Arashiyama in Kyoto, amidst the cherry blossoms, clear water, and fresh air, we visited the long-established kaiseki restaurant "Nishiki". To avoid crowds, we made a reservation before noon and arrived at the restaurant at 11:30 am to be the first ones. Although it was still early in the cherry blossom season, the Togetsukyo Bridge was already overflowing with people. We were seated at a table with a view of the garden, and our guests seemed pleased. The lunch kaiseki meal "Saga Nishiki Zenzai" was beautifully presented in a two-tier lacquerware box. However, we were puzzled by the numerous tanuki (raccoon dog) figurines in the garden outside. The service was impeccable, and the attention to detail in both the dishes and the tableware was remarkable. The traditional Japanese craftsmanship showcased in the lacquerware and porcelain containers was truly impressive. Each course was served in a beautiful lacquerware box, and we were captivated by the elegance of the dishes. The recent popularity of Japanese traditional crafts worldwide, as seen in the use of Wajima Kirimoto lacquerware boxes at a Japan promotion event at the Louvre Palace in Paris, highlights the beauty and artistry of Japanese craftwork. The meal was exquisite, with each dish beautifully presented and delicious. The luxurious "Saga Nishiki Zenzai" lunch set was a feast for the eyes and the palate. The service was impeccable, and the experience was truly memorable. We look forward to visiting again. Thank you.

In July 2023, after visiting Saifuku-ji (Kokedera), Kannon-do at Kegon-ji (Suzumushi-dera), and Matsuo Shrine, I took the Hankyu train to Arashiyama for lunch. Wanting to eat traditional Kyoto cuisine, I made a reservation at the sukiya-style restaurant "Sakurayado Zen Ryori Nishiki" located on Nakashima by Togetsukyo Bridge. We arrived for our 1:30 pm reservation and were seated in a private room. The room was cozy and had a nice atmosphere, allowing us to relax comfortably. I had a wine voucher from a reservation through Tabelog, so I brought it along and toasted with a glass of white wine. The meal included the following dishes: [Sakurayado Zen Ryori Menu for the Month of Bungetsu - ¥10,000] - Appetizer: Deep-fried mustard tofu with scallions and Tosa soy sauce - Sashimi: Tai (sea bream) sashimi with cucumber, carrot, fermented garlic, and wasabi - Soup: Himi noodles with roasted duck, grilled white onion, star-shaped lotus root, and noodle broth - Sakurayado Zen (Upper Tier): Abalone in sake cup, conger eel sushi, cucumber-wrapped Western salmon, smoked squid skewer, abalone marinated in vinegar, miso-scented herring roe, cucumber and kelp pickles - Sakurayado Zen (Lower Tier): Simmered winter melon, wakame seaweed, and green vegetables - Main Dish: Grilled eggplant with shrimp, pumpkin, pearl onions, zucchini, and sesame miso - Fried Dish: Fried ayu sweetfish, eringi mushrooms, edamame, tade leaves, and salt - Vinegared Dish: Parboiled pike conger eel, mitsuba greens, red sorrel, pickled pike conger eel, and ponzu vinegar - Rice: Plum rice porridge with rice crackers, shiso leaves, wasabi, pickled mushrooms, and others - Dessert (Choose from 5 options): Lemon sherbet, mugwort yokan I was pleasantly surprised by the generous portion size, and each dish, from the fried mustard tofu to the ayu sweetfish and pike conger eel, was delicious. The presentation was beautiful and reflected the season. The service was attentive, and I had a wonderful time. I heard that the menu changes monthly, so I look forward to visiting again in a different season. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

We used this restaurant for a meeting between our families. The food was served at the perfect timing, and the staff were very friendly. Even though one person arrived significantly late, they didn't show any signs of annoyance and brought the dishes with a smile. Thank you very much! If we have the chance, we would definitely like to use this restaurant again next time.

On July 1, 2023, after visiting Moss Temple, Bell Cricket Temple, and Matsuo Shrine, we arrived at Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line. We walked for 5 minutes and arrived at "Nishiki," a cherry blossom inn serving traditional Japanese cuisine, for our lunch reservation at 1:30 pm. We were escorted to a private room in this charming traditional Japanese restaurant. The lunch course we ordered was the "Sakurayadozen" for 10,000 yen, which included a variety of dishes such as appetizers, sashimi, soup, noodles, and more. The presentation, quality, and quantity of the dishes were all excellent. Despite not having high-end ingredients, the meal was comparable to those served in luxury restaurants in Kyoto that cost tens of thousands of yen. We were very satisfied with the experience and decided that we would definitely bring our friends from Tokyo here when they visit Kyoto. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience.

Arashiyama's Sakura Jyuku Zen Nishiki two-tiered meal is a specialty. The upper tier consists of eight dishes (sake dishes) and the lower tier consists of simmered dishes. The meal left a lasting impression on me in 2004. I revisited in the fall of 2019, and this is my third visit. It is now December 2022. The restaurant is located about a 4-5 minute walk from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Railway. The restaurant is located in Arashiyama Nakanojima Park right in front of Togetsukyo Bridge. You can enjoy your meal while overlooking the peaceful flow of the Katsura River. The menu for December in the Reiwa era includes dishes 1-7 plus the option to choose items A, B, C, or D. Today, I chose to add B, which was yudofu, and C, which was pickled kelp with amberjack. The meal included: 1. Deep-fried karashi tofu with spring onions and Tosashoyu. 2. Sashimi of red sea bream with fan-shaped pumpkin, moromi garlic, and wasabi. 3. Soup with sea bream, shrimp, turnip, soybeans, and yuzu. 4. Two-tiered Sakura Jyuku meal: Upper tier with small fin sushi, beef and burdock roll, Haniwamochi, and jellyfish vinegar pickles. Lower tier with simmered dishes including small shrimp and taro, cod, and greenery. 5. Warm dish of yudofu with white tofu, rolled yuba, and fresh wheat gluten, served with bonito flakes, seaweed, spring onions, ginger, and soy sauce. 6. Vinegared dish of pickled kelp with amberjack, shrimp, spinach, tied carrot, squid with mentaiko, and Yoshino vinegar. 7. Rice dish with buried tofu, mustard, greenery, pickled mushrooms, and others. Dessert of sweet red bean soup and matcha Bavarian cream. The private room offers a view of the Katsura River on the opposite side of Togetsukyo Bridge. The sunlight reflecting on the water, ducks swimming, and beautiful autumn leaves create a picturesque scene. The meal is a delicate and seasonal Kyoto-style Sakura Jyuku course, with a winter setting in December. The seasonal presentation and the view from the window change with each season, making you want to visit again in different seasons.

In the middle of Nakanoshima Park in Arashiyama, Kyoto, there is a restaurant called Sakura Jyukusen Kaiseki Cuisine Kyo Arashiyama Nishiki. Due to it being a Sunday, we could only make a reservation for a slightly late lunch after 1 PM. The restaurant has a traditional tea house style with a Kyoto atmosphere. We entered through the gate, informed the kimono-clad waitress of our reservation, and were led to a private room overlooking the Katsura River tributary. The menu includes the Sakura Jyukusen course for 5,800 yen, with additional options like fried dishes for 1,200 yen and hot dishes for 1,600 yen. The Sakura Jyukusen consists of a box lunch with appetizers in the upper tier and simmered dishes in the lower tier. The menu changes monthly to reflect the seasonal ingredients, and the dishes are delicately prepared with elegant flavors. The courses include appetizers, sashimi, soup, and various other dishes that showcase the flavors of the season.

This is Kyoto! Highly recommended! I visited without a reservation on a trip depending on the weather. The food, the interior, and the staff were all wonderful! The courses were visually stunning and each dish felt carefully crafted and delicious. For dessert, I chose the warabi mochi made in-house, which was the perfect ending to a great lunch! I would love to visit again next time!

There were various reasons why I had kaiseki meals three days in a row, haha. It was because of work-related events the day before and this day, so it couldn't be helped. When going to famous places in Kyoto and having a meal with multiple people, it feels like there are limited places where you can make a reservation. Furthermore, there was a vegetarian in our group, so our options were limited to places that could accommodate that. Places that serve yuba or tofu kaiseki only accept small groups. Since we had a large group this day, we were seated at a large tatami room with tables set up in a 'C' shape. Maybe it's for COVID-19 measures? It felt like we could only talk to the people on both sides of us. The staff quickly served all of us, and they took good care of us. Everything was delicious, but especially the matsutake mushroom steamed in a pot was delicious! I had to leave early by myself, but they had arranged a taxi for me in advance. Even though I had given up on having a few more dishes at the end, they made sure I could leave on time by arranging for a taxi to come early just for me. Everyone was satisfied with the service and the food, and we had a great time. Thank you for the meal!

The restaurant is located on a detached island-like area after crossing the Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama. The entrance has a high-end restaurant atmosphere. I went there for lunch. There were casual table seats and private room course meals available, but my companion wanted a private room with a view of the river. We chose the cheapest course at 8,600 yen. It was quite expensive for lunch. The course started with tofu and included a variety of dishes. Everything was delicious, but it took about two hours to finish all the dishes, so it may not be recommended for those who are short on time.

Around 7:00 PM on August 29, 2022, my friend and I had plans to stay in Arashiyama, so we decided to have dinner nearby and made a reservation here. The basic course was 9,200 yen. The restaurant was located in a quiet place along the Katsura River. We had reserved a private room, but we were led to a spacious tatami room that seemed too big for just the two of us. Each room had a name. We were impressed by the food from start to finish. Everything we ate was delicious! There was no meat, but the vegetables and fish were really tasty, making it a very satisfying course. My friend was particularly impressed with the striped jack, while I was amazed by the flavor of the raw clam and seaweed salad...! By the way, I realized after paying the bill that the soda water with plum wine was an additional charge for the soda water. I suspected it might be when the carbonated water was served in a bottle, but it seems there are indeed places where it is an extra charge. The female staff members were very attentive and great at introducing the dishes. The food was delicious from start to finish, and even the senior staff members bowed deeply to see us off until the end, making it a truly wonderful time. We will definitely visit again!

[Visit on April 1, 2022] Sakura Inn Set Meal (Menu for the month of Uzuki): 5,500 yen 1. Appetizer: Deep-fried mustard tofu with washed green onions in Tosa soy sauce 2. Sashimi: Tai sashimi with large leaf radish, cherry blossom long yam, miso garlic, green onions, and wasabi 3. Soup: Cherry blossom, bamboo shoot, wakame seaweed, kinome, and a single cherry blossom in a bowl 4. Sakura Inn Set Meal Upper Tier: Sake appetizer, Western-style salmon sushi, simmered bamboo shoots in a basket, uzaku snow cave, firefly squid simmered in broth, sakura mochi in a double-layered wing, hisago sesame thick grilled, and warabi 5. Sakura Inn Set Meal Lower Tier: Simmered tofu skin with mixed rice, simmered duck meatballs, green onions, and kinome 6. Rice: Mozuku porridge with ginger, green onions, pickles, and pickled enoki mushrooms 7. Dessert: Mizumono Kyoto Arashiyama Nishiki (Sakura Inn Set Meal) Phone: 050-5595-1604 Located in Arashiyama Nakanoshima Park, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260403/26001301/

Although it is close in distance, it was finally my first visit to Nishiki-san's restaurant! The traditional Japanese-style building exudes charm. I had the Sakura-juku course here. The dishes were so delicious, highlighting the natural flavors of the ingredients with extra care and attention. The service was also wonderful, making the dining experience enjoyable from start to finish. I would definitely love to visit again if given the chance. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I was able to enter without a reservation and enjoy a delicious and visually pleasing course meal. The delicate flavors of the Sakura Jyukuseki cuisine, the perfect grilling of the salt-grilled sweetfish, and the thoughtful hospitality of the landlady. The staff were all friendly and the atmosphere was very comfortable! I would love to visit again when I go to Arashiyama.

When it was 5:30, most of the shops in Arashiyama were closed, and there was nowhere to eat. The food looked delicious, so we hurriedly entered this place. There were only two groups of customers, so social distancing was sufficient. The first dish, deep-fried tofu, was surprisingly soft and delicious from the start. The rainbow trout sashimi was also delicious. The steamed dish with miso was a pleasant surprise. The presentation of the dishes was enjoyable, and the flavors were all delicious. Even though I was already full, I couldn't resist the sea bream porridge. I thought I couldn't take another bite, but the broth was so tasty that I ended up eating more than half. I had a memory of having a welcome party meal at a restaurant in this area in the past, and it wasn't very delicious, but this meal was really good. Thank you for the feast.

I had lunch at Sagano Nishiki. It has been a go-to place for lunch in Arashiyama for a long time. The landlady has been taking care of us since the previous generation. The atmosphere, service, food, and value for money are all excellent. The fried tofu with mustard inside is famous and very delicious. It used to be bigger and had a different shape, which is a bit disappointing. It would be nice if they still offered takeout like they used to (I wonder if they still do?). Eating while looking at the small river next to the room is very satisfying.

I had the "Sakurayado Zen Course Meal" in a private room overlooking the Katsura River at a Japanese restaurant in Arashiyama. Since it was New Year's, I started with a celebratory drink called "Otoso." The meal included deep-fried tofu with spicy mustard, sashimi arranged in the shape of pine, bamboo, and plum, and a delicious sea bream soup. The main course was a multi-tiered bento box with various dishes, including rolled herring with kelp. The meal also featured steamed turnips with yuzu and vinegar-smoked eel. The highlight was the turtle hot pot with tofu, shiitake mushrooms, konjac, mochi, and wheat gluten. The meal ended with a choice of desserts like ice cream, bracken rice cake, and matcha Bavarian cream. All this for only 8,000 yen including tax. Just be careful when walking back as Arashiyama can be quite dark at night.

Arashiyama in Kyoto is famous for its Sakura Jyuku Nishiki two-tiered meal. The top tier consists of an eight-course meal, while the bottom tier includes simmered dishes. It has been 15 years since my last visit, and this time I revisited in September. The restaurant is located about a 4-5 minute walk from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Railway. As expected, there were many foreign visitors in the town of Kyoto! The restaurant is located in the Arashiyama Nakanojima Park right in front of the Togetsukyo Bridge, overlooking the serene flow of the Katsura River. The Arashiyama Nishiki Course costs 10,000 yen and includes various dishes such as appetizers, sashimi, soup, and the Sakura Jyuku Nishiki two-tiered meal. The menu changes monthly, and in September, there was a special dish called "Kikuka Daikon" to celebrate the Chrysanthemum Festival on September 9th. The meal was accompanied by a selection of sake, including the Arashiyama Nishiki Junmai Ginjo. Overall, the meal was a delightful experience with its delicate flavors and seasonal presentations. I look forward to visiting again in a different season to see what new dishes they have to offer.

This was my favorite restaurant when I first visited Kyoto over 20 years ago. I loved how beautifully the dishes were presented, which I later learned was part of kyo-ryori. I still love the food here, and the presentation is still very meticulous. I decided to add two extra main courses because I am very greedy. I will make sure to come back every time I am in Kyoto.

During New Year's, I met up with my daughter in Kyoto and decided to go to Arashiyama together. It had been a while since I last visited Arashiyama, and it felt like the atmosphere had changed a bit. When I visited before, there were a lot of family-friendly shops, especially when the celebrity shops were just starting to open. The town was bustling back then, but now it seems much more sophisticated. It could just be my perception as a parent with a child back then, though. We met up around lunchtime, and feeling hungry, we decided to have lunch somewhere. When we reached in front of Mr. Nishiki's shop, we saw a sign that said "Sakura Jyukken" with the menu written on it. I thought if they have the menu written outside, maybe we can go in without a reservation, so I asked inside and they said it was okay. We waited for about 10 minutes and were shown to our room. The menu only had "Sakura Jyukken," with 4 additional options available. We added the softshell turtle hot pot and pickled dish, and also ordered a drink comparison set. I forgot to ask if we could order other dishes with a reservation. The appetizer was delicious, with fried tofu wrapped in a crispy coating with a nice mustard kick and a good texture from the green onions. The sashimi was carefully prepared, with firm texture and the grated yam was crispy and tasty. The clear soup with yuzu peel was light and delicate, and the clam had a nice crunchy texture. The Sakura Jyukken was all delicious, but the soft and tender herring wrapped in kelp had a deep flavor, and the Hakata-style dish had a refreshing texture that stood out. The rice dishes were generally lightly flavored, but for some reason, the taste of the last ochazuke was stronger. Maybe it felt stronger because the other dishes were mild, but it had a punchy flavor at the end. The ochazuke was delicious with a flavorful broth. The dessert was a matcha-flavored water dessert, not too sweet, and even I enjoyed it. The restaurant had a nice old-fashioned atmosphere, well-maintained and clean. The staff were kind and explained the dishes in a gentle Kyoto manner. It's not a super expensive place, so the neighboring rooms might be a bit lively, but it added to the enjoyable atmosphere. When we paid, it seemed like the prices on the menu included tax, and there was no service charge, which was a pleasant surprise. I would like to visit again if I have the chance. Thank you for the delicious meal.