Kyoto is a city with many attractive restaurants and streets lined with emotion. Kyoto is a city of Kyoto and is home to many famous Japanese restaurants, including Kyoto-style cuisine, but sushi is not to be missed. The simple combination of rice and ingredients is a deep dish that is loved not only by the Japanese but also by people from all over the world because it is a condensed version of the delicate skills of a sushi chef. In this issue, we will introduce four famous sushi restaurants in Kyoto that you should visit at least once.
1.Piece of artisanal skill served in a sophisticated Japanese space
Gion Sushi Tadaho (Gion-Shijo Station, Kyoto)
Gion Sushi Chuho is located in Gion, Kyoto, and has an elegant Japanese atmosphere. The restaurant is a sophisticated Japanese-style space made entirely of hinoki cypress, with impressive features such as the beautifully carved wooden ceiling and ice refrigerator, etc. The first floor has counter seating, and the second floor is completely private, making it ideal for entertaining guests and families.
The owner, Tadayasu Morita, makes Edo-mae sushi using only domestic, natural ingredients. Carefully selected ingredients purchased from Tsukiji are aged to enhance their flavor, and combined with his special rice, the result is an exquisite piece of sushi. For example, we use red vinegar for the rice, and a special blend of red vinegar for the tuna. The size of the rice is also adjusted according to the type of fish.
2. Sushi kappo restaurant loved for over 50 years in Gion-cho, Kyoto
Sushi Kappou Nakaiichi (Gion-Shijo Station, Kyoto Prefecture)
Sushi kappou Nakaichi is a sushi kappou restaurant established in 1970 that has been in Gion, Kyoto for over 50 years. It is one of the famous restaurants loved by both local regulars and tourists. The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere with a Japanese flavor, with counter and table seating available for a variety of occasions.
The proprietor, Kenta Suhara, became the second-generation proprietor in 2016 after studying at the ryotei Kaiseki Tsuruyuki in Kanazawa. His dishes are carefully prepared using carefully selected ingredients, such as fresh fish delivered daily from Awaji Island, and are a perfect match for the sake the proprietor has carefully selected. Sake, shochu, wine, and other drinks are available to complement the flavors of the dishes according to the tastes of the guests. The marriage of each dish with the matching Koshimizu or other Kyoto-style pottery is another attraction. Enjoy the sushi kappo experience that is pleasing to both the eye and the palate.
3. A sushi restaurant where you can enjoy a fusion of Kyoto cuisine and Edo-mae sushi, woven with techniques honed at famous restaurants.
Sushi Rakumi (Kyoto/Sanjo Station)
Sushi Rakumi is a sushi restaurant located along the quiet Shirakawa River in Gion Kitagawa, in a sukiya-style building. The owner, Kazuya Nomura, who studied at sushi restaurants in Tokyo and the famous Japanese restaurant “Gion Sakaki” in Kyoto, prepares sushi at the counter made of rare and beautiful Bishu cypress. The restaurant’s original courses, which offer dishes that shine with Kyoto-style dashi broth and Edo-mae sushi, are very attractive.
We procure seasonal seafood mainly from the Kyoto Central Market, but also from Toyosu Market and Yaizu. Two types of rice, red vinegar and white vinegar, are used for each item, so enjoy the difference between the two. The “Steamed Abalone with Liver Sauce” is one of the specialties, served as a risotto with freshly cooked red vinegar rice. 6 hours of carefully simmered abalone makes this a dish that captures the essence of “Gion Sakaki”.
4. Authentic edo-mae sushi in a charming hanamachi (flower district)
Sushi Matsumoto (Gion-Shijo Station, Kyoto)
Sushi Matsumoto is located in Gion, the elegant flower district of Tokyo. The dignified appearance of the restaurant, with its chic “Sushi” noren (curtain) on a white background, conveys the spirit of Edo-mae sushi. The owner, Daisuke Matsumoto, honed his skills at Shinbashi Shimizu, an orthodox Edo-mae sushi restaurant in Shinbashi, Tokyo, before setting up his own restaurant in Kyoto, attracted by the charm of Kyoto. He entertains guests with his authentic Edomae-zushi, focusing on the rice and the ingredients.
Based on our philosophy of “serving the best possible fish of the day,” we purchase only the best quality seafood from the Tsukiji and Akashi markets every morning. The rice is cooked with a blend of new and old rice to give it a texture that is easy to break into pieces, and seasoned simply with red vinegar and salt. The harmony between the seafood and the rice is so perfect that you will be surprised at the taste of the dish.
In this issue, we have introduced four famous sushi restaurants in Kyoto that you should visit at least once. These are restaurants where you can fully enjoy sushi made with carefully selected ingredients and the skill of the chefs. We hope you will spend a quality time in Kyoto, filling your stomach with delicious sushi and enriching your mind.
