・Dining in a private room for a peaceful meal ・Authentic cuisine ・Beautiful interior design ・Sake priced at around 2000 yen per cup Menu: - Fragrant green tea, blue bamboo sake - Appetizers: assorted seasonal delicacies, Thai sushi, kashiwa sushi, anago, arrowroot ginger, helmet, small taro in silk wrap, ikura, mugwort tempura, fresh ginger vinegar - Clear soup: spring vegetable soup with young rice, simmered plum, rape blossom, butterfly squash, yuzu flower - Assorted dishes: Thai and hamo sashimi, bamboo shoot, grilled dish with fresh fish and bonito, yuzu tofu, red and white miso soup, bracken hot pot, bamboo shoot, beef loin with sansho pepper, rare delicacies with grilled squid and jelly sauce, rice with mixed miso and agar-agar, edamame rice, pickles, clear soup, warabi mochi, strawberry, dekopon, apple, banana sherbet, peppermint

I visited this restaurant in Kyoto for a day trip and had dinner there in the evening! The food was excellent, but what really stood out was the room decor and the service, which made for a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience. The steamed sushi appetizer was especially delicious. I will definitely visit again!

Needless to say, the essence of traditional Japanese cuisine and hospitality at this high-class restaurant is truly impressive. From the food to the service and attention to detail, everything is wonderful and I am always moved each time I visit. I highly recommend this place over the neighboring upscale restaurant with hard-to-get reservations. The head chef is still active and his conversations are interesting and educational. I definitely want to go back again.

The street in front of the restaurant is busy with cars coming and going, but once you enter the room, a quiet and spacious private room awaits. It is a Japanese-style room with seasonal hanging scrolls, and there is a large table and chairs that are too big for just two people, creating a relaxing space. The food uses plenty of seasonal ingredients, and for grilled dishes, the chef cooks them right in front of you on the veranda, allowing you to eat them immediately.

"Keninji Maruyama" has been maintaining its position as a prestigious Kyoto cuisine establishment for a long time. This was my first visit to the restaurant. The private rooms are furnished with tatami mats, tables, and chairs. We opted for the 15,000 yen course menu (plus 15% service charge) for dinner, which included the following dishes: - Appetizer: Grilled beef, ginkgo nuts, shiitake mushrooms, pine nuts, and turnip miso wrapped in magnolia leaves - Hassun: Hokkaido scallop, sweetfish, and simmered gelatin - Soup: Steamed turnip, matsutake mushrooms, and crab meat - Grilled dish and side dish: Grilled fish, chirashi sushi with bracken, baby bamboo shoots, salmon roe, and rolled omelette - Simmered dish: Lotus root, burdock root, pumpkin, green beans, turnip, and mashed ingredients - Delicacy: Rock seaweed and white fish vinegar dish, persimmon, bonito flakes, lily bulbs, and white sesame dressed nameko mushrooms, sea urchin, and minari - Rice: Minced root vegetables, minari, and beef cooked rice, miso soup, and pickles - Dessert: Persimmon, muscat grapes, pear, sherbet, white bean paste shiratama zenzai, and matcha green tea The dishes that left a lasting impression were the appetizer and delicacy. The magnolia leaf grilled dish was served on a hot stone with beef, ginkgo nuts, shiitake mushrooms, and miso, providing a visually striking and warm start to the meal. The delicacy of persimmon, bonito flakes, and lily bulbs in white sesame dressing was elegantly presented in a hollowed-out persimmon, offering a delightful blend of flavors and textures. The special bamboo sake (Tamano Hikari special junmai ginjo, 2 cups for 4,500 yen) from Kyoto was smooth and exceptional. The overall experience was a nostalgic and seasonal journey through familiar ingredients presented in a traditional Kyoto cuisine style. Despite the lack of a strong sense of exclusivity, the meal evoked a sense of comfort and familiarity reminiscent of childhood memories. During the meal, the owner, Mr. Maruyama, came to greet us and emphasized the importance of intangible elements in their cooking. While the restaurant may not exude a strong sense of luxury, it offers a unique blend of nostalgia and seasonal essence within the realm of traditional Kyoto cuisine.

The dish reminded me of the depth of Japanese cuisine. The utensils, ingredients, and service were all fantastic. There was no arrogance or showiness, just a pure and honest atmosphere. The craftsmanship of the chef speaks for itself. The only minor issue was that the room was a bit cold. I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Maruyama offers private rooms for each guest, where a chef cooks in the garden. You can choose additional dishes like sweetfish, pike conger, clams, and have them prepared to your liking. Everything is incredibly delicious and unforgettable. The restaurant's atmosphere is top-notch and luxurious. It's a wonderful experience to absorb all the happiness and leave feeling fulfilled. ✨✨

We visited for lunch on the 4th day in Kyoto. Kyoto, my favorite city in the world. When it comes to dining in Kyoto, the first thing that comes to mind is a Japanese course meal, but in our case, my husband enjoys having his meal at the counter, so we don't have much experience with traditional ryotei where you dine in a calm private room. However, we decided to make a reservation at a place where we could experience a different charm from dining at the counter. The entrance of the restaurant exuded a calm and charming atmosphere. The room we were seated in on the first floor was set up for summer, with tatami mats but with tables and chairs provided so you don't have to sit seiza style. The alcove displayed decorations related to the Gion Festival. We were served a greeting plum wine and a summer purification ritual-themed appetizer. As we enjoyed our meal with beer and oolong tea, the waitress who brought the second dish informed us that there might be some inconvenience as there were children in the room above us. We accepted this understanding that it was the Gion Festival season, and soon after, we heard the sounds of children running around and making noise from the room above. It became increasingly difficult to enjoy our meal in such an atmosphere. The meal was an 8000 yen lunch course, a special experience for us, and we believe that the enjoyment of the meal is enhanced by the atmosphere and service. We finished our meal and as we left the room, we heard loud conversations in a foreign language coming from the second floor. It made me realize that it was impossible to even reprimand the children. When we visited a Japanese restaurant in Kyoto in June, we also noticed an increase in foreign tourists, which is not a problem in itself. However, if they visit, we hope they will adhere to basic manners to avoid causing inconvenience to other customers. For example, when taking photos at the counter, do not stand up and take photos over other customers' heads. In a private room, where sounds can easily be heard in the surrounding rooms, it is important to be considerate of noise, and not bring children who do not understand such basic etiquette. It made me realize that without the intervention of the individuals themselves, or a reminder from the hotel concierge or the restaurant staff who accepted the reservation, it can be difficult. It was a visit that made me feel that perhaps our family is not destined for ryotei after all. Ease of reservation: ★★★★★ Likelihood of revisiting: - Thank you for the meal.

As November deepens and autumn approaches, a friend from my hometown who is working in Tokyo is coming to Kansai, so we decided to meet up after a long time. When I asked where he wanted to go for sightseeing, such as Kyoto, Nara, or Kobe, he mentioned that he had made a reservation at a restaurant in Kennin-ji Temple. What?! With me?? He was like a cute younger brother to me, as we grew up together from childhood. He was born in May, and compared to my tall stature, he was like a little brother born in late March. Now, he has grown into a fine young man! Actually, we are both in our forties, so we are middle-aged, right? Occasionally, we meet up for meals, but in my mind, he has always been a somewhat unreliable guy. So, we arrived at our lunch date at "Kennin-ji Gion Maruyama" restaurant. It was my first time visiting Kennin-ji Temple and the atmosphere was quiet and pleasant compared to other places in Kyoto. Kennin-ji Temple is a place where you can truly feel the changing seasons, especially during autumn. As we entered through the gate made in the sukiya-zukuri style on the south side of Kennin-ji Temple along Yasaka Street, we saw water being sprinkled for purification at the entrance. The traditional Kyoto atmosphere welcomes you with a dignified air. In winter, there are fresh pine needles laid out at the entrance for purification, while in summer, they have ice pillars set up to greet guests. Each room is a private room, and the interior design, as well as the decorations with scrolls and flowers, are all carefully arranged to provide a comfortable space for guests to experience the four seasons of Japan. A dining space that showcases the four seasons of Japan in Kyoto, a city with a history of 1,200 years. Let's dig in! - Ginger hot water: Perfect for warming up in the chilly Kyoto weather. - Persimmon leaf assortment: Served in a cute persimmon-shaped dish. Lily root, nameko mushrooms, and bonito flakes in white miso dressing. Lightly seared ginkgo nuts. The flavors are rich and delightful. - Kasumi sushi: Eel wrapped in lotus leaf. Taro and sea urchin. The taro is well soaked in broth. - Dobin mushi: Clear soup with grilled conger eel. The soup is excellent. I'm glad to be Japanese! - Sashimi: Flounder, bonito, and seared sea bream skin. The crispy seared sea bream skin is fragrant and delicious. - Grilled dish: Mackerel with sansho pepper. In Kyoto, there is a dish called "miso with sansho pepper" which is made by cooking small chili peppers and leaves together. I love mackerel! Served with sansho pepper. Very Kyoto-like. - Rice dish: Kyoto Hinohikari new rice. I had seconds! It's so delicious and shiny! My friend had three servings. - Soup, pickles, homemade mentaiko furikake: The mentaiko furikake makes me want more. - Dessert: Pear, Pione grapes, mango sherbet. The skin of the Pione grapes was neatly peeled. I only managed to take pictures of each dish before devouring them. With a sense of hospitality unique to Gion and meticulous attention to detail, we enjoyed delicious Kyoto cuisine at "Gion Maruyama." After the meal, Chef Maruyama came to our private room to greet us. Chef Maruyama had previously worked as a head chef at Kikunoi and Wakuden before opening "Gion Maruyama." My friend mentioned that he had been well taken care of by Chef Maruyama during his time at Kikunoi. Thank you for the delicious meal. It was truly wonderful. Thank you, my friend.

I visited for lunch. The course cost 12,000 yen. You can enjoy your meal in a completely private room. The atmosphere of the restaurant is like a traditional townhouse. The dishes may vary depending on the season, but when I visited in November, they were beautifully decorated with autumn leaves and ginkgo leaves. The most impressive dish was the pot-cooked mixed rice. It had a spicy kick from the pickled ginger, and I couldn't help but have seconds. They cook one pot per group, so you can have as many refills as you like.

Amazing. Definitely coming back. A fan of Maruyama-san and love it! I still have many more photos, but for now, this is enough! About 10 dishes will be posted! Only photos taken by me!

I enjoyed everything deliciously. Thank you for the meal.

I had the best experience coming to Kyoto. It felt like I was invited from a tea house as I could hear shamisen and singing from downstairs, making the atmosphere even better. Every dish was carefully prepared and beautifully presented, using high-quality ingredients that you could really taste.

It was a 10,000 yen course for lunch. The flavors were mild and gentle. The room was clean and the private rooms were nice.

Great atmosphere, near Miyagawa, in Gion. I'm stuffed!