Hayden Quinn COOK · TV PRESENTER · FOOD ADVENTURER

Japan

Kyoto Guide

Soba, yakitori, temples and lanes, from trips in 2019 and 2023.

Updated October 2026

  • A lit drinks fridge full of bottles at a Kyoto bar

Hayden's must-try

Sakaba Ikura Mokuzai

My favourite izakaya in the world. An amazing izakaya in a timber yard: the owner works the yard by day and the bar by night. It's small, so don't rock up as a big group, and let him choose your food.

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  • Behind the counter at Sakaba Ikura Mokuzai in Kyoto, with chalkboard menus and the sake fridge
Sakaba Ikura Mokuzai reel

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Places

51 spots. Filter them, save the map, or take a clean list with you.

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Eat

Drink

Do

Shop

Stay

  • Hotel · Takagamine

    On our list.

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  • Hotel · Nijō

    One of our best stays in Japan. Complete luxury, amazing rooms and incredible service (and I guess it would want to be for the price!). If you’re looking for one of the best spots to stay in Kyoto, this is it.

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  • Machiya Stays · Kyoto Station

    Heads up

    This was a bad experience and we really didn’t have much luck here. The stay wasn’t as advertised, and there was insane construction going on right next door that we weren’t told about. We bailed out of there quickly.

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  • Machiya Hotel · Nishijin

    We stayed here. A great traditional-style stay with a nice breakfast included, in a handy spot, just around the corner from my favourite izakaya in the world, Sakaba Ikura Mokuzai.

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Traditional wooden townhouse with people queuing outside

Below you will find a selection of our (Hayden Quinn & Jax Quinn) favourite spots, hidden gems, best eats and cool shops in Kyoto.

This page, map and information will be constantly updated as new trips take place and more hot tips come in from our friends, plus you guys (if you have anything you think MUST be on the list, send me a DM on Instagram!) so be sure to check back frequently and share with your friends…

KYOTO

FOOD

BREAKFAST

Kishin Kitchen - Japanese Traditional Breakfast - I went here on my own, so, I didn’t make a booking and arrived at 9:15am and was told that I would be able to make the 10:30am seating (I didn’t realise that they did different sitting times), I would suggest making a booking and locking in your time. The shop is small, can seat 14 people and you are served by one chef (Kazushi San) and his assistant. The menu is a set menu at 2,500 yen, plus you can order extra a la carte sides as well. One of the coolest things about this shop (more than just the food) is the fact that before you are served your rice (the speciality) you are given a choice between a selection of artisanal bowls to eat out of, each bowl is from a different ceramicist and chef explains each bowl and where it is from. Chef Kazushi takes great care to ensure his food is eaten correctly by each guests, taking the time with many of the western guests to show them the correct position for their chopsticks and bowls and how much sauce or seasoning you need to add. I would most def, reconmend visiting here and enjoying a traditional style breakfast. It will be the best rice you will ever eat! (Photos are on my Instagram.)

Lorimer - Japanese breakfast spot.

SOBA

UDON

Omen - Udon - suggestion from a restaurant critic mate.

Marugame Seimen Kawaramachi Sanjo - Udon

IZAKAYA

Sakaba Ikuramokuzai - AMAZING Izakaya - we went here on a recommendation of the hotel we were staying at as it was just around the corner, however this would be worth a visit even if you were to travel to it. Located next to / inside a lumber / timber yard, the owner works the yard during the day and then at night is manning the bar / izakaya. Owner speaks reasonable English and is happy to welcome you in. We were a group of four (which is quite a large group) so don’t go in groups of 10. The place is small, but they also utilise an outdoor area in the lumber yard. Let the owner decide your food (we did). Cost us about $60USD each for all we could really eat and drink.

Okariba Izakaya - this was a suggestion from a Facebook friend Ash Clark who said: ‘Okariba is a must try. Grab a spot at the bar, get friendly with the owner and you’ll be in for an unforgettable night complete with his house-made killer bee sake.’

Kurakura - Izakaya - tip from a restaurant critic mate - hard to find.

Chiyo - Izakaya

RAMEN

No Name Ramen Shop - located in basement, no real signs. Hipster vibes.

KYOTO GOGYO 五行 Ramen - Burnt miso ramen - when I went to check this place out it was closed for seismic works. I really wanted to try this type of ramen. Next time.

Ramen Fukuchian - Nijō-jō Castle - 2023 - fun little find around the corner from our hotel and also serving that thick style of ramen i really like (plus the beers were good haha they always seem to be good at ramen places, or maybe it is just me and my love for ramen and beer!)

Wajoryomen Sugari - 2023 - we didn’t end up getting to this location, it was just on the list to check out, look great, please let me know if you do make it!

Honke Daiichi-Asahi - 2023 - another spot that I spotted but didnt have time to visit (nor the stomach for more food! haha), keen to check out next trip

GYOZA

Sukemasa - Kyoto style gyoza - Tiny little spot. Great gyoza and cold beer. English menu but you don’t really need it as there is only a few options, gyoza with rice, pickles and miso soup (only variation is the drink you choose).

Anzukko - gyoza spot.

Gyoza ChaoChao (Shijo-Kawaramachi Branch) - Haven’t made it here yet, but looks good and is recommended.

TEMPURA

Tempura Matsu

KATSU

Katsukura Shijo Higashinotoin - Katsu - this place was ok, not amazing, big and a bit commercial feeling, however they did have one cool factor where they give you roasted sesame in a grinding bowl and you grind it up and then add your own sauces to make the katsu dipping sauce..

KAISEKI

Nakamura - Kaiseki ($$$$)

わしょく宝来 - Wasyokuhoura - Japanese Rest (classic) - spotted in a mate’s stories.

TOFU

Toyouke Chaya (Tofu Restaurant) - lunch only.

VEGETARIAN

Mumokuteki cafe & foods - vego cafe.

OTHER

大鵬 - Sichuan Restaurant - spotted in a mate’s stories. We didn’t make it here but it looks unreal! Worth a visit if you had some extra time in Kyoto and you wanted to mix up your fare from Japanese.

Monk - this was a suggestion from a mate. I have not been, but she said this is the best pizza she has ever eaten. Only a small restaurant, modern, beautiful and elegant. I cannot wait to visit next time I go to Kyoto.

La Madrague - egg omelette sandos.

麩屋町 うね乃 - I am yet to visit this spot, but i want to go for the steak dish they do.

京料理 畑かく - Boar hotpot - (this is seasonal, boar only served at certain times of year)

Spice Chamber - Japanese Curry. Rotating varieties on the menu, you only need to decide; Small, Medium or Large (plus cheese or no cheese). I loved this spot! Very cool, unreal staff, great vibe and seemed like the spot for young crew to go for lunch on their break from work. I was definitely the only white guy in there. Spicy curry. Good cold beers on offer!

Ster - 2023 - Yakitori - This was fun! Great atmosphere, awesome yakitori and a very friendly and welcoming owner who was more than happy to entertain my terrible Japanese language skills! Beers were cold and creamy, the chicken sticks were juicy and nicely charred (the chicken neck is our favorite) and the atmosphere in the shop was jovial, fun and entertaining. Note that as with a lot of places in Japan you can smoke inside the shop. Wasn’t a problem for us (sort of adds to the charm) but as a heads up. Thank you for having us Astushi-san!

Yanagi Koji TAKA - Yakitori

BARS & NIGHTLIFE

Suntory Yamazaki Distillery - Japanese Whiskey lovers rejoice! Book in for a tasting and take the short train to the distillery.

BEE’S KNEES - American style “speakeasy” bar. Excellent cocktails. Look for a yellow door that says “The Book Store” with a yellow mat out the front with a bee on it.

ＢＡＲｔｏｎｂｏ - Small quaint little bar. Owner makes you fun origami to play with.

House of KI NO BI - 2023 - recently opened “cellar door” for the famous Kyoto Gin brand KI NO BI. We had a delcicious couple of martini’s. A great place to try the full range of gins, plus some you can’t get anywhere else.

Komorebino Natural Wine Bar

SHOPPING

Liquor Mountain - Buy your booze here to take home (or drink!)

DONOMA studio - 2023 - little pottery studio where you can make your own. Book / connect ahead. More for experiences potters I think.

Kaikado - 2023 - where I get my copper tea caddy’s from. The most amazing little store with the most beautiful handcrafted copper / tin / brass tins for storing tea (plus other stuff!)

SITES AND ATTRACTIONS

Arashiyama - Bamboo Grove. Busy tourist spot. The gardens which you have to pay to visit and also the private villa at the top of the grove are definitely worth a look and much quieter than the bamboo grove itself. Get your timing right and you will get a pretty sweet photo.

Kinkaku-ji - Golden Temple

Fushimi Inari Taisha - Shinto Shrine with famed gates. This was pretty sweet, however LOTS of people! (But that is to be expected I guess). If you get your timing right you can get a very “insta worthy” photo. I would suggest getting there as early as you can to try and beat the crowds, or do what we did and do a little exploring down some of the more quiet, lesser know paths. (Bit of a mission to get to).

Gion - Gion is Kyoto’s geisha district, with hostesses in colorful kimonos often sighted on the wooden Tatsumi Bridge, or amid upscale Japanese restaurants and boutiques on Hanamikoji Street. Gion Corner hosts traditional Kyomai dances, while Kennin-ji Temple is known for its Zen garden and Yasaka Shrine has seasonal festivals in a lantern-lit courtyard. Nightlife ranges from quiet sake bars to buzzing, pub-like izakayas.

Philospher’s Path - a tip from a restaurant critic mate. “Make sure you walk the Philosopher’s path, and do the trek up the mountain at the Tofuku-ji Temple to Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine also take a trip north on the train to Biwaco (Biwa Lake) for a swim - if its warm. Get off at Omimaiko station and turn right and walk till you get pebbly sand…”

Nishiki Market - a narrow covered market which stretches for about 400 meters with hundreds of shops and stalls selling all sorts of food and wares.

Hiyoshido Massage - need a rub down to help relax, this is your spot.

In-The-Tub (bathing house)

From my Instagram

My favourite

Tips

Getting there and around

  • Kyoto is a shinkansen ride from Tokyo Station.
  • Once you are there, buses and the subway do most of the work, and Google Maps is the easiest way to pick the right stop.

Taxis work the same way as in Tokyo. Screenshot the Japanese address and show the driver.

Money and tipping

Have cash for smaller shops and ticket machines.

Tipping isn't part of eating out in Japan. Don't leave money on the table.

Etiquette

Tokyo and Kyoto share this Japan etiquette. The same notes apply in both cities.

Some key Japanese etiquette tips, particularly around dining, that are worth sticking to when you eat out in Japan, and especially at the more high-end places.

  • Arrive early.
  • Get there 5–10 minutes before your reservation, but not too early.
  • Punctuality matters.
  • Allergies and aversions.
  • Tell the restaurant when you book, so there is time to plan.
  • You should do this wherever you are dining.
  • Dress.
  • Smart casual.
  • No shorts, no singlets, no thongs.
  • Same idea as the sign at an RSL back home.
  • Keep it sharp.
  • No perfume.
  • This matters at a sushi counter.
  • The meal is a sensory thing, the rooms are small, and you don't want to fill the room with it.
  • Voices.
  • This one is hard for me, because I am loud.
  • In Japan people are respectful of everyone else's space.
  • Keep it down.
  • There are moments when it is expected to be lively, like a few too many sakes with the locals at a small izakaya.
  • Don't be the westerner who is kuuki yomenai (can't read the air).
  • Photos and phones.
  • Ask before the camera comes out.
  • A lot of places would rather you eat the food at its best than five minutes later, after the photos.
  • Many rooms are phone-free.
  • Don't take calls at the table or the counter.
  • No flash, and no photos or video that include other guests.
  • Keep the phone on silent.
  • Eat it when it lands.
  • Sushi and tempura need to be eaten straight away.
  • Don't wait for the rest of the table.
  • If yours arrives first, eat it.
  • Countertops.
  • If you are at the counter, don't rest a phone, camera or bag on it.
  • A lot of them are serious wood or stone, and that space is for the food.
  • Chopsticks.
  • Use the rest when you are not eating.
  • Don't stand them upright in the rice.
  • That is a funeral rite, and it is incredibly disrespectful.
  • Sushi.
  • Chopsticks for the tsumami (the appetiser).
  • Hands or chopsticks for nigiri, whichever you are less likely to drop.
  • I use my hands.
  • Eat a piece of nigiri in one bite.
  • The sushi is already seasoned, so don't add soy unless you are told to, and then only dip the fish.
  • Ginger (gari) is a palate cleanser between courses, not a topping.
  • The wet towel stays with you so you can wipe your fingers between bites.
  • Tempura.
  • Salt, tentsuyu (the dipping sauce) and lemon will be on the table, or a selection of them.
  • Ask which one goes with which piece if it isn't clear.
  • The grated radish is a palate cleanser, and you can add it to the tentsuyu.
  • The shime, the last dish, tells you the meal is ending.
  • At a tempura counter that is often tendon, tencha or kakiage.
  • When I have had yakitori, the shime has been a small bowl of light chicken soup.
  • Ramen ticket machines.
  • A lot of ramen shops take payment at a machine before you sit down.
  • Insert your yen or you won't be able to order.
  • Markets.
  • Don't eat and walk.
  • Most stalls have a spot to stand and eat, and walking off with the food offends the vendors.
  • Same with a drink in your hand.
  • Don't eat one stall's food in front of another stall.
  • Queues.
  • People wait in an orderly line for a train, a bus, a bowl of ramen or the till.
  • On the escalator, follow the locals: stand on the left, pass on the right.
  • Groups.
  • More than three of you and you probably won't be at the counter.
  • You'll be at a table if there is one.
  • Smoking.
  • You can still smoke inside at a lot of bars.
  • I don't love it, but the ventilation is usually decent, and some places are non-smoking or have a smoking section.
  • A few phrases I actually use.
  • People warm up if you have a go, and most will switch to English if they can.
  • Good morning: ohayo (gozaimas).
  • Good evening: konbanwa.
  • Thank you: arigato.
  • Please: kudasai.
  • Yes: hai.
  • No: iie.
  • Sorry: gomen nasai.
  • Excuse me: sumimasen.
  • Do you speak English: eigo o hanasemasu ka.
  • I'd like a beer please: biru o onegai shimasu.
  • Same again: okawari.
  • What's that: sore wa nan desu ka.
  • Where is the toilet: toire wa doko desu ka.
  • The bill please: okanjo o kudasai.
  • Let's go: iko.
  • I don't understand: wakarimasen.
  • Please take me here, shown with a map screenshot: made onegai shimasu.

Download Google Translate and the Japanese pack for offline use before you go. iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/google-translate/id414706506 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate

References I still use: https://savorjapan.com/ https://www.tableall.com/ https://www.omakase-japan.jp/en https://jw-webmagazine.com/ https://www.eater.com/maps/best-tokyo-restaurants https://www.japan-guide.com/

Safety

  • Same as Tokyo.
  • Take your shoes off where everyone else does, don't eat and walk, and carry your rubbish until you find a bin.