Kinoshita

Restaurant Details

First founded in 1996, Kinoshita is known among French cuisine aficionados in Tokyo for being one of the hardest restaurants to secure a reservation for in its almost 30 years of history. At the peak of its popularity, reservations had to be made a year in advance.

Things quietened down somewhat in the early 2010s, but the restaurant then experienced a second renaissance with its receiving of a Michelin Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide Tokyo in 2022.

A rare outlier, head chef Kinoshita Kazuhiko has actually never trained in France, unlike many of his contemporaries. In fact, he never even went to culinary school. His background? Making takoyaki — octopus balls. How this translates into truly excellent French cuisine is a mystery to everyone, but none will dispute his prowess once the first dish is laid before them.

Chef Kinoshita meticulously selects his ingredients, including Yezo shika venison, from producers all over Japan. This is in line with his philosophy that cuisine should be simple; he strips back the unnecessary to reveal what he calls the “essence” of each ingredient. Presentation is subdued, even if flavor combinations like cod milt risotto with white truffle make for unorthodox results. It’s uncomplicated, light, and yet utterly satisfying.

On the wine front, Chef Kinoshita delivers in spades.. Kinoshita’s cellar stocks 3,000 wines to satisfy even the most particular of connoisseurs. If the choice is dizzying, Chef Kinoshita is always on hand to offer pairing advice.

Less than 20 minutes from Yoyogi Park, Kinoshita is the ideal place to spend a date night. Enjoy the prix-fixe set menu, or opt for the omakase course. When that’s done, take that special someone with you out into the cool night air for a stroll around the grounds.

Michelin Guide:

2022 - Bib Gourmand

Kinoshita Access Info

• Kinoshita is a 6-minute walk from Sangubashi Station on the Odakyu Odawara Line, or a 9-minute walk from Hatsudai Station on the Keio New Line. It is also 10 minutes’ walk from the West Exit of JR Yoyogi Station, or 10 minutes’ walk from the same station on the Toei Oedo Line.

Kinoshita Phone Number

Kinoshita Business Days

Kinoshita Address

Yoyogi Estate Building 1F, 3-37-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0053

Kinoshita Cancellation Policy

Cancel your reservation at least 1 week before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.