I made a reservation here to let a customer from the United States (a man in his 30s) experience the elegance of Kyoto and enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine. We had a private room set up with a table on the second floor, and we leisurely enjoyed drinks and food as expected! We got so caught up in eating and talking that I only have a photo of the appetizer, but we savored the meticulously crafted exquisite dishes. On the way back, we walked through Pontocho while slightly tipsy, and it was a lot of fun. Next time, I'd like to come in the summer, preferably at the counter...

I visited for lunch on the day of my return from a trip. I felt that there were few options listed on the drink menu, but when I asked for a highball, they made it for me. It was nice to be able to have a quiet meal in a lovely atmosphere. The pumpkin and conger eel croquette with sauce poured over it in a bowl was really delicious.

It was a long-awaited trip to Kyoto with friends, where we wanted to enjoy authentic kaiseki cuisine. We were lucky to meet very kind chefs and staff who prepared delicious dishes for us. Even though we are not fluent in Japanese, the chef kindly introduced the dishes and ingredients to us, allowing us to feel the charm of the food and the people.

The dishes were truly delicious, and this time, with an abundance of pike conger due to the season, everything was delicious. Even my wife, who doesn't particularly like pike conger, kept saying how delicious it was. Personally, I found the way they prepared the pike conger to be especially delicious, using traditional Japanese techniques and flavors. Sitting at the counter on the first floor, the chef engages in enjoyable conversations with everyone. Although I'm originally from Osaka, I always make a trip to Kyoto just to visit this restaurant when I go back home. Due to the pandemic, I haven't been able to visit for a few years, but the taste remains top-notch and unchanged. It was a delightful and enjoyable time. I will definitely come back. Thank you very much. It was a feast.

They spoke to us in a friendly manner. It was easy to talk to them. I didn't mention that I don't like shellfish, but they promptly made various changes to the ingredients. Thank you very much. In addition to the course, they served two types of homemade karasumi and aburi as a side dish.

I had a reasonably priced kaiseki meal at a restaurant in Pontocho. The meal included vinegared dish and soup with clams, sashimi, fried dish with white miso sauce using cod roe and shrimp, grilled dishes like Nishikyo-yaki, raw fish, cod, and herring roe, as well as deep-fried rice crackers with crab miso. It was delicious!

I visited Sotomachi Fujita the other day. Each dish not only tasted delicious but also looked beautiful, showcasing the craftsmanship. I thoroughly enjoyed the spring seasonal ingredients. Due to the pandemic, I hadn't been able to go out much, so it felt like a long time since I had a truly delicious meal.

High cost-performance lunch course!! I wanted to eat something delicious from lunchtime, so I made a reservation in advance. The quiet atmosphere with no background music is very calming. For 5500 yen including tax, you can enjoy well-prepared Japanese cuisine here. The appetizer with yam tofu, firefly squid, spring cabbage, and tomato really captured my stomach! The clear soup with asari clams and bamboo shoots, the salmon grilled with miso paste, and the hirousu were all truly delicious. When I come to Kyoto again, I will definitely visit this restaurant! Thank you for the wonderful meal!

Located in Gion, there is a landmark called the Kaburenjo theater which makes it relatively easy to find. During a break from enjoying the autumn leaves, my husband, son, and I decided to have lunch here. Considering it is a kaiseki cuisine restaurant, the cost performance is quite good. I was satisfied without having to go to an expensive ryotei. Before going to Kyoto, a friend recommended trying Kyotei as they provide amazing hospitality and delicious food. However, my high school son was not interested in going to such an expensive ryotei. In my mind, ryotei and Japanese restaurants are not that different. Ryotei provide Japanese cuisine and entertainment like geisha performances, while Japanese restaurants serve food directly to customers. Fujita is a relatively young chef's restaurant with delicate and beautifully presented dishes that capture the essence of each season. The flavors are subtle, and the dashi in the soup was particularly delicious. I was lucky to enjoy matsutake mushrooms, even though the season had passed. The main dish, Kyoto beef steak, was tender and flavorful, especially with wasabi. The intricate arrangement of the hassun dish added to the overall dining experience. The hospitality at Fujita was exceptional, with the chef being friendly and engaging in conversation. He even saw us off outside the restaurant. I believe we had the 7,000 yen course, but booking through Ichijiku may offer it for 5,000 yen. Enjoy the images and savor the flavors at the restaurant, and you will surely appreciate being born in Japan. I revisited in 2022, this time opting for a private room instead of the counter. I found the rice dish to be a bit lacking compared to the previous visit. Overall, the portion sizes seemed slightly smaller, but it could be due to the presentation.

I had a kaiseki lunch and every dish was delicious with well-balanced flavors. It was elegant and delicate kaiseki cuisine. The Kyoto beef steak was flavorful and delicious. It was a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. Both the food and the drinks were excellent. I definitely want to visit this restaurant again.

The always fresh dishes and the hospitality of the chef are wonderful, so I always end up staying longer. I was nervous about trying Kaiseki cuisine for the first time, but all the dishes were elegant and delicious. Each dish is delicious and you can feel the seasonal touch.

Before boarding the return Shinkansen, I decided to treat myself to a kaiseki meal alone for the first time in a while. I had made a reservation through Ikyu for a course priced at 6,000 yen (including tax) the day before. The restaurant is located right in front of the Kaburenjo in Pontocho, which I had seen a few times before, so I had no trouble finding it. There was only one other party of two guests when I arrived. The atmosphere inside was not too formal, and I felt comfortable and relaxed. The dishes were delicious, especially the sashimi and the grilled conger eel cooked right in front of me over charcoal. On the other hand, the grilled sweetfish was a bit disappointing. It was a good size, and sweetfish is my favorite ingredient for grilling, so I was very excited when it was served. However, it was slightly overcooked, and I was advised to eat it whole, including the head, which made it a bit difficult to eat due to the bones. The meat was tender and juicy. The meal ended with a chrysanthemum petal-infused rice porridge, which was a bit unusual but surprisingly delicious. I was a bit unsure if I could finish it since I am not a big fan of chrysanthemum, but the seasoning was just right and the chrysanthemum flavor was subtle, so I managed to eat it all. There was a menu displayed outside the restaurant, indicating that walk-in customers could dine there if there were available seats without a reservation. Overall, it was a satisfying dining experience. Thank you for the meal!

Kappo restaurant located about 30m to the right from the entrance of Pontochō, coming from Sanjō Street towards Shijō Street. The location is easy to find as it is close to Sanjō Street. We made a web reservation for 2 people on the day of our visit. ● Customer Service We called 1 hour earlier than the scheduled web reservation time to confirm, and the response was polite and accommodating. They explained well about the alcohol service under the state of emergency, shortened business hours, etc. However, when we arrived, there was a loud group of regular customers taking photos and causing a commotion, which was a bit off-putting. Despite being aware of our presence, they seemed more focused on the other customers, which affected our experience. ● Atmosphere The first floor has a modern design with a focus on the counter. The private rooms are on the second floor, accessed by a staircase that gives off a different vibe from the first floor. The interior on the second floor is average, with tatami and table seating. The view of Pontochō street from the window is a plus. ● Menu While there is an à la carte menu, the main offering is kaiseki cuisine in course meals. We ordered the 9,500 yen course for the evening. ● Food Experience The course we ordered was disappointing in terms of presentation, ingredients, and taste. It lacked the delicacy and essence of Kyoto cuisine, with no eel or conger eel included. Overall, it did not live up to our expectations. ● Overall Impression We were hesitant to order the 15,000-17,000 yen courses due to the unclear menu, and the quality of the 10,000 yen course was a letdown. The experience did not justify the price, and we left feeling regretful. The dishes lacked flavor and sophistication, and the experience did not leave a lasting memory. ★ Dish of the Day ▲ Appetizer: White fish with edamame mousse and fried corn. The mousse was decent, but the corn was not up to par. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 〇 Soup: Red snapper surimi with vegetables. The dish was tasty, but the serving size could have been larger. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ▲ Sashimi: Squid, red meat, fatty tuna, red sea bream, sea urchin. The sea bream was disappointing, and overall, the sashimi did not meet our expectations. --------------------------------------------------------------------- × Side Dish: Beef stewed with hot spring egg. This dish did not seem to fit the kaiseki theme. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ▲ Side Dish: Grilled Japanese halfbeak with snow peas in sauce. The halfbeak was not to our liking. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ▲ Rice: Octopus rice and red miso soup. This was average and similar to what you would find elsewhere. --------------------------------------------------------------------- × Dessert: Not memorable. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ■ Restaurant Details - Counter seating for 12 - 3 private rooms ■ Visit Information - Visit Time: Saturday: 5:00 PM - Number of Visitors: 2 - Reservation: Web reservation on the same day - Crowdedness: Several groups of customers - Waiting Time: None - Serving Time: 10-15 minutes per dish ■ Amenities - Cloth hand towels - Disposable chopsticks ■ Restroom - Unisex - Western style with bidet - Cleanliness: B+ (S-C) ■ Points to Note: -----

After a company's post-closing celebration, I won a prize in a raffle for a meal voucher worth a certain amount at a high-end restaurant listed on a popular dining website. My partner and I decided to use it to go to a fancy Kyoto-style restaurant that we wouldn't normally visit. The voucher was almost expired. The restaurant was located in Gion, with cobblestone streets and a somewhat serene atmosphere in the vicinity of Pontocho. In front of the restaurant, there was a traditional dance theater in Pontocho with a sign that read "Kamogawa Odori," where geisha and maiko performances could be enjoyed. We sat at the counter and opted for the course menu. We enjoyed some local sake recommended by the chef, along with detailed explanations of each dish. As we dined, we also learned about the recent situations of geisha and maiko in the Pontocho area. The meal was a mix of traditional Kyoto cuisine and Western influences, with delicious dishes including meat. The experience allowed me to appreciate the unique culture of Kyoto, and I had a great time enjoying the food and conversations. It was a valuable experience that I, as a budget-conscious office worker, don't often get to have. It was a delightful meal.

Mr. Fujita from Pontocho. I had a mini kaiseki lunch with a friend. The atmosphere was nice and we were able to spend a relaxing and enjoyable time.

I couldn't finish my meal, but they kindly packed it up for me to take home with a container. It was stress-free to enjoy it at home, and their hospitality was perfect! The food was delicious! Thank you so much!

The atmosphere was calm and nice. I felt a new depth of food with the seasoning and condiments of the sashimi.

The cost performance is excellent. It's best if there are seats available at the counter.

The seasoning was very elegant and it was delicious.

I visited this restaurant for the first time. It is located in a charming alley in Kyoto's Pontocho district. The ambiance is quite nice, and I had high expectations. I was seated in a private room on the second floor. However, the worn-out carpet on the stairs and the somewhat cold and dreary feeling of the room were a bit disappointing. Now, onto the food: - Appetizers: The sesame tofu with shrimp and other ingredients was tasty but felt a bit like it was pre-made. - Steamed dish: The aroma of matsutake mushrooms was delightful, and the portion was generous. However, the broth was oddly strong, and the conger eel was tough. It seemed like it might have been cooked too long. Tasty but slightly disappointing. - Sashimi: The sashimi was excellent. Tuna, white fish, squid, all delicious. - Grilled eel sushi: Tasty, but the eel, which was supposed to be simmered, would have been better if it was warmed up or seared. Cold simmered eel was not as good. - Grilled dish: Also delicious. The grilled ayu was piping hot, and the other items were well-seasoned. - Steak: Unfortunately, this was disappointing. Despite being described as Wagyu beef, it was tough and had a slight odor. My companion's steak was tender, so it might have been a problem with the cut or cooking. - Simmered dish: From eggplant to other tasty items, this was thoroughly enjoyable. Overall, there were minor disappointments here and there. The restaurant seems to be popular, so some level of pre-preparation is understandable, but I wish they had minimized it. Another concern was the serving style. The waitstaff placed the trays directly on the tatami mats and carried them from there, causing dust to kick up. It was quite bothersome. Having serving trays would easily solve this issue, and I hope they make this improvement.