This is a small shop along the way to Kifune Shrine. At first, I was worried if it was open because of its quaint appearance, but it was indeed open. The snow was still lingering, and enjoying Nyumen noodles by the riverside shop while snowflakes danced around was truly special. We ordered regular Nyumen with kabosu citrus, and my companion ordered plum Nyumen. The toppings included chicken breast chashu, shiitake mushrooms, green onions, and slices of kabosu citrus. The broth was rich but not overpowering, and I was amazed at how delicious Nyumen could be. I also tried the plum Nyumen, and it was equally fantastic. Personally, I regret not ordering the Tonkotsu (pork bone) menu as well. While Kifune Shrine in summer has many riverside dining options, I think enjoying a delicious meal amidst the snowscape was also wonderful.

The riverbed is cool! Now is the season for plenty of negative ions, and the food is ordinary. We had a refreshing experience in a private space that felt out of the ordinary. The chef was friendly and used Kyoto ingredients, giving it a Kyoto-like charm. The atmosphere was very soothing with the sound of the waterfall. Definitely worth experiencing this unique atmosphere. I want to go back again. Reservations must be made in advance for set courses only. Thank you for the meal!

I went to a riverside restaurant in Kibune. Shortly after the lifting of travel restrictions due to COVID, there are still few people around this area. The prices here are very reasonable. In other places, a luxurious kaiseki meal would cost around 10,000 yen. Even the cheapest option would be around 3,500 yen. But here, it's only 1,000 yen. However, the menu at that time only had udon noodles. There is only one staff member, possibly the owner, and there are only 4 seats with social distancing measures in place. The view is probably the same as other places. You can take off your shoes and dip your feet in the water. The appearance of the restaurant may seem a bit sketchy, so it may take some courage to enter. On the other hand, it may not be suitable for a romantic riverside date. I ordered udon noodles with "plum and salt" and "soy sauce and bonito" flavors. They were refreshing and delicious. The chicken breast was also good.

This is a very reasonably priced restaurant where you can enjoy dining by the river. The lunch bento box costs 2500 yen, and it is delicious with a good portion size. Highly recommended! ^ ^

Ume and salt cold noodles

The food at this restaurant is absolutely delicious. The service is top-notch and the atmosphere is cozy. I highly recommend trying their signature dishes.

The white miso flavored udon noodles are delicious.

I had a riverside lunch at a restaurant in Kibune, a summer resort in Kyoto. The restaurant is small with only 6 seats, run by a family of 4. They offer a set meal for a reasonable price of 2500 yen. The food was delicious, including grilled sweetfish, sweet omelette, crispy tempura, and rich tofu with salmon roe. The highlight was the clam miso soup. The relaxing atmosphere by the river made us forget about our daily worries. It's recommended to make a reservation in advance as the restaurant gets fully booked during the season.

I went to Kibune for a riverside lunch with my parents for the first time. When looking for a restaurant, the famous ones have detailed information and beautiful photos, but they are quite expensive. The average price for a riverside lunch is around 7,000 yen, but this restaurant offers ayu salt-grilled for 3,500 yen. Looking at other people's photos, I didn't have high expectations for the food, thinking it might be on the smaller side, but it turned out to be excellent! Firstly, driving on the narrow roads of Kibune was quite stressful, but the owner greeted us with a smile at the entrance. It was nice to have a parking lot available. As soon as we arrived at the riverside, we found it to be a private setting! There are two spacious riverside areas, each with four tables. While other restaurants are packed tightly next to each other, we were able to relax by the river, dip our feet, take photos, and enjoy a leisurely time. The temperature was 26 degrees according to the thermometer, which is 10 degrees cooler than in the city, making it significantly cooler than the road. In addition to the ayu salt-grilled set meal (3,500 yen), there is also a one-person hot pot (duck pot, etc.) for 2,800 yen, which is a good deal. They offer beer for drinks, but it seems they do not have soft drinks. There is self-service cold roasted green tea available. Also, we were served a unique and delicious appetizer of sansho wood sprouts. After about 15 minutes of waiting, the ayu salt-grilled set meal with two fish arrived. The tempura also included shrimp, pumpkin, shiitake mushrooms, asparagus, and shishito peppers, with plenty of vegetables. There were also 4-5 side dishes, including the Kyoto specialty "hamo" (conger eel), which is a nice touch for tourists from other regions. The ayu fish were small but delicious, and you can eat them whole, including the bones, which were enjoyable without any bitterness. The ayu fish dipped in a refreshing kabosu citrus sauce was a delightful and traditional treat. The rice bowl with clam and trefoil red miso soup was warming and delicious. Each dish was served with care and kindness, making it a heartwarming meal. The owner kindly told us to relax and take our time, allowing us to even take a nap before leaving. The spacious and relaxing atmosphere would be perfect for families with children to enjoy a leisurely meal. *Oh, but one thing to note, the restroom was disappointing... *You also get a mini-sized fan as a souvenir. I will definitely come back again.

At Hirobun in Kibune, I had flowing somen for lunch, thinking that would be the end of my meal. However, about 50 meters downstream, right next to Hirobun, I stumbled upon a super cheap lunch spot - Katsura. The menu board outside listed Kibune lunch sets for 1600-1800 yen, which is a steal considering the usual prices around here start at 3500 yen. I quickly took a seat in the riverside tatami area, with a view of the restaurant where I had somen just moments ago. The river was even closer here, and I could touch the water. It was so cold! I ordered the conger eel and Kamo eggplant sauce rice bowl for 1800 yen. It had steamed conger eel topped with plum paste, with Kamo eggplant hidden underneath. The flavorful sauce was delicious. The side dishes included a soybean and egg stir-fry, shishito peppers with small dried fish, clam soup, and three kinds of pickles. With a temperature of 21 degrees, the natural cooling power of the riverside was impressive, especially on a day when Kyoto was experiencing over 30 degrees. This lunch at Katsura in Kibune was definitely a great deal.

I strolled around Kibune on a regular day and stopped by this restaurant on my way back from the inner shrine. Kibune is famous for its riverside dining, but most places are quite expensive, starting from around 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen even during the day. This restaurant mainly serves set meals priced in the 1,000 yen range, which was a good choice for a solo diner like me. There are two sections of riverside dining, and I sat upstream. Despite the moderate heat outside, the riverside area felt pleasantly cool. While high-end restaurants have blinds to shield diners from view, this place offers unobstructed views. I enjoyed a beer and some mountain pepper tsukudani while gazing at the flow of the river in front of me. The beer was only 600 yen, making it a great deal when factoring in the location. I ordered the eel and Kamo eggplant in a thick sauce, which is perfect for a summer day in Kyoto. The dashi in the sauce was excellent, and the dish was delicious enough to justify its price of 1,900 yen. Even without the riverside setting, this dish would be worth the price. In late June, on a weekday with cloudy weather, there were fewer customers, allowing me to enjoy riverside dining for the first time. While the tables may be simple compared to upscale restaurants, the charm of riverside dining is not lacking here. I definitely want to visit again.

Laying a floor over the river and having a meal on top of it. A delightful summer activity in Kyoto. I've always wanted to go, and this time I finally did. There is parking space for 5 cars, and reservations are possible, but since the riverside in Kibune has narrow roads where only one car can pass at a time, good driving skills are necessary. Therefore, even if you come to Kyoto by car, it is recommended to park at Demachiyanagi Station and take the Eizan Electric Railway to Kibuneguchi. From there, take a bus from Kibuneguchi Station to Kibune for 160 yen. Then walk along the river for about 10 minutes. I made a reservation by phone about half a month in advance. Only those who made a reservation were allowed inside on the day. Going down the stairs to the riverbed, it was very cool. The sound of the river's flow was also very pleasant. The food consists of a bento box and a hot pot dish. The bento options include somen noodles and ayu salted bento. This time, I had the ayu salted bento. The main dish, the grilled ayu, was freshly cooked and tasted delicious even when eaten from head to tail without bitterness. The price of 3500 yen for the bento may seem high, but considering the experience and atmosphere, it is worth it.

Visited around 3:00 pm on May 4th, right in the middle of Golden Week. After exploring Mount Kurama and Kurama Temple, I headed towards Kibune Shrine. I walked for about an hour and started feeling really hungry. However, there were only course meals around the area. Feeling a bit frustrated, I stumbled upon this restaurant. I decided to go in on a whim! I was served udon, tempura, sashimi, rice, mountain vegetable dishes, which was more than satisfying for lunch. And all of this cost less than 1500 yen. Kyoto's riverside dining experience is truly wonderful. And what's great is that this charm is accessible to everyone, regardless of the price of the food. I felt that it was better than a café without a view of the river. This is the place to go for couples too!

I came from Kurama to Kurama Temple, passing through the Okunoin and heading to Kibune. It got colder, so I thought the autumn leaves might be more advanced in the north, but it seemed a bit early for them to be at their best. It was quite a journey. The sun was shining, but there was a light drizzle, and when I took off my jacket because I was sweating, it was hard to walk with one hand blocked, the mountain path was muddy underfoot, and especially going downhill, I had to be careful not to slip, so my knees hurt... There are many restaurants along the road from the main shrine of Kibune Shrine to the Okumiya. It was lunchtime, so they kept calling out to me, "How about it?" "Are you alone?" but I hurried on. There seemed to be set meals at a reasonable price, so I stopped by Katsura's. It's on the left side of the downhill road, by the riverbank. You can see outside through the glass doors (photo), and you can hear the sound of the river very loudly. I was thirsty from crossing the mountain path, so I had a bottle of beer and nibbled on kelp while taking a gulp and catching my breath. Now, it's time for the meal. The dish was stir-fried chicken with a thick sauce, with a strong flavor of Japanese pepper. It was delicious, but I couldn't gulp it down quickly because my stomach was full from the beer.