Kenninji Gion Maruyama

A Michelin Guide two-star restaurant in the heart of Gion,
right behind the Kenninji temple.

There are so many good Kaiseki (traditional Japanese course menu) restaurants in the area, that it’s difficult to choose. For the price, this class of restaurant will cost a minimum of yen 10,000. Yes, it’s expensive but someone who loves good food can’t visit Kyoto without trying a Kaiseki restaurant. And it really is a unique experience,

I recommend this restaurant because the setting is so beautiful. They only have private rooms with a little garden, and the service is just perfect. Also, a private tatami room is very kid-friendly. When visiting France, we used to take our boy with us to Michelin-star restaurants, but it’s not easy to take kids to a good restaurant in France.

For the Kaiseki restaurants, lunch is usually the best value. Prizes start from yen 15,000 up to 20,000 (yen 18,975 to 25,300 with tax and service charges), depending on the ingredients they use (not depending on the volume and quantity of food). For a dinner course, prices start from yen 30,000 yen (yen 37,950 including tax and service charges). They provide English explanations for each dish so you understand what you are eating (dishes are really beautiful but it is sometimes difficult to guess what they are).

Since they are rated (2 stars) by the Michelin guide, it’s quite difficult to get a spot. I recommend you to make a reservation as soon as possible. Here’s the link: https://gionmaruyama.com/goyoyaku/