I searched for "nagashi somen" which I had always admired and wanted to experience in the food capital of Kyoto. I found out that there are shops in Arashiyama and Kibune, and geishas and residents of Kyoto all recommend going to Kibune during the day as it is 5-10 degrees cooler than the city center. So, we decided to go by rental car! I had seen on Tabelog that it is not recommended to go by car, but I was reluctant to walk in the scorching heat, thinking it would be manageable. However, when we arrived in Kibune, we found that there is only a small parking lot for visiting the shrine, and a small coin parking lot that charges 600 yen per hour further down the road. Due to the narrow roads, waiting for a parking spot is also prohibited. After going back and forth, we were able to barely park in the coin parking lot by arriving quite early, but it was a scorching hot day with temperatures reaching 38.9°C, and Kibune was not as cool as expected. We climbed up the hill grumbling. There were already foreign tourists who had arrived by taxi forming a line in front of the shop, and I became paranoid that other groups who arrived later might try to cut in line. We waited for about an hour until the reception opened. They operated on a cash pre-payment system and requested exact change if possible. We made the payment successfully and descended the stairs to the riverside for the first round. The sound of the river and the small waterfall with a drop in the river were so refreshing and cool, it was amazing. We waited in the standby area, reading the instructions (such as "be careful as the somen noodles flow suddenly, and do not get upset even if the wait time gets longer"). The somen noodles flow through a device made of bamboo and stainless steel, which is not only sanitary but also ensures a smooth flow. There are a total of 4 lanes for the somen slider, with one lane assigned to each group. The guests sit in the order of proximity to the starting point, so there is no risk of other groups' chopsticks crossing over your lane, making it a hygienic and innovative system. In front of each lane, a long table is set up with dipping sauce and a dessert of warabi mochi. Luckily, we were in the front lane, making it easy even for someone like me who is not good with chopsticks. The somen noodles are neatly portioned into one-person servings, making it easy to pick up and eat. The dipping sauce is refreshing and crisp, and the flowing water is so good that even if it dilutes slightly, it is not a problem and remains delicious. The somen noodles are not slid down at an angle but come with the water flow, making it a calm and satisfying experience. The quantity is quite generous, and the experience is just so enjoyable! When the pink plum-flavored somen noodles flow, it signals the end, and these plum somen noodles are flavorful and delicious. Crossing the floor over the river truly felt like a riverside terrace, and it was an incredibly pleasant and enjoyable moment. I have experienced the cool floors of the Kamo River several times, and while there is a variety of dining options available, it feels more like a riverside terrace rather than a riverside floor compared to Kibune, which is on a completely different level of comfort and charm. Kibune's riverside floor, born from a miraculous terrain, exudes elegance and freshness. It was a perfect location full of history. We were looking forward to returning to Kibune in the evening, so we left the restaurant with excitement. Thank you for the wonderful meal, I will definitely visit again when I go to Kyoto in the summer.

The salt-grilled ayu was swimming on the plate. It was positioned in a way that made you wonder if it was still alive. The atmosphere of dining by the river was just perfect. I learned this from a taxi driver. Life is a continuous learning journey, isn't it?

I purchased the Eizan Electric Railway Kawadoko Cuisine Ticket until August 31st. This ticket includes a Kawadoko cuisine experience at Kifune Shrine (reservation required), a 1-day pass for Eizan Electric Railway, a 1-day pass for Kyoto City Bus, and a water fortune slip from Kifune Shrine, all for 10,500 yen. I bought the ticket only at Eizan Electric Railway Demachiyanagi Station. There are many riverside dining options at Kifune Shrine, but I chose Hirobun located upstream. Although the reservation was for 11:00, we were a bit late and were seated at around 11:30, a bit delayed. After that, the warm dishes came out at just the right timing, and we were able to enjoy them leisurely. The sound of flowing water made it hard to hear each other. I think the atmosphere is worth it. The food was decent. It was a nice experience dining on the riverside during this season.

The atmosphere was excellent, the food was delicious, and the weather was perfect. Dining by the river was cool and refreshing, with a temperature difference of around 10 degrees. The food at the ryokan was very tasty, especially the salt-grilled ayu fish, which was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Lastly, the proprietress came to greet us, providing friendly and pleasant service.

The lineup may be crazy, but the atmosphere is amazing so it's worth the wait! Even in the middle of summer, it was very cool and fantastic. The somen noodles and warabi mochi were delicious! We arrived a little after 10 am on a weekday and waited about an hour. It seems that the wait can be 3-4 hours if you arrive later, so I recommend going early. The bus to Kibune gets quite crowded, and by 10 am it was full, so be careful not to miss it.

I visited Kibune for the first time in about 15 years. I had reserved the local chicken sukiyaki course because I wanted to try something other than the traditional course menu and I remembered how cool it was even in the middle of summer during my last visit. On the day of my reservation, it was raining heavily until just before the reserved time... I ended up enjoying my meal indoors, but thanks to the consideration of the staff, I was able to move to the outdoor seating halfway through. There was a leak in the rainwater on the bamboo blind roof, which added to the coldness, but the staff provided me with a haori and a towel to keep warm, allowing me to enjoy my meal in a unique situation. The appetizer platter of three kinds was great, especially the crunchy udo soy sauce pickles. The sweetfish was served from head to tail, and the tade vinegar enhanced the bitterness and fragrance of the sweetfish, making me feel the summer. The spicy karabuki that came as a chopstick rest with the sweetfish was so delicious that I bought it as a souvenir on my way out. I also ordered the fresh rainbow trout and tempura of amago fish as additional dishes. The rainbow trout had just the right amount of fat and was delicious. The crispy texture and the bitterness of the river fish in the amago fish tempura were very tasty. When I moved to the outdoor seating, I had the main dish, the local chicken sukiyaki. It was much colder than I had expected, so having sukiyaki was a great choice. In addition to different parts of the chicken meat, there was also liver, intestines, and kinkan (kumquat). The chicken meat had a firm and flavorful texture, and it was very delicious. I forgot to take a picture, but I had chewy udon noodles as a finishing touch, followed by dessert. The atmosphere of the outdoor seating, along with the delicious local chicken sukiyaki that I tried for the first time, was truly enjoyable. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

On the morning of the same day, I was able to make a reservation on site and visited the restaurant. Due to the rain the day before, the riverbed had quite a bit of water and was quite cool. It was a good impression that it was not crowded when I entered right after opening. I must admit that the restaurants in Kibune tend to focus more on the riverbed rather than the food, but each dish was quite delicious and went well with the drinks. The classic grilled ayu fish was boneless and tasted delicious, it seemed to be wild-caught! The service from the waitresses and staff was good, but the landlady's customer service was a bit lacking, so I rated it 3.0. The comfort of the riverbed added to the overall "atmosphere" and I rated it 3.9. The cost performance is the total points for the seating fee, food, and drinks. I hadn't been very proactive about trying riverbed cuisine before, but this visit to Kibune's restaurants has made me consider exploring more.

On June 25, 2023, we visited Kibune in Kyoto and had a wonderful experience at Kawayuka restaurant Hirobun. Located in Kyoto's Sakyo-ku, the restaurant offers a unique dining experience by the river. We took the Eizan Electric Railway from Demachiyanagi to Kibuneguchi, then walked up the slope to the restaurant. We enjoyed flowing somen noodles in the riverbed, feeling the early summer vibes. It was like a fun adult field trip! The somen noodles flowed faster than we expected, making it a challenge to catch them. We had a great time laughing and trying to grab the noodles. The atmosphere was fantastic, with plenty of negative ions in the air. Just listening to the sounds around us made us feel cooler. It was a valuable and enjoyable experience, and we are looking forward to going on another trip like this again. Thank you, Hirobun, for the wonderful time! #Hirobun #KawayukaHirobun #Kibune #KibuneKawayuka #KibuneShrine #KibuneFlowingSomen #FlowingSomen #SomenNoodles #Kibuneguchi #EizanElectricRailway #EizanTrain #KawayukaDining #Cool #NegativeIons #Refreshing

Hirobun [Kyoto]･･････････････････A limited-time lunch at a restaurant in Kibune, Kyoto!! You can enjoy flowing somen noodles at this shop... It's very popular this season, and even if you go before noon, you'll have to wait in line for about an hour before you can finally get in!... For 1,700 yen per person, you get flowing somen noodles and warabi mochi! It was also 1,700 yen for a 5-year-old (lol). The atmosphere is wonderful and the location is great. The warabi mochi was delicious, but the somen noodles were just okay... Personally, I feel like you're paying for the location... By the way, if you go by car, it will be quite difficult, so take a bus or park below and walk up!

Since it's summer, I came to cool off at a riverside dining area. You can get there by train and bus to Kibunehomen. You can enjoy the atmosphere of Kibune. The sound of the water cascading in the river may be a bit loud, but the prices are on the higher side. However, I think it's worth it for the luxurious and relaxing time you can have there!

It's still June but it's quite hot in Kyoto. How are you all doing? I'm heading out for my second visit to Kibune. I called to reserve a meal the day before, but they said I have to reserve after arriving. Do I have to book the most expensive course to make a reservation? Luckily, there was a taxi driver at the station who helped me make a reservation. It's still a weekday in June, so I hope I can get a reservation.

Finally, the weather cleared up ☀️ I made plans but the weather didn't cooperate. Riverbed flowing somen noodles are only available from May to September. Waited for a whole year (lol). Arrived an hour before opening and we were 22nd in line. The wait was 1-2 hours, not bad. By the time we left, the wait time was 5 hours. When the red somen noodles came flowing, that was the last batch, but there were plenty before that. I was too busy catching them to take photos (lol). Matcha warabi mochi was also included. Overall, it was a fun experience.

It was my first experience of dining at a riverside terrace in Kibune, Kyoto, which I had been longing for. A friend recommended that the best spot for riverside dining is at Hirobun. The weather was perfect, with a high temperature, making it ideal for riverside dining. The sound of the flowing river and the cool breeze felt really nice! Due to the rain yesterday, the water level was higher than usual, making the sound of the flowing water louder and conversations a bit hard to hear. The dishes were all delicious with well-balanced flavors, although nothing particularly stood out. The chilled somen noodles before the meal added a refreshing touch. Towards the end, it got a bit cold, so I was happy to have warm rice and miso soup. I think the person who came up with the idea of dining on a riverside terrace is a genius. When I asked the landlady, she said it started in the Showa era. It began with just serving drinks and gradually evolved to include food.

From Kurama Station, through Kurama Temple to Kifune Shrine, we hiked. It almost felt like a tengu could appear at any moment. After visiting Kifune Shrine, it was lunchtime, so we looked for a reasonably priced restaurant along the river. We found this place with a window-side seating offering a perfect view. I ordered the Ayu and Kyoto Yuba Nyumen for 1760 yen. While waiting, I looked at the autographs of seasoned celebrities, some of whom were active in the 1980s. The dish consisted of large Kyoto Yuba with Nyumen noodles, bamboo shoot rice, and sweet simmered Ayu with roe, capturing the essence of Kyoto. The Ayu, which can be eaten from head to tail, was tender and delicious with a hint of egg. When the Nyumen noodles were in the bowl, they were white, but when scooped up, they turned into a yellowish color, offering a refreshing and gentle taste that was enjoyable to eat.

From the Keifuku Dentetsu Kibun-guchi station, it takes about 10 minutes by Kyoto bus. Walking would take around 30 minutes, but since I was staying at Prince Kyoto Takaragaike, I took a taxi there (about 20 minutes). The main attraction was the flowing somen noodles, available until mid-October. Kibune is the only place where you can enjoy flowing somen noodles. No reservations are accepted, so when I arrived around 10:30 am on a weekday, there were already about 8 groups in line. The flowing somen set costs 1,500 yen, which includes a drink and the somen noodles. After paying in advance, we headed to the riverside. The set includes somen noodles, dipping sauce, chopsticks, and warabi mochi. The experience lasts about 15 minutes. Be careful as the noodles come flowing quickly! It's quite busy trying to take videos or photos (laughs). Once the pink somen noodles flow, it's the end. The location is great, and overall it was quite enjoyable. The warabi mochi after the meal was delicious too.

This expedition (Kyoto Sanga vs Kashima Antlers) can be said to be for this reason. I have always longed for kawadoko cuisine. I came here looking forward to it. It's about a 5-minute drive from Demachiyanagi Station on a shuttle bus. However, it takes 20-30 minutes because the road is quite narrow and dangerous with oncoming traffic and a flood of walking tourists on the mountain road. There seems to be a parking lot, but it's better to avoid visiting by car. Now, as you enter the mountains where you can hear the murmuring of the river, it's like entering a different world. As soon as you go down the stairs, you reach the riverside square. The flow of water and the atmosphere are breathtaking, and it's very healing with plenty of negative ions. Above all, the murmuring of this river makes you feel like it washes away everything. This time, we had a kawadoko kaiseki meal (9,680 yen) that can only be enjoyed here. Starting with a beer while bathing in negative ions. This is irresistible!! The beautiful-looking hassun, followed by ayu and trout sashimi, and the simmered dish is duck meat. All the dishes are elaborate. The river fish is sweetfish. The delicate and sweet flesh with the elegant bitterness of the innards is delightful (laughs). The moroheiya dish, tempura, and somen. Especially the somen has a rich texture and is perfect for a hot day. Finally, rice and soup, and dessert. Delicious food on the wonderful riverside. It was a moment in Kyoto where I could truly feel that it was great to come here and have my long-cherished wish fulfilled.

Hirobun [Tabelog] 3.48 Located 10 minutes by bus from Kibunaguchi Station, this place is a summer tradition! Enjoy flowing somen noodles in a calm and lovely space while gazing at the waterfall. The menu I ordered was as follows: Flowing Somen - 1,700 yen *Limited time offer until the end of September The impression was that the somen noodles flowed more than expected, and warabi mochi is served after the meal. Reservations are possible for regular dining in the general seating area, but for the flowing somen, only on-site reception is available. Be prepared for 1-2 hours depending on the arrival time! It's also nice to visit Kibun Shrine or cool off at the riverside waiting area. You can enjoy the time waiting for the flowing somen! Even in midsummer, it was cool up in the mountains surrounded by waterfalls and rivers. The extraordinary atmosphere is the best part. It's a truly wonderful and memorable experience, so I highly recommend it for family outings or dates! Thank you for the meal. --------------------------------- "Hirobun" Address: 87 Kuramakibuncho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto ⌚︎ 11:30-19:00 Closed: No regular holidays ☎️ 075-741-2147 ☑️ Reservations: Not available for flowing somen ☑️ Payment: Cash only

When I visited Kyoto for work and had some free time, I called my uncle who lives in Kyoto and we decided to have a meal together. Despite the sudden call, he was his usual self, saying "Let's go eat!" and I felt relieved. My uncle is currently unemployed due to the impact of the pandemic, so he is very carefree! He took me to a restaurant called "Hirobun" as if to say leave it to him when it comes to Kyoto. We ordered the course menu of bamboo kaiseki. Every dish had a gentle flavor that suited my preference for light seasoning perfectly. As expected of my uncle, who used to play with me a lot when I was a child, he understands my taste well! I was completely satisfied with the grilled ayu fish, which made me feel like summer! The atmosphere of the restaurant was also nice, and I had a fun conversation with my uncle whom I hadn't seen in a long time. I thought about coming with my family next time. I hope my uncle, who is such a person, can have a family soon... Since my uncle is currently unemployed, I naturally paid for the meal. I hope that the pandemic will end soon and my uncle will be able to find a job. Thank you for the meal.

When I visited Kifune Shrine, it was raining lightly and the view along the river was breathtaking. Despite it being late March, it was cold, so I decided to stop by when I saw the sign for zenzai at the entrance. I was hoping to take a break at a café, but the transparent soup with a strong saltiness, slightly firm boiled azuki beans, and the difference in texture between the grilled mochi and chestnut flavors were all excellent. I felt very satisfied with the high-quality zenzai that exceeded my expectations. I heard that you can enjoy meals on the riverside in the summer, so I would love to visit again during that season.

Eating Kyoto cuisine while overlooking the river. If you want to feel the elegance, this is the place to go. I ordered the yuba soba. The scent of lemon was just right, and I could feel Kyoto. It is a perfect place for summer, and the staff are very kind. Climbing up the hill, you will find a traditional Kyoto restaurant waiting for you.

Visit date: Holiday afternoon during autumn foliage season Number of people: 3 No reservation Approximate spending: 3500 yen Atmosphere: Suitable for dining alone, on a date, with friends, or with family On a holiday afternoon, my friends and I visited Kibune Shrine to see the autumn foliage. We were wandering around looking for a place to have lunch when we stumbled upon this restaurant. There were other similar Japanese restaurants in the area, all with similar prices. Since we didn't have a reservation, we approached the staff and were told that we would be seated after a short wait. There were two buildings across the street from each other, but we couldn't tell the difference. We were led to the second floor tatami room. After a short wait, our dishes arrived. We ordered dishes totaling around 3500 yen. The appetizers were beautifully presented in small dishes, and the rice was shiny and delicious. We even got green tea soba noodles as part of the meal. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, and we were so satisfied that we felt like lying down on the tatami mats. It was a truly enjoyable dining experience. Thank you for the wonderful meal.