Minokichi Karasuma Shijo

Restaurant Details

With more than 300 years of history behind it, the Minokichi series of restaurants is essentially synonymous with Kyoto-style cuisine.

Its legacy as a traditional riverside koshikake-chaya establishment began in the year 1716, where it served sake and snacks like grilled tofu near the Sanjo Ohashi Bridge. It later became recognized as one of the eight restaurants legally allowed to serve river fish by the Kyoto governor-general later in the Edo Period. While World War II forced the restaurant to move to its current location by Nanzenji Temple, its reputation for excellence went with it, as well as to its 17 other locations currently scattered around the Kansai and Kanto regions.

Kyoto is the birthplace of kaiseki cuisine, and Minokichi carries this legacy with pride. Kaiseki is characterized by a series of elaborately prepared and plated dishes, all of which make use of luxurious ingredients. Minokichi is no exception: its course menus feature some of the finest ingredients from all over Japan, with grilled Kobe beef, fatty tuna belly and freshwater eel, to even more esoteric offerings like softshell turtle hotpot, a rare delicacy offered by few modern restaurants.

Minokichi’s main store by Nanzenji Temple is as much a historic landmark as the temple itself, having been a regular fixture on postcards as far back as 1889, and the renovated building receiving recognition for architectural excellence by the Kyoto prefectural government.

While the Karasuma Shijo branch may not have achieved quite the same level of fame, it is no less pleasant to dine in, with its traditional Japanese decor. An abundance of private rooms, each one named after a historic Kyoto landmark, accommodate parties of all sizes. But perhaps the most impressive is probably the lounge room, where a 15-seater counter sets the stage for a veritable banquet.

Minokichi Karasuma Shijo Remarks

• Guests with dietary restrictions and/or food allergies should inform the restaurant beforehand. The restaurant might not be able to accommodate guests who make same-day requests.

• The restaurant reserves the right to refuse reservations to guests who have excessive dietary restrictions, particularly those of fish or vegetables.

• The course menu content listed below is an example, and is subject to change based on seasonal availability.

• The restaurant cannot always guarantee that it can provide guests with their preferred seating options after a reservation due to availability.

• The pictures provided are for illustrative purposes.

Minokichi Karasuma Shijo Business Days

Minokichi Karasuma Shijo Address

Fukutoku Building B1F, Tearai Mizu-cho 670, Nishikikouji-Agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8152

Minokichi Karasuma Shijo Access Info

• Minokichi Karasuma Shijo is accessible via a 3-minute walk from Exit 21 of Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line, or a 3-minute walk from Shijo Station’s Exit 21 on the Karasuma Line. Alternatively, it is a 5-minute walk from the Shijo-Karasuma bus stop on the Kyoto City Bus service.

Minokichi Karasuma Shijo Phone Number

Minokichi Karasuma Shijo Cancellation Policy

Cancel your reservation at least 2 days before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.