The 15 Best Restaurants in Higashiyama

Higashiyama：One of Japan's Premier Dining Destinations

Where is Higashiyama?

The term "Higashiyama" refers to the region east of the Kamo River, which flows north to south through Kyoto. Traditionally, it specifically denotes the hilly area east of Yasaka Shrine, bordered by Sanjo Street to the north and Gojo Street to the south. It is the area east of Kyoto's Higashioji Street. Surrounding areas also fall withing the administrative district of Higashiyama Ward, however the zone between Yasaka Shrine and the Kamo River is known as Gion, a district famous for its geisha and maiko traditions.

Considering its appeal as a hub for tourism, dining, and shopping, the Higashiyama area can be broadly defined as the expansive region east of the Kamo River, spanning from Sanjo Street to Gojo Street.

Dining in the Higashiyama Area

The Higashiyama area is renowned for its wide array of restaurants, many of which have earned Michelin stars. Kyoto served as Japan's capital for over 1,000 years and as such, the city boasts a rich culinary heritage featuring numerous traditional Japanese restaurants specializing in kaiseki (traditional multi-course meal) cuisine. Within this gastronomic landscape, Higashiyama stands out for its selection of upscale, high-quality Japanese dining establishments.

In the Gion district, celebrated for its connection to maiko culture, you'll find traditional Japanese restaurants serving sushi, tempura (lightly battered and deep-fried seafood and vegetables), yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), and other quintessential Japanese dishes. The area’s reputation draws high-profile food connoisseurs, fostering a vibrant scene of avant-garde restaurants that cater to more experimental tastes.

For a truly unforgettable dining experience, some restaurants in the Higashiyama hills offer seating with panoramic views of Kyoto, blending exquisite cuisine with stunning natural and urban landscapes.

10 Must-Try Restaurants Near Higashiyama Station

1. Kyo Seika (京、静華) / Chinese

Chinese restaurant Kyo Seika has held one Michelin star since 2022. It is also ranked among the top 100 Chinese restaurants on Japan’s leading restaurant review site. The restaurant’s journey began when owner and chef Shizuo Miyamoto closed his Chinese restaurant in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, after 23 years of operation and went to study in Beijing. There, he gained fresh insights before opening a restaurant in Kyoto, which quickly earned a Michelin star. The restaurant serves only prix-fixe courses, with all meals starting at 6 p.m. The quality and quantity of the dishes are exceptional. Reservations can be made until the end of each month two months before your visit.

2. Hiiragitei (ひいらぎ亭) / Yakitori

Hiiragitei is known for its obanzai and yakitori, which has earned it a spot in the Michelin Bib Gourmand guide. It is categorized as an izakaya (Japanese bar) and has also been ranked among the Best 100 izakaya on a major Japanese restaurant review site. Obanzai refers to traditional Kyoto-style home-cooked dishes, and the flavors are exceptional. Although there is no fixed course menu, the best way to enjoy the meal is to start with sashimi and obanzai, followed by yakitori made from Tankai-jidori, a premium breed of chicken. The restaurant offers a wide selection of sake, with a focus on beverages from Kyoto, to complement the dishes.

3. Sushi Rakumi (鮨 楽味) / Sushi

Sushi Rakumi is a sushi restaurant created by the Michelin three-star restaurant Gion Sasaki. This restaurant has also earned two Michelin stars. The owner-chef Kazuya Nomura trained at the Michelin three-star sushi restaurant Sushi Yoshitake while working at Sasaki. He has since combined the best elements of both restaurants to create his own unique sushi experience. As a result, the omakase (chef’s choice) course offers dishes inspired by Gion Sasaki as well as sushi that reflects the style of Sushi Yoshitake. The sushi rice is made with a mix of red vinegar and rice vinegar, tailored to each type of fish, allowing you to savor the perfect balance between the fish and the rice.

4. Shimmonzen Yonemura (新門前 米村) / Innovative

Shimmonzen Yonemura is a celebrated restaurant in the Michelin innovative category. Unbound by genre it offers a unique fusion of Japanese and Western cuisine. It held two Michelin stars from 2020 to 2024 and one star in 2019, 2025, and 2026, and has also received a Bronze Award and a Best 100 ranking on a major Japanese restaurant review site. The owner-chef Masayasu Yonemura trained at the renowned Kyoto French restaurant Gion Okumura before opening his restaurant. The exterior features a traditional Japanese design, while the interior blends Japanese elegance with Western flair. Both lunch and dinner are served as omakase (chef’s choice) courses, showcasing a variety of cooking techniques and carefully selected ingredients handpicked by the chef. The exquisite and surprising dishes are bursting with exceptional flavors, leaving a memorable impression on diners. Two lunch course options and a dinner course can be reserved through OMAKASE.

5. Gion Owatari (祇園 大渡) / Japanese

Michelin (2019 - 23): Two Stars

Michelin (2025): One Star

Gion Owatari is a Japanese restaurant that held two Michelin stars from 2016 to 2023 and has held one star every year from 2024 to 2026. It has also received numerous awards on a major Japanese restaurant review site. The owner-chef Mahito Owatari focuses on harnessing the exceptional water of Kyoto in his cooking, and rather than using the standard bonito flakes, he takes the distinctive approach of making his dashi broth from tuna flakes. This tuna-based broth's refined flavor perfectly brings out the umami of the ingredients, enhancing the flavor of each dish. Although the restaurant offers only an omakase (chef’s choice) course, the variety and quality of the dishes will undoubtedly leave diners thoroughly satisfied. Three course options each for lunch and dinner can be reserved through OMAKASE.

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6. LURRA˚ (ルーラ) / Innovative

Michelin (2021 - 24): One Star

LURRA˚, named after the Basque word "Lurra," meaning earth, with a circle above representing the moon, held one Michelin star in the innovative category from 2021 to 2024. The restaurant's concept is to immerse guests in Japanese culture and the changing seasons through its cuisine. All dishes are prepared over firewood, with two types of wood carefully selected based on the ingredients and cooking methods. While the techniques used draw from various global cuisines, the foundation of the restaurant's offerings remains deeply rooted in Japanese culture and the seasons. The restaurant serves only an omakase (chef’s choice) course and the price includes either an alcoholic or non-alcoholic pairing.

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7. Tan (丹) / Japanese

Michelin (2021 - 25): Bib Gourmand

Tan is a Japanese restaurant that earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026. It is part of the Wakuden chain, founded in 1870. The name "Tan" means "small true heart," reflecting the restaurant's dedication to preparing meals with attention to detail, while upholding over a century of tradition from its parent restaurant. One of the standout features of this restaurant is that it serves all three meals of the day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The breakfast, in particular, is highly popular, offering a rich, "authentically Japanese" flavor. All the vegetables used in the dishes are grown through natural farming methods, free from pesticides and fertilizers, allowing diners to savor the true taste of fresh, organic produce.

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8. Higashiyama Tsukasa (ひがしやま 司) / Japanese

Michelin (2023 - 25): Selected

Higashiyama Tsukasa is a Japanese restaurant that opened in November 2021 and was named a Michelin Selected Restaurant in 2026. It has also received a Bronze Award and a Top 100 Japanese Restaurants ranking on Japan's leading restaurant review site. The owner-chef Tsukasa Miyashita honed his skills at prestigious establishments like Gion Maruyama and Gion Sasaki. With just 10 counter seats, the restaurant exclusively offers an omakase (chef’s choice) course. Celebrated for its dedication to traditional Japanese cuisine, the menu also incorporates subtle international influences, making it a popular and talked-about dining destination.

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9. Lapintaika (ラピンタイカ) / Italian

Michelin (2019 - 25): Bib Gourmand

Italitan restaurant Lapintaika has been repeatedly selected for the Michelin Bib Gourmand. Known for its authentic Italian cuisine, it offers a relaxed, casual dining experience. The menu features both set courses and à la carte options, allowing diners to choose freely. The dishes highlight traditional flavors from Tuscany, with generous portions that are perfect for sharing. The wine list centers on natural wines from Italy and France, with several hundred varieties available.

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10. Hyotei (瓢亭) / Japanese

Michelin (2010 - 25): Three Stars

Hyotei is a legendary Japanese restaurant that has proudly held three Michelin stars for 17 consecutive years, from 2010 to 2026. Dining here is a coveted experience among Japanese foodies, so it comes as no surprise that it has won numerous awards from Japan's leading restaurant review site. With a history spanning 450 years, the restaurant continues to honor tradition, offering a glimpse into Japan's cultural heritage through its cuisine and ambiance. The restaurant's elegant exterior is a masterpiece in itself, immersing visitors in Japanese history. Among its most iconic dishes is the "Hyotei Egg," a timeless recipe passed down since the restaurant's inception. It is served as part of the hassun appetizer course, which seamlessly transitions into other exquisite dishes like soups and grilled specialties. Another highlight is the seasonal asagayu (morning rice porridge), available exclusively in July and August, which remains a must-try for food enthusiasts in Japan and abroad.

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Top 5 Recommended Restaurants in the Higashiyama Area

11. WabiyaKorekido Gionhanamikoji Honten (侘家古暦堂 祇園花見小路本店) / Yakitori

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)

WabiyaKorekido Gionhanamikoji Honten specializes in yakitori, a beloved Japanese dish that has gained popularity in recent years. High-end restaurants that focus on top-quality ingredients and expert grilling techniques have become especially sought after. This particular restaurant was ranked among the top 100 yakitori establishments on Japan's leading restaurant review platform in 2022, 2024, and 2025.

To bring out the full flavor of Kyo-jidori, a premium Kyoto brand chicken, the meat undergoes meticulous preparation and is grilled with expert precision. The restaurant's signature dish is the ishiyaki oyakodon (stone-grilled chicken and egg rice bowl), made with Tottori Prefecture's "Daisen-san herb chicken" and three "red eggs" from Kyoto. Staff finish the dish in front of guests, adding a theatrical touch to the meal. They can also offer suggestions on how to use the original spices on the table to bring out even more flavour. Two lunch course options and four dinner course options can be reserved through OMAKASE.

12. Gion Sushi Tadayasu (祇園 鮨 忠保) / Sushi

Gion Sushi Tadayasu held a Michelin star from 2020 to 2022 and has also received a Bronze Award and a Best 100 Sushi Restaurants ranking on a major Japanese restaurant review site. The menu has only an omakase course, featuring a mix of sushi and side dishes. Lunch and dinner courses can both be reserved through OMAKASE. The rice is made with rich red vinegar, but for tuna, a blend of two types of red vinegar is used, making the rice perfectly suited to the fish. The counter and interior, crafted entirely from cypress wood, create a refined atmosphere, while the head chef's warm and friendly nature ensures a truly enjoyable dining experience.

13. Gion Fukushi (ぎをん 福志) / Japanese

Gion Fukushi has held a Michelin star every year from 2021 to 2026 and was also ranked among the Best 100 Japanese Restaurants on a major Japanese restaurant review site in 2023. Owner-chef Takuyoshi Fukushi served as head chef at the renowned Kyoto restaurant Tankuma Kitamise before opening his own establishment. He serves Japanese cuisine that blends the traditional techniques of this historic restaurant with his own innovative touches. The restaurant offers only an omakase course, featuring a full-course Japanese meal that begins with a beautifully presented hassun appetizer followed by a variety of deeply satisfying dishes. A dinner course of about 12 dishes can be reserved through OMAKASE.

14. Enyuan Kobayashi (圓融菴 小林) / Tempura

Enyuan Kobayashi is a tempura restaurant that has held a Michelin star every year from 2023 to 2026. The menu features a unique course combining traditional Kyoto-style kaiseki with expertly prepared tempura. Each dish showcases the skill of owner-chef Noriyuki Kobayashi, who previously served as a sous-chef at the prestigious Tawaraya Ryokan before becoming the first head chef of Tenyu, a restaurant produced by Tawaraya. A dinner course can also be reserved through OMAKASE. The restaurant's signature tempura dish is kuchiko (sea cucumber ovaries), a rare and highly prized delicacy considered one of Japan's three great delicacies. The technique and creativity behind kuchiko tempura is truly exceptional, and it pairs perfectly with sake.

15. Sushi Kappo Nakaichi (鮨割烹 なか一) / Sushi

Sushi Kappo Nakaichi is a Michelin-starred sushi restaurant that has held one star every year from 2021 to 2026. It was also ranked among the top 100 sushi restaurants by a major Japanese restaurant review site in 2022. With a history spanning 50 years, the restaurant was the pioneer of combining kaiseki with sushi—now a common style in many Kyoto sushi restaurants. The second-generation owner, who trained at a renowned restaurant in Kanazawa, took over and further refined the Sushi Kappo concept. After savoring the kaiseki dishes, guests are served sushi. The rice is slightly sweet, in the Kyoto style, offering a distinct flavor compared to the Edo style. Enjoying this unique Kyoto-style sushi adds to the authentic experience of visiting Kyoto. Two course options each for lunch and dinner can be reserved through OMAKASE.