Everything was labor-intensive and everything was impressive. I visited for lunch, and I think it's quite reasonable to be under 10,000 yen for this quality. I definitely want to visit this restaurant again. I heard that even the soy sauce, ponzu sauce, and karasumi are all homemade. I am truly impressed by the meticulous work put into each dish.

We used this restaurant for a family lunch. Every year, after visiting the grave, we have lunch around Gion before heading back, but last year we couldn't visit the grave, so it was a long-awaited Gion lunch. My friends often go for French or Italian cuisine, so it was a rare treat to have Japanese food ❤️ We couldn't get a reservation at the place we planned to go, so we hurriedly found another restaurant a couple of days before. There were few reviews and little information on social media, so I was actually quite worried, but I was pleasantly surprised beyond my expectations! Perhaps because it was a late hour, we had the counter seats all to ourselves, allowing us to savor the food at our own pace. The ingredients were top-notch, incorporating plenty of seasonal items, and each dish, including the dessert, was delicately seasoned with nothing to complain about. It was like magic ❤️ It was an impressive lunchtime with delicious food and sake after a long time. Even my mother, who is picky and usually eats little, enjoyed the meal and even bought some dried young sardines as a souvenir!! We definitely want to visit this place again next time. Also, we were grateful that they overlooked the lack of manners as we passed the dishes for my mother, who couldn't finish her food (^_^;)

It's a challenge to try a new restaurant! On a day when all the restaurants I wanted to go to were fully booked, I was considering going with a random choice. Then, my foodie friend mentioned a place in Kyoto called "Kabu." I had never heard of this place before and couldn't find much information online. Apparently, it was featured in a dining magazine. I called to see if they had availability on a free day and they said they had a private room available. They also said it was okay to bring children, so we decided to give it a try. We opted for the 8,000 yen lunch course. The restaurant was small and cozy, with a warm atmosphere. The staff, especially the friendly hostess and the kind owner, made us feel welcome and we had a great time chatting with them. The food was traditional Kyoto cuisine, nothing too fancy but well-prepared. The restaurant seemed to cater more to foreign customers, so they focused on serving authentic Japanese dishes. The meal included a variety of dishes such as spinach salad, crab soup, sashimi, tempura, and a delicious rice dish. Although the portion size was a bit small for the price, the quality was good. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience in the heart of Gion. The owners even saw us off at the end of our meal. It seems like they are quite popular, especially during the holiday season when many foreign visitors come to Kyoto. It's interesting how Kyoto has become a destination for international tourists. Thank you for the meal.

The store opened in April 2017. As soon as I entered the store, the pleasant scent of hinoki wood filled the air. The counter was made of a single piece of knot-free Nara cypress, and the walls were covered in authentic plaster. I could feel the chef's dedication to authenticity. The young chef, who had trained at numerous famous restaurants, showcased his skills with each delicious dish. Not only the food, but also the sense of the tableware was impressive to me. The dishes, hand-picked by the chef from a pottery shop in Tsukiji and a lacquerware shop in Osaka, enhanced the visual appeal of the food. The restaurant is not yet crowded, perhaps due to its recent opening, but I can see it becoming very popular and difficult to book in the future. When I mentioned it was my birthday last week, they even prepared a birthday celebration on the spot, showing excellent hospitality. I look forward to visiting for dinner next time. Thank you for a wonderful meal.

Visited for a ladies' lunch at an adult women's gathering ✨ Located between Yasaka Shrine and Kodai-ji Temple, the restaurant seems to be new with a shiny interior of about 6 counter seats ✨ We started with drinks and a toast, with a selection ranging from sake to wine. The beautifully presented dishes arrived at just the right time for us chatty diners, and they even provided a separate dish for those who don't eat raw food. It was a cozy and enjoyable time ✨ Each dish was carefully crafted and delicious ✨ We were pleasantly surprised when a proper dessert was served, as many similar restaurants only offer a simple fruit course. I would love to bring my mother and others here in the future, and I imagine it would be lovely for dinner as well. Thank you for the wonderful meal ✨

This time, I visited a traditional Japanese restaurant called "Gion Hanamai," which opened in April this year. Located on a side street just a little way down on the left from the south gate of Yasaka Shrine, next to "Gion Juvenile" restaurant. On the day of the Gion Matsuri pre-festival, there was a huge crowd of over 220,000 people gathered around Shijo Kawaramachi area, creating a lively atmosphere since morning. However, as I entered a side street, a peaceful and elegant Kyoto-like tranquility surrounded me. Even though it was a bit early, when I called out, the staff and the owner greeted me from the back of the restaurant. The counter, made of a single piece of white wood, has 6 seats, and there is a tatami room on the second floor. I made a reservation through a website called "Ikyu.com" just 4 days before my visit. The owner, Mr. Hayashi, is a young man in his early 40s who trained at famous Kyoto restaurants and worked as the head chef of Japanese cuisine at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong before finally realizing his dream of opening his own restaurant. We started with a drink from the Kyoto sake list. The meal consisted of various dishes such as appetizers, sashimi, soup, grilled fish, cold dishes, hot pot, rice dish, and dessert, all beautifully presented and of exceptional quality. The owner's sense of tableware was also impressive. The conversation was lively, and we enjoyed some summer limited edition sake from Shiga prefecture which was not on the menu. Mr. Hayashi, who doesn't drink much himself, was very knowledgeable about sake and provided excellent service throughout the meal. The staff were also friendly and attentive, making the dining experience truly delightful. As we left, they even saw us off until we reached the main street, a gesture typical of Kyoto's hospitality. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend making a reservation in advance to visit this restaurant.

It became warmer and it's cherry blossom season, so I went to Gion last week. Recently, I've been busy with work and had no time to relax, but a friend invited me to a new restaurant, so I decided to go. The restaurant "Hanamai" is located near Yasaka Shrine, just a short walk from Keihan Gion Shijo. The head chef of this restaurant trained at Tankuma, worked at various hotels and inns, and even served as the head chef at "Inagiku" in Hong Kong. The restaurant was newly opened and the interior was sparkling clean, making me a bit nervous about dirtying it, but the staff reassured me that it was okay. The dishes were beautifully presented and delicious, with a variety of appetizers, steamed rice with broad beans and dried shrimp, clam in salt broth, Toro white shrimp with seaweed, white sweetfish marinated in kelp, miso-grilled Omi beef, firefly squid sashimi, hotaru squid shabu-shabu, rice cooked with spring water from Kumano Kodo, and homemade dessert. The prices for food and drinks were reasonable, and I look forward to visiting again as the menu changes monthly.

This time, I purchased a lucky bag of New Year's dishes where you don't know which restaurant's dish from 44 types will be delivered. What arrived was a New Year's dish supervised by Hanamai-san, and in terms of taste and cost performance, it was excellent, and I think it was a good purchase. They also included a discount coupon for a meal, so I would like to take this opportunity to visit a restaurant in Gion as well.

Every year, I look forward to going home to my parents' house to enjoy the New Year's dishes my mother makes. However, now that my mother is over 80 years old, it's becoming difficult for her to prepare everything. This year, for the first time, we decided to order the New Year's dishes. The overall seasoning was light and very delicious. There were almost 60 dishes, each with a description, allowing us to savor each one. Thank you for the wonderful meal. I will definitely order again next year. Reorder Index: ★★★★★, Recommendation Index: ★★★★★

A traditional Japanese restaurant located in a quiet alley away from the hustle and bustle of Gion. We were lucky enough to have the place all to ourselves on this day. As we entered, the new restaurant's counter made of a single solid piece of wood caught our eye. We were greeted with a warm welcome and given name cards before starting our meal. The chef and the staff were both very attentive and the dishes that came out one by one showcased their attention to detail and unique flavors. Not only were the dishes visually appealing, but they also had delicate flavors that suited my taste. While Gion has many famous restaurants, I recommend trying out these hidden gem restaurants as well.