Gion Karyo
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan
Experience
The 7-course lunch option at this restaurant in Gion is an excellent way to try kaiseki without breaking the bank.
Adult price: £30
Good for age: 18+
Travel bucket list idea:
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan
The succession of artistically presented dishes that comprise a kaiseki-ryori dinner has come to represent the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine.
Featuring anywhere up to 12 fixed courses that focus on in-season produce, kaiseki will include some familiar elements, with sashimi early in the dinner, delicate tempura later, and maybe a few mouthfuls of wagyu as a centrepiece. The rest, however, can be wonderfully indecipherable.
Being such an exalted cuisine, kaiseki dinners don’t come cheap – expect to pay at least £100 a head. Or, go for lunch, when many restaurants offer taster sets at a fraction of the price.
Just reserve well ahead – even though Japan has plenty of kaiseki restaurants, they always book up quickly.
They are often served at ryokans (traditional Japanese inns). For a real flavour of traditional Japan, book in for a night at one, and tick off both bucket list experiences at once.
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan
Experience
The 7-course lunch option at this restaurant in Gion is an excellent way to try kaiseki without breaking the bank.
Adult price: £30
Good for age: 18+
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan
Experience
Comfortable serving English diners, this restaurant in Gion serves classic kaiseki in tatami mat rooms or at counter seats looking into the kitchen.
Adult price: £7
Good for age: 18+
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan
Experience
A 3-star Michelin restaurant near Maruyama Park where kaiseki is taken in private tatami rooms overlooking small bamboo gardens.
Adult price: £90
Good for age: 18+
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan
Official star rating:
Place to Stay
Hiiragiya RyokanIn business since 1818, this classic ryokan, in a quiet side street close to many of Kyoto’s central attractions, ticks all the traditional boxes – tatami-mat guestrooms, sublime 12-course kaiseki-ryori dinner, kimono-clad staff, and an air of tranquillity.
It’s easy to see why it has long been a haunt of dignitaries and Hollywood A-listers – Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin and many more make an appearance in the sixth-generation owner’s family album.
When it comes to the 28 rooms, for spaciousness and an old-Kyoto ambience, request one of the four original ground-floor rooms with private gardens. For something sleeker, opt for a room in the newer, but traditionally crafted annex.
Whichever room type, the Hiiragiya is best for travellers who want their hotel to be an integral part of the experience. A ryokan is a place to unwind and slowly absorb Japanese culture.
Average £200
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
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Kyoto
Price $296
Min age 0
Rating 4.78 / 5 [61 ratings]
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