5 Best Michelin Star Restaurants in Kyoto

Kyoto is one of the most visited tourist cities in Japan as well as Tokyo and Osaka. There are historical buildings and towns and traditional food like Kaiseki dishes (traditional Japanese course meal) in Kyoto.

Especially, it’s recommended to eat Kaiseki dishes with the Kyoto style in Kyoto. There are 200 restaurants on the list of Michelin Book and 7 Michelin three-star restaurants in the western capital of Japan.

Today, I’d like to introduce the 5 best Michelin Star restaurants in Kyoto. In addition to the authentic tastes of their dishes, you can visually enjoy the restaurants seeing their creative dishes and historical buildings!

**Please note that all these 5 restaurants are almost impossible to get a seat without booking in advance!

1. Jiki Miyazawa

Jiki Miyazawa (じき 宮ざわ) is one of the most popular Kaiseki dish restaurants in Kyoto, which is listed on the Michelin Guide with 1 star. This Michelin Star restaurant is literally “a very good restaurant”, serving the quality and creative Kaiseki dishes at a relatively affordable rate. It’s noteworthy that shinny white rice is served in some ways at the final phase of the course. This is the authentic traditional Japanese food you can’t experience abroad. Jiki Miyazawa is located near the convenient station Shijo Station while it’s away from the hustle and bustle. Reservation is required there.

▶︎Book your seat of Jiki Miyazawa online in this link!

Access: 5 mins walk from Shijo Station (四条駅)

Hours: 12:00–13:45(Lunch)/18:00–20:00(Dinner)

Closed: Thursdays and irregular Wednesdays

Price Range: 4,000–7,000 yen (Lunch)/7,000–15,000 yen(Dinner)

Genre: Kaiseki

2. Kichisen

Kichisen (吉泉) is one of the 7 Michelin 3 Star restaurants in Kyoto. It offers Cha-Kaiseki (tea ceremony) style dishes including sashimi (raw fish), sushi and a few main dishes cooked with the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients from all over the country. The beautifully cooked Kichisen’s dishes visually entertain you as well as it satisfy your stomach. The Michelin 3 Star restaurant is located a little far from the center of Kyoto’s downtown, but it is totally worthy visiting for the highest level of Kyoto’s Kaiseki dish. Reservation is required there.

▶︎Book your seat of Kichisen online in this link!

Access: 10 mins walk from Demachi-yanagi Station (出町柳駅)/15 mins from Kyoto Station (京都駅) by taxi

Hours: 12:00-14:30 (Lunch)/18:00-22:00(Dinner)

Closed: Irregularly

Price Range: around 10,000 yen (lunch)/20,000–30,000 yen (dinner)

Genre: Kaiseki

3. Hyotei

Hyotei (瓢亭), the Michelin 3 Star restaurant, has its 400 years history: originally opened as a tea house around 400 years ago. It serves Kyoto’s traditional Kaiseki dishes with the set meal style and bento box style. Its specialty is Asagayu, which is the porridge are less seasoned, so that you can taste the authentic rice flavor. The Kaiseki restaurant is surrounded by the small Japanese traditional garden. Hyotei’s food is the “exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey”!

Access: 6 mins walk from Keage Station (蹴上駅)

Hours: 11:00–19:00

Hours (Breakfast): 8:00–10:00 (1st July to 31st August)

Closed: Tuesday

Price Range: 6,000–7,000 yen (Breakfast)/25,000–30,000 (Lunch and Dinner)

Genre: Kaiseki

4. Nakamura

Want to experience the gorgeous dinner with Kyoto’s traditional style? The top-rated restaurant named Nakamura (なかむら) has been on the list of Michelin 3 stars restaurants since 2011 serving Kaiseki dishes. You can enjoy tasting top quality Japanese food including Tempura and sashimi cooked with the freshest ingredients from the local region which are changed by season. It’s also valuable experience to dine at the Japanese traditional style rooms with tatami where you can view the Japanese garden. Book your seat of Nakamura as soon as possible since it is too popular to have the seats.

▶︎Book your seat of Nakamura online in this link!

Access: 5 mins walk from Karasuma-oike Station (烏丸御池駅)

Hours: 12:00–14:00 (Lunch)/17:00-19:30(Dinner)19:30

Closed: Sunday

Price Range: 15,000-20,000 yen (Lunch)/ 20,000–30,000 yen (Dinner)

Genre: Kaiseki

5. Gion Nishikawa

Gion Nishikawa (祇園 にしかわ) is Michelin 2 Star restaurants, which gained its first Michelin Star just after it opened in 2009 by virtue of its skillful chef Masayoshi Nishikawa. It serves various seasonal Kaiseki dishes which vary depending on season. If you want to enjoy communicating with the chef while eating, it is recommended to book the bar counter seats. Nishikawa’s dishes are just “excellent cooking that is worth a detour”, which is the definition of 2 Stars of Michelin.

Access: 13 mins walk from Gion-shijo Station (祇園四条駅)

Hours: 12:00–15:00(Lunch)/ 18:00–19:00 (Dinner)

Closed: Sunday and Lunch of Monday

Price Range: 8,000–10,000 yen (Lunch)/ 20,000–30,000 yen(Dinner)

Genre: Kaiseki

▽Also check out more Michelin restaurants in other areas Japan??▽

Kyoto is the best historical city to travel including temples and shrines. In addition to the tourist sites, Kyoto’s traditional dishes are really recommended to experience if you visit Kyoto!! For more info about Kyoto, you might also like these articles below!

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