Kyoto, Japan｜Gion Kawakami

Stunning dining experience in the heart of Gion. Our 6th or 7th visit here and every single time it’s an amazing, beautiful new menu. The food is as visually beautiful as it is delicious. Great sake pairings. Perfect service. And a relaxed vibe that ensures that (if you’re at the counter anyway) you’ll leave with a new friend or 2. One of our favourite restaurants in the world. See you next year Captain Hatoh!!!

We went here as soon as we arrived in kyoto to have kaiseki and booked for a mini kaiseki lunch for 2 days after at 1 pm. I suggest to do the same as they only have 9 seats at the counter. The staff is extremely polite. We had 7 dishes each person plus different green teas throughout the meal. It was around 7000 Y per person. The price is very reasonable being a 1 star michelin. The mini kaiseki was definitely enough for us. We asked what the dishes were and the chefs explained and even made us try some more food when they were prepping for the evening kaiseki. The chefs even made some smaller plates for me because I couldn’t fit anymore food in my belly. The “captain” gifted us some green tea and even a tea pot. When we left they all came out of the door to tell us goodbye. At this point I cried. It was so amazing how they treated us and I hope to learn to be like them in the future.

Experience was great. The service was superb and the food was beyond fresh. We had a private room and the cadence of food and the courses hit the spot. I highly recommend for someone looking for a true Kyoto experience.