Kyoto Gion Cultural Walk & Geisha Show with Dining Options
Discover the culture and life of being a geisha hidden behind the sliding doors of Gion on a walking tour. Watch a live geisha show and enjoy dinner, lunch or tea with...
Buddhist monastic vegetarian cuisine, no meat, fish or strong aromatics, served at Tenryu-ji, Daitoku-ji and Myoshin-ji temple kitchens since the 12th century.
Shojin-ryori arrived in Kyoto with the Rinzai Zen sect in the 12th century. The 1191 introduction of powdered green tea by Eisai and the founding of Tenryu-ji in 1339 anchored the cuisine; the form codified the use of seasonal vegetables, dashi (kombu and shiitake), tofu, yuba and sesame as a substitute for animal proteins. Today Shigetsu inside Tenryu-ji and Izusen Daiji-in at Daitoku-ji serve the canonical seven-bowl meals; Ajiro Honten holds the city's longest-running Michelin recognition for the form.
2 editor picks for Shojin-ryori in Kyoto, ranked by editorial score. All Kyoto signature dishes · Shojin-ryori across every city.
Shigetsu ★ 4.5
arashiyama · Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-8385, Japan
Bib Gourmand-listed shojin-ryori inside Tenryu-ji's precinct in Arashiyama. Three-course set lunches eaten facing the temple's Sogen garden.
Izusen Daiji-in ★ 4.4
kita-daitokuji · Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8231, Japan
Daitoku-ji shojin-ryori served in nested vermillion lacquer bowls modelled on a Buddhist begging bowl. Garden-view tatami inside the Daiji-in sub-temple.
Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide
Shojin-ryori makes more sense with someone from Kyoto explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Book food experiences in Kyoto
Kyoto: Geisha Dinner & Gion Cultural Walk
Immerse yourself in Kyoto’s vibrant geisha culture with a captivating tour featuring dinner and fascinating history.
Kyoto: Ramen, Gyoza, and Onigiri Cooking Class
Discover how to make homemade rich and flavorful soy sauce and miso ramen, acquire the perfect gyoza filling, and master the technique of wrapping gyoza for the ideal ...