It's a shop on Maruta-machi Street. There aren't many shops around here, and it looks like lunchtime is ending, so I decided to go in here right away. At the entrance, they had hand sanitizer for disinfecting. There was only one group of customers. It's reassuring to have fewer worries about COVID. They had two types of meals: a dim sum bento for 2200 yen and a flavorsome bento for 3300 yen. I thought I wouldn't be able to eat much, so I chose the smaller dim sum bento. After sitting down for a while, the food arrived. It was quick. The bento box was filled with various dishes. The grilled fish and miso soup were warm, but the rest seemed like they were pre-made. That's why it came out so fast. Each dish had a refined Kyoto-style seasoning. The mixed rice and persimmon leaf sushi were a bit too much rice, but overall, it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

A bento box that is typical of Kyoto. Reasonably priced.

I had a meal at a local restaurant with my sister-in-law, her husband, and my mother. It seemed like a course meal costing ¥5000, even though we are all grown up. The meal included a beautifully crafted octopus dish with a demon mask design inspired by Setsubun, simmered beans, a white miso soup reflecting the season, delicious grilled mackerel, a variety of sashimi, a light and refreshing crab miso soup, a simmered dish with fluffy gluten, tempura, and a comforting chicken and burdock rice porridge. The dessert was a citrus fruit. The meal made me feel like I was back in Kyoto. It broke my preconceived notions about mackerel, as the grilled mackerel was juicy and tender, unlike any I had tried before. Each dish showcased the flavors of the season and made me appreciate the beauty of Japan's four seasons.

After strolling around Tenryu-ji Temple, I had lunch here. It's located near Marutamachi Street, so it might be a hidden gem. I made a reservation in advance and went there right when it opened. Besides counter seats, they also have sunken kotatsu seats and tatami seats. I ordered the two-tiered dim sum bento for ¥2200. The top tier had vinegared dishes, chawanmushi, and salads. The chawanmushi had pickled cherry blossoms on top, with yuba and white fish inside. The bottom tier had appetizers, simmered dishes, and mixed rice with various items like chicken, miso-grilled fish, and rolled omelette. The rice, served in a gourd-shaped container, was very filling. The shrimp and bamboo shoot clear soup was light and delicious. You can easily enjoy Kyoto cuisine made with seasonal ingredients. Since there aren't many tourists, I highly recommend it. Bon appétit!

I visited a restaurant that I chose based on both price and taste, referring to a guidebook. It is located a little away from the center of Arashiyama. You may not notice it unless you deliberately go there. I ordered the "Aji-namaben" bento (3000 yen) and the "Tenshin" bento (2000 yen). The Aji-namaben bento is packed with a variety of dishes in one container. It includes grilled dishes, simmered dishes, fried dishes, steamed dishes (chawanmushi), sushi, dessert, and more. Each simmered dish is cooked separately, and the seasoning of the eggplant was particularly exquisite. Don't underestimate the eggplant! The rice in the conger eel sushi has a citrus flavor, giving it a refreshing taste. Although not shown in the photos, I was amazed by the yuba miso soup. It was made with sweet white miso, which had a unique taste like a fusion of white miso and sweet sake. I'm not sure if it's a special miso, but it was very delicious. There was little difference between the two bentos, with the 3000 yen one having slightly more quantity and sashimi. Both bentos are a great value, but the Tenshin bento may offer even more value. By the way, I have had sea bream tea rice in Arashiyama before. The price was the same as the Tenshin bento, but the flavor was rich, and considering the effort put into it, I couldn't help but think how much of a great value it was. I would definitely like to visit this restaurant again when I go to Arashiyama next time.

This is Machi Taxi. Arashiyama is a popular spot, alongside Kiyomizu-dera. There are plenty of dining options, but during the tourist season, everywhere gets crowded and the famous places can be quite expensive. One recommendation is "Misho" restaurant. Here, you can enjoy authentic Kyoto cuisine at a reasonable price. I sat at the counter. The chopstick rest looks like a lady doll. Foreigners would also be delighted. What I had this time was the "Dim Sum Bento" (¥2000). It is in two tiers. The green object in the front is a pickled plum. It's big! It's not sour at all. It has a slight acidity but can be eaten without rice. It increases your appetite. There is a steamed egg custard and sushi, which seems to be eel. Overall photo. It's packed full. With somen noodles included, ¥2000 is a good deal. Let's take a closer look. There is eggplant miso, grilled fish with miso, and rolled omelet. The rice is slightly soft. I prefer it firmer, but it was delicious enough. This level of firmness is probably suitable for everyone. Behind the octopus is raw wheat gluten. Underneath that is konjac, which was surprisingly soft and tasty. Somen noodles. It has several condiments, including water shield. It was quite filling. I'm full. By the way, the owner here trained at Hyotei near Nanzen-ji, but even without that prior knowledge, it's still delicious. While it's nice to have dishes served one by one, it can take too long for lunch for tourists. If you're using a private taxi, the lunchtime is also included in the private fee. With Misho's bento, you can have it in 30-40 minutes. This is definitely a place you want to take your guests to. Location: From Arashiyama Station on the Randen line, head north and cross the tracks. It's on the southwest corner of the first traffic light (Marutamachi Street). If you're driving, continue north at that traffic light (one way) and about 50m ahead on the left is a coin parking lot. (Visited in June 2012)

Walking straight north from Togetsukyo Bridge, crossing the JR railway crossing, you will find this shop on the left corner of a large street intersection. Just like the renowned shops in Arashiyama, Kyoto, this shop can be considered one of the best. I visited in April and felt the spring atmosphere throughout. The use of cherry blossom-shaped fu (wheat gluten), salted cherry blossoms, and cherry leaf pickles elegantly showcased the flavors of spring. The variety and portion of dishes were ample. The food was truly impressive. The only downside was the slightly unfriendly service from the staff. If this improves, it could easily be a five-star experience. Nevertheless, the deliciousness of the food was exceptional.

After leaving Arashiyama Station, walk north in the opposite direction of Togetsukyo Bridge. The area is crowded with people until you reach the JR railway tracks, but it becomes quieter past the railroad crossing. On the left-hand side, there is a restaurant called "Ajiou." They offer two types of bento boxes during the day: a dim sum bento for 2000 yen and an Ajiou bento for 3000 yen. In the evening, they have reservation-only courses priced at 4500 yen, 6000 yen, 8000 yen, and 10000 yen, as well as individual dishes. I ordered the dim sum bento, which was served in a two-tiered container and beautifully arranged. While there are no extravagant dishes, the presentation was satisfying. In the crowded area of Arashiyama, it may be difficult to find a decent restaurant aside from traditional establishments like Yoshikura. There were two buffet-style restaurants competing in front of the station.

A leisurely stroll in Arashiyama. From morning, I took photos of the stone monuments of Edison and Hertz at Horinji Den Den Palace, fed the monkeys at Monkey Park, and before I knew it, it was already past noon. It was time for lunch, and if I didn't hurry, I might miss the typical lunchtime at regular restaurants. Since I had already decided on a place to eat, I relied on my mobile map app and hurried towards it. Passing by Togetsukyo Bridge and Tenryuji Temple, I resisted the temptation of eateries and finally arrived at this restaurant, called Ajisei. I had heard about this place not from a food review site like Tabelog, but from a personal website recommending Kyoto sightseeing courses, and travel essays. I was excited to visit as it was said to dispel the image of "expensive, thin, and small" Kyoto cuisine. It was a small but elegantly designed restaurant with a distinctly Kyoto atmosphere. Feeling a bit nervous, I opened the sliding door and was greeted by an interior that exuded a typical small restaurant ambiance. It felt a bit dim with the subtle lighting. When I informed the hostess that I was dining alone, she led me to a seat at the counter. I briefly hoped to witness the skillful knife work of a chef at the counter, but the lunch dishes seemed to be prepared in the kitchen behind the noren curtain, leaving the counter area empty. A bit disappointing. "For lunch, we have bento boxes priced at 2000 yen and 3000 yen. Which would you like?" the hostess asked. Not only at that moment, but I found the service somewhat impersonal, lacking in warmth. I couldn't help but wish for a bit more smiles, a softer tone of voice. Now, onto the order. I debated between the Dim Sum Bento (2000 yen) with a dessert and the Ajisei Bento (3000 yen) with dessert, and ended up choosing the latter. When it arrived, it was not just a bento box but a colorful kaiseki meal. It was much larger than I had imagined, and I couldn't help but exclaim "Wow" when it was placed in front of me. Considering the prices in Kyoto's tourist areas, this was quite reasonable. I had wrongly assumed that the bento would consist of mainly side dishes served at room temperature, but I was completely mistaken. My apologies for the misjudgment. The fried dishes were crispy and freshly fried, and the chawanmushi and soup were excellent, as were the simmered dishes and rice, all prepared with care. Each dish had a distinct flavor profile, not overly extravagant, yet maintaining an elegant touch. I particularly enjoyed the miso soup with white miso and small taro. It was a classic combination, but the richness of the white miso and dashi flavor was well-balanced, with the warmth and softness of the white miso's sweetness and the tenderness of the small taro creating a comforting experience for my tired body. For dessert, I was served a ripe persimmon, and although I initially wished for something more like a sweet, the ripeness of the persimmon was exceptional. It was sweet and incredibly soft, and I couldn't help but marvel at how this persimmon didn't need any fancy processing to be a dessert. As I savored each dish, I became completely full. I had eaten to the point of feeling uncomfortably full. For someone like me who has a hearty appetite, this may be too much for a light eater. This restaurant lives up to its reputation of offering delicious Kyoto cuisine at a reasonable price. When visiting Arashiyama, I recommend skipping food stalls and arriving with an empty stomach to fully enjoy the experience.

It is a very popular Kyoto cuisine restaurant that I often visit. The lunch prices are around 3000 yen and dinner starts from 5000 yen. I usually order the most affordable option, but the variety of dishes is so plentiful that I always leave feeling full and satisfied. The presentation and ingredients of the dishes allow you to feel the seasonality of Kyoto cuisine. It doesn't seem to be too crowded, but since the seating is limited, I always make a reservation before going.