Second visit. A must-visit place in Kyoto. I had the chef's choice course at the counter. The cold corn potage served first made me feel like I made the right choice coming to this restaurant. Corn potage at a sushi restaurant. But it was incredibly delicious. I wanted seconds. Every small dish was delicious. The sushi was of course delicious, and this time in summer, I was able to enjoy seasonal ingredients which was amazing. The husband and wife owners were very friendly, chatting with us a lot and making it an unforgettable and enjoyable time. It's been a while since I last went, but I will definitely go back again.

This sushi restaurant is great for both omakase and a la carte options. Despite being a new establishment, the restaurant itself has a lot of history, with the head chef being a seasoned veteran in the industry. The omakase course is around 12,000 yen, and before you start eating, they ask you about your preferences for appetizers and sushi portions. I opted for more appetizers this time, and unexpectedly, they even served me marugani (snow crab) and kohada (gizzard shad), allowing me to fully enjoy the sake accompaniments. The tamago (egg) at the end was made in a style that I particularly enjoy. The chef's skill in subtly presenting intricate dishes is truly impressive. The friendly interaction with the staff also added to the overall experience. Ambiance: ★★★★☆ Situation: Solo or couple Discoveries: The attentive service and quality of food Likelihood to revisit: ★★★☆☆ Menu items: Kumo-ko Ponzu, Sashimi (Ark shell, Sea bream, Tuna), Marugani, Grilled Sawara with Karasumi, Kohada nigiri, Hirame, Otoro, Squid, Sea urchin, Conger eel, Rolled sushi, Tamago, Beer, Hot sake (2 cups), Kenton sake (2 cups)

- Basic Information - Area: Kyoto Prefecture > Kyoto City > Kawaramachi, Kiyamachi, Pontocho - Genre: Sushi - Tabelog Rating (as of 2019/08/20): 3.63/32 reviews [Ranked 4th out of 76 restaurants] - Details - A sushi restaurant located in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. - The nearest station is Gojo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line. - Run by a couple who are likely from Kyoto, creating a very friendly atmosphere. - Learned a lot from watching a feature on "Nishijin" on TV last night. Ahahaha! - Visit Details - Visit Time: 8:00 PM on weekends and holidays - Reservation: Made a reservation by phone in advance - Crowdedness: 2 groups of 5 customers each before us [No waiting time] - Counter seats - Nishijima Hyogo's Impressions - Food & Taste: 3.5/5 - Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine and Kansai-style sushi rice - Service: 3.5/5 - Lively atmosphere between the staff and customers - Atmosphere: 3.0/5 - The layout of the restaurant is somewhat like an izakaya - Cost Performance: 3.0/5 - Slightly on the pricier side compared to sushi kaiseki - Overall: 3.5/5 - A place where you can slowly enjoy your meal and feel satisfied (3.35) - Recommended: Omakase - Food Details [July 2019] - Omakase Appetizers - Simmered Dish - Assorted Sashimi: Striped jack, sweet shrimp, tuna - Conger eel tempura, shishito pepper - Corn surinagashi (grated corn) - Sushi: Squid, sea urchin gunkan-maki, medium fatty tuna, whelk - Eel sushi - Drinks: Beer, sake (brand forgotten), Kenjo Junmai Ginjo (Joyo City, Kyoto) - Overall Experience - Started with omakase appetizers, beautifully presented dishes with refined flavors. - Enjoyed the food in a lively atmosphere with sake and conversations. - Sushi was made with slightly flavored Kansai-style rice, fitting well into the overall meal. - While the sushi may not have been extraordinary, it was satisfying and in line with the rest of the meal. - A place where you can feel a sense of satisfaction rather than applauding loudly. Ahahaha!

After a long time, I had sushi in Kyoto. Since I didn't have a favorite sushi restaurant in Kyoto, I visited here for the first time. It is a small, cozy, old-fashioned sushi restaurant run by a couple with 8 counter seats and a tatami room in the back. I made a reservation about 2 weeks ago. I arrived at the opening at 5:30 pm and was the first customer again. On this day, they were fully booked with reservations and had to turn away walk-in customers. I had: - Draft beer - Non-alcoholic beer - Cold sake (Kenjo 1 cup, Nichigami 1 cup) - Appetizer: Eggplant and tofu skin simmered dish - Sashimi platter: Sea bream, ark shell, medium fatty tuna, fatty tuna, simmered octopus, hairy crab - Sushi: Sea bream, striped jack, ark shell (with the string), flat shell, shrimp, sea urchin, gizzard shad, conger eel, scallion sprout - Two side dishes The food was subtly flavored and elegant. The vinegar for the hairy crab was mellow and complemented the crab's flavor perfectly. The sushi rice was seasoned with a familiar and easy-to-eat vinegar typical of the Kansai region. The ingredients were fresh and of good quality overall. However, on that day, the sea bream and striped jack were a bit lacking. But the recommended mackerel by the owner was excellent, and I ended up ordering it again. This restaurant offers courses, but you can also order a la carte, which is nice. The owners are friendly and engaged us in pleasant conversations, making our visit enjoyable. The clientele is mostly older, with many regular customers frequenting this popular small restaurant.

This restaurant has become a long-time favorite for me. It is a rare gem in Kyoto where you can enjoy delicious sushi. The banter between the head chef and the hostess is great, but what really stands out is the quality of the seafood and the skillful preparation that makes it taste amazing. This time, I had hairy crab, conger eel, striped jack, as well as fatty tuna, premium sea urchin, and steamed conger eel, all of which were top-notch. This is definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in Kyoto. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

This is a delicious restaurant. I would like to keep eating here forever. I spent 10,000 yen, but it was worth it.

Leave it up to them and your stomach will be full. The dishes are carefully selected.

This is a serious and dignified restaurant. The chef's personality shines through. The sushi is delicious, and the simmered dishes are slightly on the sweeter side. The Ehomaki for Setsubun was also delicious.

At the alumni association general affairs meeting, Mr. Higuchi served as the secretary.

It's excellent!

I visited this restaurant once for a reception and the food was delicious. I always tried to call on the day to make a reservation, but it was always fully booked, so I couldn't visit. Today, miraculously, I was able to make a reservation and had the course meal. The appetizers included tofu skin and small taro, followed by a sashimi platter, grilled blackthroat seaperch, cold corn soup, and sushi. The sashimi and sushi were fantastic. The quality of the fish and the knife skills were exceptional. I wish I had just eaten sushi here. The price was 12,000 yen. The owner's wife used to work at Sushi Iwa before opening this restaurant, and it shows in the refined and elegant dishes. This sushi restaurant in Kyoto is highly recommended.

We reserved the 10,000 yen course at this restaurant. The counter had about 6 seats and there were 4 private rooms in the back. The restaurant was small, run by a couple. There were 3 elderly regular customers at the counter when we arrived, and their voices were too loud, which bothered my partner. The course used high-quality ingredients and the dishes were satisfying. The sashimi and sushi were carefully prepared, enhancing the flavors. The slices were slightly thick, which we liked. We would like to visit this restaurant again. Delicious meal! ✨

I finally had the opportunity to visit a sushi restaurant right next to Gojo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway, which I had been wanting to go for over a year. Despite calling more than 5 times in the past, I was never able to get a reservation as it was always fully booked, and the schedules of the people I wanted to go with never aligned. I decided to leave the food selection to the chef, and it was definitely the right choice as I was extremely satisfied with the dishes. It started with shellfish, followed by a sashimi assortment including fatty tuna, and then grilled nodoguro marinated in soy sauce - which was exquisite! I usually start with beer before switching to sake, but this time I couldn't resist and went straight to sake. It was truly moving... Delicious food can make people smile. All the unpleasant things from that day disappeared, and just with this meal, I felt happy for the entire day. Afterwards, we had suppon (softshell turtle) and crab, followed by nigiri. Each dish brought more joy. Since we sat at the counter, I had the chance to chat with the chef and his wife, and I was drawn to their warm personalities. The conversation was as enjoyable as the food. I would love to visit this restaurant again. Thank you very much!

I visited this restaurant at the beginning of 2016 and it was one of my favorites. After undergoing a renewal, the restaurant reopened in February. I revisited the restaurant after a long time as a way of greeting the new year. Of course, I made a reservation in advance. I left the food selection to the chef as usual. The dishes included a variety of items such as sashimi (fatty tuna, flounder, amberjack), simmered swordfish, tender squid simmered in soy sauce, grilled swordfish with homemade karasumi, raw sea cucumber with vinegar, tempura of white fish, sushi (conger eel, minced tuna with green onion, fatty tuna, ark shell), flounder fin, and mackerel sushi. It's always exciting not knowing what will be served. The simmered swordfish was particularly satisfying due to its size. The quality of the fatty tuna was as excellent as ever. The homemade karasumi, with just the right amount of salt, paired perfectly with the sake. The sushi selection, including minced tuna with green onion and conger eel, was a must-try for their deliciousness. The mackerel sushi, served rare, suited my taste perfectly. This sushi restaurant offers a cozy atmosphere where you can enjoy high-quality food at an affordable price. The lively conversation between the chef and his wife at the counter is also a highlight. Although there are many regular customers, the atmosphere is not formal, making it suitable for solo diners as well. The restaurant is conveniently located near Kyoto Station, making it accessible for those coming from afar.

August 2016 Revisit #3 New photos x16 added. This third visit in late August featured ingredients that hinted at the arrival of autumn, such as matsutake mushroom tempura. The restaurant's tank was filled with large prawns, and we couldn't resist having one grilled. The meat was firm and sweet, truly delicious. For sushi, we tried the chef's recommendations, including whitefish, flounder, fatty sardines, and steamed conger eel. Perhaps next month they will have Pacific saury on the menu. Another satisfying evening. Please refer to the photos for the dishes. July 2016 Revisit #2 New photos x22 added. We started with a rich ankimo and a gentle sweetcorn puree cold soup. The seafood that day included seasonal delicacies like conger eel and horse mackerel. The whole sea urchin and crab were incredibly fresh. The grilled aburabozu and nodoguro in saikyo miso sauce paired perfectly with sake. Another enjoyable evening spent with regular customers. This visit ranks high among this year's first visits. May 2016 First visit Within walking distance from Karasuma Gojo, just west of Karasuma Manjuji Street. Although I knew of its existence, I finally made my first visit. The owner trained at the famous Rokkajo restaurant "Sushi Iwa." The cozy interior has around 8 counter seats and one private table in the back. The elderly couple who run the place are very friendly and engaging in conversation across the counter. Many long-time regulars create a sense of unity at the counter seats. The sushi toppings on the wall are written, but I recommend leaving it to the owner. The omakase course includes 5-6 side dishes and around 8 pieces of nigiri, offering a satisfying variety. From sashimi to dishes like duck breast and aburabozu in saikyo miso sauce, you'll enjoy intricate delicacies. The extensive selection of sake is also a plus. With a variety of sake-appropriate dishes, it's easy to get carried away. I've visited several times, and it's always bustling, so making a reservation in advance is advisable. The counter seats allow for lively conversations, making it easy to strike up a conversation with other guests and plan your next visit. Looking forward to the next time. It's a 5-minute taxi ride from Kyoto Station, making it convenient for those coming from the station.