Kikunoi Honten
- ★ 4.9
- 3 MICHELIN stars
- ¥¥¥¥
- Higashiyama
The defining three-Michelin-star kaiseki room in Kyoto. Third-generation Yoshihiro Murata runs Kikunoi Honten, a 1912 ryotei below Kodaiji. Priced at ¥¥¥¥.
Tasting menus, Michelin stars, and the kitchens redefining what fine dining means in Kyoto.
Top tables
15 places
Hyotei
- ★ 4.9
- 3 MICHELIN stars
- ¥¥¥¥
- Northern Higashiyama
An Edo-era teahouse at the gate of Nanzen-ji in Kyoto, restyled as a ryotei in 1837. Located in Northern Higashiyama. Led by chef Yoshihiro Takahashi.
Kitcho Arashiyama Honten
- ★ 4.9
- 3 MICHELIN stars
- ¥¥¥¥
- Arashiyama
Three-Michelin-star kaiseki on the Hozugawa river bend in Arashiyama, Kyoto, run by chef Kunio Tokuoka in a sukiya-style garden tatami room.
Taste kaiseki with a local in Kyoto
9 of the fine dining on this list are known for kaiseki.
Mizai
- ★ 4.9
- 3 MICHELIN stars
- ¥¥¥¥
- Higashiyama
Hitoshi Ishihara opened Mizai in a corner of Maruyama Park, Kyoto, after years at Kitcho Arashiyama. One nightly seating, all guests served in sync.
Kichisen
- ★ 4.7
- 2 MICHELIN stars
- ¥¥¥¥
- Demachiyanagi and Shimogamo
Chef Yoshimi Tanigawa's kaiseki room beside Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto. Two Michelin stars in the current guide, formerly three. Monthly seasonal menus.
Gion Sasaki
- ★ 4.8
- 3 MICHELIN stars
- ¥¥¥¥
- Gion
Hiroshi Sasaki runs a teacher-and-apprentice kitchen on Komatsu-cho. Counter seats deliver a 12-course kaiseki with a freer hand than the old ryotei.
Kikunoi Roan
- ★ 4.7
- 2 MICHELIN stars
- ¥¥¥¥
- Pontocho
Murata's casual-counter spinoff on Kiyamachi, opened for Kikunoi's 60th anniversary. Two stars, easier reservations than Honten, river views in season.
Gion Nishikawa
- ★ 4.7
- 2 MICHELIN stars
- ¥¥¥¥
- Gion
Masayoshi Nishikawa earned a star a year after opening at 33 in Kyoto. A quiet sukiya counter on a Yasaka Shrine alley with two stars for over a decade.
Muromachi Wakuden
- ★ 4.5
- 1 MICHELIN star
- ¥¥¥¥
- Karasuma and Kawaramachi
The Muromachi outpost of the Wakuden group, set in a Karasuma machiya with open charcoal braziers in the dining room. One star and a classical hand.
Tempura Tenyu
- ★ 4.6
- 1 MICHELIN star
- Tempura
- ¥¥¥¥
- Karasuma and Kawaramachi
A nine-seat tempura counter in central Kyoto run by Tawaraya, the ryokan operating since the early 1700s. Located in Karasuma Kawaramachi. Priced at ¥¥¥¥.
Where to stay in Kyoto
A sample of Kyoto hotels from our booking partner, who list 2,260 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
Khaosan Kyoto Guesthouse
With a stay at Khaosan Kyoto Guesthouse, you'll be centrally located in Kyoto, steps from Kawaramachi and w...
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EN HOTEL Kyoto
With a stay at EN HOTEL Kyoto in Kyoto (Central Kyoto), you'll be steps from Shijo Omiya and 6 minutes by f...
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Kyoto Guesthouse - Hostel
Located in Kyoto (Central Kyoto), Kyoto Guesthouse - Hostel is within a 5-minute drive of Nij Castle and Ka...
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Connect Hotel Kyoto
With a stay at Connect Hotel Kyoto in Kyoto (Central Kyoto), you'll be steps from Shijo Omiya and 5 minutes...
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Tempura Endo Yasaka
Tempura in a converted teahouse near Yasaka Pagoda, Kyoto, an ochaya from the early 1900s. Sweetcorn tempura opens each course in early summer.
Kyo Tominokoji Yoshikawa
- ★ 4.5
- 1 MICHELIN star
- Tempura
- ¥¥¥¥
- Karasuma and Kawaramachi
A 1952 ryokan and tempura counter in Kyoto set around a sublime Japanese garden, downtown. One Michelin star, garden lunches across all four seasons.
Sushi Wakon
- ★ 4.7
- Sushi
- ¥¥¥¥
- Higashiyama
Edomae sushi inside the Four Seasons Kyoto, in Higashiyama. Eight counter seats and a ten-course omakase from the team that opened the original Sushi Wakon.
Nothing matches.
Fine Dining in Kyoto, FAQ
Where should I eat fine dining in Kyoto?
Editor picks in Kyoto include Kikunoi Honten, Hyotei, Kitcho Arashiyama Honten, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.