tatami-floored seating area, and a great hall. The restaurant also has a beautiful garden with a sense of the season. Fully enjoy having a beautiful moment.

Gontaro Okazaki branch

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 11:00 am - 9:30 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 15 minutes walk from [Higashiyama Station] on Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line / 5 minutes by Kyoto Municipal Bus, then 1 minute walk from [Dobutsuen-mae Bus Stop]
Address: 19 Okazaki Minamigosho-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto

2. MICASADECO & CAFE KYOTO

In addition to our renowned [Ricotta Cheese Pancake], the KYOTO branch offers a unique menu which can be enjoyed only at [MICASADECO & CAFE KYOTO], such as [Matcha the KYOTO Branch Original Pancake], a fluffy pancake with less sugar and an abundance of matcha kneaded into the dough. They offer not only a wide variety in their dessert menu, but also meal menu such as voluminous and tasty [Omelette & Brown Rice with Home-Made Braised Pork Belly] where you can enjoy pork chunks, chewy brown rice, and oozy eggs. The restaurant, with its unique artistic sense, has a dining floor with pink walls, private rooms with wickerwork ceilings, and a miniature garden. Their private rooms can be booked, which are recommended for parties.

MICASADECO & CAFE KYOTO

Open: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 1,700 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from [Kawaramachi Station] on Hankyu Kyoto Line. North of [Nishiki Market] along Fuyacyo-dori Street
Address: 480 Fuyacho-dori Takoyakushi-sagaru Umeyacho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto

3. Kodaiji Toyokawa

[Kodaiji Toyokawa] is located in the between Yasaka-jinja Shrine in the north, Higashiyama Kennin-ji Temple in the west, and Kiyomizu-dera Temple in the south. We offer delicious kaiseki (traditional Japanese cuisine) with a beautiful appearance, using various vegetables from Kyoto and Ohara. Our most recommended dish is exquisite [Sesami Tofu] which is indispensable to our kaiseki courses. Its pure white color comes from [Migaki Sesame]. Enjoy its aftertaste with a slight aroma of sesame after swallowing. In addition to traditional kaiseki cuisine, we also offer vegetarian courses without any animal ingredients with advanced reservations. Have fun at our counter seats, or enjoy a private moment in our private rooms. Our cheerful and gentle-mannered owner offers a satisfying service to many guests every day.

Kodaiji Toyokawa

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch from 11:00 am (L.O. 1:30 pm) / Dinner from 5:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: From [Gion Shijo Station], go towards the direction of Yasaka-jinja Shrine. Go south for approximately 4 minutes along the road with the south gate and stone torii gate of Yasaka-jinja Shrine, then on your right
Address: 427-2 Kamibenten-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto

4. Sushi Hamaiso

Hamaiso serves sushi that changes seasonally. Located in the 1st floor of the Hotel Okura Kobe, this restaurant feels like a hidden refuge from the outside world. Chefs test and carefully select all seafood for their seasonality and freshness. The water temperature of the Seto Inland Sea varies greatly from season to season, which changes the type of fish caught there. The fish that are only found at each specific time are exceptionally delicious. Guests can enjoy their fill of fresh seafood prepared by the chef in front of their eyes. There are plans to suit any occasion, whether it be a course menu or simply ordering individual pieces of sushi of your choice. Reasonably-priced lunches are available, which are perfect for a casual occasion. With shochu (Japanese alcohol) such as Moriizou, Maou, and Murao, as well as high-grade sake like Tatsuriki from Himeji, this is a reliable choice for special occasions.

Sushi Hamaiso

Open: [Lunch] 11:30 am - 2:30 pm / [Dinner] 5:30 - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,500 JPY
Access: Hotel shuttle bus service runs daily from the Mint Kobe 1F bus terminal on the south side of JR [Sannomiya Station] *Inside Japanese Restaurant Yamazato
Address: 1F, Hotel Okura Kobe, 2-1, Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe city, Hyogo

5. Chinese Restaurant TOH-KA-LIN

Chinese Restaurant TOH-KA-LIN is on the 3rd floor of Hotel Okura Kobe, situated on the Kobe waterfront. Bright and open during the day and with atmospheric views at night, this restaurant serves traditional Cantonese cuisine. The seasonal dishes are all exquisite and are made with fresh seafood sourced both from the local Hyogo region and other areas in Japan. Choose the chef's recommended course to enjoy ingredients prepared in a range of styles that bring out the most possible flavor. The fusion of ingredients results in creative, original dishes. These beautifully-presented dishes satisfy the five senses and are sure to bring a smile to your face. There is also a wealth of high-quality alcohol to choose from, including Shaoxing wine. A wide variety of sommelier-paired wine is also available. All seating is in private rooms, making this a wonderful choice for entertaining, birthdays, anniversaries, or other celebrations.

Chinese Restaurant TOH-KA-LIN

Open: [Lunch] 11:30 am - 2:30 pm / [Dinner] 5:30 - 9:30 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,500 JPY
Access: Hotel shuttle bus service runs daily from the Mint Kobe 1F bus terminal on the south side of JR [Sannomiya Station]
Address: 3F, Hotel Okura Kobe, 2-1, Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe city, Hyogo

6. Curry Udon Tachibana

[Curry Udon Tachibana] specializes in curry udon (noodles) with a wide variety of toppings, such as [Bokkake (beef tendon and konjak simmered with soy sauce and mirin)] and [Chicken Cheese]. They are famous for [Curry Udon in a Stone Pot] which is arranged in a way with the ideas of the owner, along with the curry made with the original recipe of owner's father who ran a bistro for many years. As curry udon is served in a stone pot, they will stay hot till the end. After finishing the noodles, adding rice to the pot to enjoy as porridge is recommended. Pickles can also be added to enjoy the dish in three different ways. The space, mainly in black, has a relaxing atmosphere and have both counter and table seats so that you can visit for various occasions, such as alone, dates, or family meals.

Curry Udon Tachibana

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 11:15 am - 9:00 pm
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 900 JPY
Access: Go east from exit No.4 of [Nagai Station] on Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, turn right at the intersection with the Denny's restaurant, then go straight for approximately 100 meters
Address: 3-7-5-102, Nagai Higashi, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka city, Osaka (Map)
More Details

7. Sushi Futabaya

Enjoy the fresh seafood with their Japanese cuisine such as sushi and sashimi at [Sushi Futaba], in which they take particular care in freshness. The chefs go out to the markets to find quality fish that is fresh and in season. Though sushi made by a chef behind the counter is normally thought to be pricy, this is all offered at an affordable price - amazing! All of this is also available for takeaway so that you can enjoy all this delicious food in the comfort of your own home. The restaurant has counter seating for 8 and Japanese-style private rooms. The menu also comes in English, Chinese, and Korean, so it has become a popular place for foreigners. Relax and enjoy sushi that has garnered the attention of people from all over the world.

Sushi Futabaya

Open: Dinner: 5:00 pm - 2:00 am
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: Walk for 5 minutes to the north from [Kintetsu-Nippombashi Station], then head west at the Nipponbashi Kitazume intersection for 100m.
Address: 3-4, Souemon-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka city, Osaka

8. Teppanyaki Sanga

[Teppanyaki Sanga] is on the basement floor of the hotel with wide views of Nara. They offer fresh [A4 or higher grade Yamagata Beef] stocked from a special wholesaler in the route. Fully enjoy its beautiful marbles with a rich, savory taste and a melting texture. Yamagata Beef features a very fatty texture yet refreshing aftertaste. They also stick to domestic ingredients, such as [Yamato Vegetables] from Nara prefecture. This restaurant offers 3 courses in total, to enjoy different seasonal tastes along with the seasons. High-grade seafood such as abalone and spiny lobster are also available with requests in advance. You can also order additional meat on that day. It is are ideal for having meals with someone important, and special dates such as anniversaries.

Teppanyaki Sanga

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY
Access: On the B1F of Piazza Hotel, immediately from the front exit of JR [Nara Station]
Address: B1F, Piazza Hotel, 11-20 Sanjo Honmachi, Nara city, Nara (Map)
More Details Reservation

9. SUSHI DINING YUME

Enjoy authentic sushi at a reasonable price. A sushi chef with a rich experience welcomes the guests with [dishes safe to let his children eat] at a restaurant that feels like a bar. Enjoy a wide variety of menu such as [Kushi-ten (tempura skewer)] using dough made with a unique method, [Recommended Hand-Formed Sushi of the Day] to fully enjoy the recommendation of the day, and [Specially-Made Steamed Egg Custard] with a savory broth. Their sushi and Japanese dishes are high-quality yet reasonable. Their space is stylish yet casual, with a relaxing atmosphere. Many families and couples enjoy meals casually. Please visit to enjoy sushi in your everyday life randomly, and for a little special occasion.

SUSHI DINING YUME

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from the west exit of [Kashihara Jingumae Station]
Address: 101 Chanoki Mansion, 540 Kume-cho, Kashihara city, Nara

10. Benvenuto

This restaurant has a high ceiling, stone walls with a warm atmosphere, and wide tables. Old lumber from a 150-year-old bridge in the U.S. was installed for the wooden frame of the building and the wine rack. The restaurant is filled with the mild sunlight in the daytime, and illuminated at night, which creates another charm. They offer a wide variety of authentic Italian dishes created by the chef with a sense and tongue, who accumulated experiences in Italy. Their large-sized restaurant of approximately 21,000 sq ft, with spacious parking, faces the road. Even when it is very crowded, you do not have to worry about parking. Thoroughly enjoy a luxurious moment, forgetting your everyday life, with great cuisine at the spacious restaurant.

Benvenuto

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Wednesday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 1,210 meters from Gakuenmae Station by car
Address: 1-2-14 Tomigaoka, Nara city, Nara

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.