Kaiseki Restaurants in Japan(556)
COURSE MENUYakiniku Kappo Note
This niku-kappo restaurant in upscale Azabu-Juban prepares course after course of succulent A5-grade wagyu beef right before diners' eyes.
COURSE MENUShojin Ryori Daigo
Holding two Michelin stars for a 15-year streak, the traditional vegetarian cuisine at this Tokyo restaurant was called "the best shojin ryori in the world" by The World's 50 Best Restaurants.
COURSE MENUTozentei
The Watanabe family brings fictional kaiseki cuisine to life at their Michelin-starred Kyoto restaurant, located conveniently near the Kinkaku-ji Temple and Arashiyama bamboo grove.
COURSE MENUFunaokayama Shimizu
These Michelin-starred kaiseki course menus feature the best ingredients from Japan, but the rice is the real star. Made with Kyoto groundwater from Daitokuji Temple, it is fluffy, fragrant and cooked to perfection in an earthenware pot.
COURSE MENUGanko Takasegawa Nijoen
Admire the Keicho-era grounds and intricate architecture of this historic Kyoto residence, before tucking into wagyu sukiyaki or kaiseki with seasonal ingredients.
COURSE MENUSeiwasou
The beautiful Edo period architecture of Seiwasou draws many guests to its gardens, and the traditional Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine keeps them at the table.
SEAT RESERVATIONNoguchi Tsunagu
Notorious for being nearly impossible to book, the former two-Michelin-starred Kyotenjin Noguchi has since opened a sister store in Noguchi Tsunagu, offering the same critically-acclaimed cuisine and stellar quality.
COURSE MENUGion Fukushi
Subtraction and simplicity – the husband-wife team behind this pristine Michelin-starred restaurant delivers regionally focused kaiseki in the purest imagination in Kyoto’s storied geisha district.
COURSE MENUHigashiyama Muku
This Michelin-starred restaurant in Meguro is led by a chef with a mechanical engineering background, who applies mathematically precise, well-calculated techniques to craft an intentionally simple yet remarkable seasonal course.
COURSE MENUKawaramachi Izumiya
Opened in 1887, this riverside restaurant has become a Gifu institution renowned for its charcoal-grilled sweetfish, the highly prized fish delicacy often nicknamed "the queen of clear rivers."
COURSE MENUNihonbashi Toyoda
While most traditional Japanese restaurants are descended from the Kyoto school, Nihonbashi Toyoda proudly keeps the flame of Edomae cuisine burning. The food of fishermen and dock workers, it is characterized by a stronger, more robust taste.
COURSE MENUGinza Ugai
Gratitude drives every service here at this Ginza kaiseki restaurant. Chef Ryogo Fujii’s mastery of umami, sweetness and bitterness augments the choice quality of his ingredients, all sourced from an extensive network of suppliers across the country.
COURSE MENUMinokichi Shijo Kawaramachi
Kaiseki in its birthplace, a meal at one of the oldest establishments to serve it — the 300-year-old Minokichi brand returns to Kyoto, now serving ultra-seasonal kaiseki in Kawaramachi to showcase the city's culinary splendor.
COURSE MENUTanimoto
A focus on simplicity and delicacy have landed Tanimoto a star in the Michelin Guide for two years. Relying on the basics, owner-chef Tanimoto Seiji wows diners with little more than rice, dashi-based dishes, and fresh seasonal ingredients.
COURSE MENUKanazawa Gyokusentei
Sitting at the foot of a scenic hill within Kanazawa's historic Gyokusen-en Garden, Gyokusentei embodies the soul of Japanese kaiseki and Kanazawa’s deep-rooted heritage.
COURSE MENUThe Japanese Restaurant by the Ritz-Carlton Nikko
Easily one of Nikko's most popular restaurants, this aptly-named lakefront restaurant serves up the popular trinity of sushi, teppanyaki and kaiseki alike in the Ritz-Carlton Nikko.
COURSE MENUShinsen Kappo Sanoya
Traditional kappo with modern gastronomic riffs — Shinsen Kappo Sanoya’s English-speaking chef adds a casual riff to his new-era kappo concept, serving traditional courses with playful flourishes.
SEAT RESERVATIONNikukappo Futago
This restaurant in The Junei Hotel Kyoto serves high-quality wagyu beef in a dizzying number of different ways, from stewed to grilled to even raw, each one more delicious than the last.
COURSE MENUXEX ATAGO GREEN HILLS / tempura & sushi An
Located in one of the most cosmopolitan areas of Tokyo, this restaurant has an Iron Chef with over 20 restaurants founded as its advisor. Combined with seafood from the finest suppliers in Toyosu, XEX ATAGO GREEN HILLS is an unmissable destination.
COURSE MENUJushu
Kansai-style kappo cuisine that’s earned itself a Michelin star. Simplicity is at the heart of Chef Senzaki Masaaki’s cooking, letting the fresh ingredients from his home prefecture of Saga speak for themselves.
SEAT RESERVATIONDen
Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa’s down-to-earth choice of menu, along with his impeccable execution, has earned his restaurant 2 Michelin stars, and a Green Star for sustainability.
COURSE MENUYoyogi-Uehara Yu
The supplier comes first at this Yoyogi-Uehara kappo restaurant. Chef Yusuke Imoto’s culinary philosophy focuses on conveying the hard work and passion of his farmers, ranchers and fishermen to the customer with simple, unadorned dishes.
COURSE MENUGion Kurashita
At his Gion restaurant, Chef Kurashita Satoru expertly prepares traditional Kyoto kaiseki, displaying mastery over all ingredients, from king crab and wagyu beef to even the humble tofu.
COURSE MENUGanko Kyoto Station
Transport yourself into the past at this Kyoto Station fixture, which has an eye-catching facade straight out of the Edo period. Popular with commuters looking for a quick bite, it’s also known to be excellent for sukiyaki or kaiseki courses.
COURSE MENUGanko Kameoka Rakurakusou
Indulge in a succulent sukiyaki or kaiseki course meal beneath the rafters of one of Japan’s Tangible Cultural Properties.
COURSE MENUHorumonyaki Koei Honten
The oldest store in the Koei chain of horumonyaki restaurants, this Kabukicho restaurant is said to draw first-time visitors through the smell of grilling offal alone, and make them repeat customers through its affordable — and delicious — menu.
SEAT RESERVATIONGion Nanba
Tradition at its finest. Secreted within Kyoto’s traditional district, Gion Nanba offers Michelin-quality kaiseki courses, featuring the best quality produce from all over Japan.
COURSE MENUKappo Sushi Hana Aza
Three of Fukuoka’s foremost experts in Japanese cuisine depart for an exciting new culinary adventure in the city’s Akasaka district. Novel kappo and sushi creations draw inspiration from cuisine both within and outside of Japan.
Recent Reviews from Guests
Kaiseki Restaurants in Tokyo
There is no more authentic Japanese dining experience than kaiseki. This iconic cuisine is the pinnacle of refinement, in which culinary auteurs present the best ingredients of the season in a series of small dishes for an exclusive audience of diners.
Since kaiseki is based so much on the seasons and the individual chef’s inspiration, you’ll never know exactly what to expect. One dish could be a grilled sweet-fish treat cooked over a burning pit of coals, the next a platter of wild vegetable tempura harvested just that very morning. One thing you can always expect, however, is gorgeous presentation. Inspired by traditional Japanese tea ceremony, kaiseki was developed in old Kyoto as a feast for each and every one of the senses.
If that all sounds very fancy, that’s because it kind of is! The very best kaiseki restaurants in Japan have three Michelin stars and waiting lists up to two years long, meaning kaiseki can often seem sealed off inside highly exclusive circles. But don’t despair — with plenty of top kaiseki restaurants to choose from, our English-language restaurant reservation service gives you the inside track to access this fascinating world of tantalizing tradition. What are you waiting for?