Gion Nishikawa
祇園 にしかわ
Kaiseki in Gion, Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama, Kyoto, 11 min walk from Gion-shijo Station
Our analysis
- #17of 129 kaiseki restaurants in Gion, Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama
- ¥33,000least expensive dinner course; median ¥30,000
- ★★Michelin Guide 2026
- Englishonline booking from abroad
Dinner ¥20,000–29,999Closed Mondays and SundaysBook online: OMAKASE
All 7 photos, by dishes, the room and the entrance
Dishes 5
Inside 1
Entrance 1
In our ranking, Gion Nishikawa is 17th of the 129 kaiseki restaurants in Gion, Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama and 33rd of 332 in Kyoto. Its least expensive dinner course is ¥33,000 (on Ikyu), 10% above the ¥30,000 median of the 21 kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto ranked nearest to it; at lunch, ¥15,730 (on Ikyu) is about the same as the ¥16,500 median of 21. Its record: two Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide 2026 (one of 18 in Kyoto in this guide), The Tabelog Award every year since 2019 (8 times; one of 33 in Kyoto in this guide with that run), and Tabelog 100 in 2021, 2023, and 2025. From abroad it can be booked online in English on OMAKASE; 132 of the 332 kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto can be. Good for a seat at the counter, a private room (for 2, 4, 6, or 8), and a less expensive lunch (from ¥15,730, 52% below its least expensive dinner course).
How it compares
Kaiseki restaurants in Gion, Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama with a dinner budget close to its own, nearest to it in our ranking.
| Restaurant | Rank in Kyoto | Dinner from | Lunch from | Booking | Awards | Walk | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higashiyama Ogata | #25 | budget ¥30,000–39,999 | — | Online in English (OMAKASE) | ★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 7 min, Higashiyama | Tue |
| Kikunoi Honten | #26 | ¥37,950 | ¥37,950 | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | ★★★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 13 min, Gion-shijo | — |
| Gion Nishi | #27 | ¥26,000 | ¥16,000 | Online, Japanese only | Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 9 min, Gion-shijo | Mon |
| Gion Sakagawa | #32 | ¥21,780 | — | Online, Japanese only | Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 6 min, Gion-shijo | Sun |
| Gion Nishikawa | #33 | ¥33,000 | ¥15,730 | Online in English (OMAKASE) | ★★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 11 min, Gion-shijo | Mon, Sun |
| Hyotei | #35 | budget ¥30,000–39,999 | budget ¥30,000–39,999 | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | ★★★ · Bronze 2024 · Tabelog 100 2023 | 6 min, Keage | Wed |
For international visitors
Some support for visitors
Either takes bookings online in English or has a menu or staff in English, not both.
| Menu | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Staff | Not listed |
| Payment | |
| Seating and facilities | Counter seats, Private rooms, Sunken seating (no kneeling), Tatami room, Wheelchair accessible |
How to book Gion Nishikawa
- Book online in English on OMAKASE, the booking service the restaurant uses.
- The restaurant also takes online bookings in Japanese through Ikyu Restaurant.
- Call 075-525-1776 (+81-75-525-1776 from outside Japan). Staff may speak only Japanese, so a hotel concierge can call for you.
Courses and prices
As the restaurant sells them on Ikyu (一休.com), a Japanese booking site: names and menus as written there. Prices are per person and include tax and service. Book on Ikyu (in Japanese)
Lunch course
お昼の懐石
Lunch · 1–8 guests
- Kaiseki
- Seasonal ingredients
¥15,730
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$100
Cheapest
Dinner course
おまかせコース
Dinner · 1–8 guests
- Crab
¥33,000
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$220
¥17,270 more than the one above
The food
Photos the restaurant posted on Tabelog.
Prices
| Dinner | ¥20,000–29,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Lunch | ¥10,000–14,999 per person |
| Diners report spending | ¥30,000–39,999 at dinner, ¥15,000–19,999 at lunch |
| Service charge | A service charge of 10% applies for both lunch and dinner. |
| Credit cards | |
| Electronic money | Accepted |
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 18:30–21:30 |
| Wednesday | 18:30–21:30 |
| Thursday | 12:00–14:30, 18:30–21:30 |
| Friday | 12:00–14:30, 18:30–21:30 |
| Saturday | 12:00–14:30, 18:30–21:30 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in the restaurant's own photos.
| Seats | 27 |
|---|---|
| Private rooms | Yes, for 2, 4, 6, or 8 people |
| Private hire | Possible |
| Smoking | Non smoking The seats are non-smoking, but there is a smoking room inside the restaurant with a view of the garden. |
| Children | Children are welcome at some times or seats. Check when you book |
| Setting | A house restaurant, Relaxing space, Counter seating, Tatami room, Sunken seating, Wheelchair access |
| Drinks | Sake (Nihonshu), Shochu (Japanese spirits), Wine |
| Opened | January 2009 |
Getting there
11 min walk (870 m) from Gion-shijo Station, Exit 1.
Also near: Kyoto-Kawaramachi: 14 min · Kiyomizu-Gojō (Exit 5): 16 min
- Leave Gion-shijo Station by Exit 1 and walk north-east for 10 m.
- Turn right at 7-Eleven onto Donguri Street and walk 110 m.
- Turn right onto Donguri Street and walk 180 m.
- Turn right and walk 70 m.
- Turn left and walk 380 m.
- Turn right and walk 70 m.
- Bear left at Page One and walk 50 m.
Gion Nishikawa is on your left.
On your left
Look for
祇園 にしかわ
The restaurant's name, as on its sign
The entrance, in the restaurant's own photo
Show this to a taxi driver
祇園 にしかわ京都府京都市東山区下河原通八坂鳥居前下る下河原町473
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 473 -, Kyoto 605-0825 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | Near Kodaiji Temple, Yasaka Shrine, and Higashiyamayasui bus stop. |
Nearby
Sights within a walk
- Kōdai-ji Temple, 230 m, about 4 min walk
- Yasaka Shrine, 430 m, about 7 min walk
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple, 780 m, about 13 min walk
Awards
MichelinMichelin Guide 2026: two stars
Gion Nishikawa has two Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide 2026. Gion Nishikawa in the Michelin Guide · All Michelin-starred restaurants in Kyoto · Michelin-starred kaiseki in Kyoto
- Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2025
- Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2023
- Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2021
Questions visitors ask
How much does Gion Nishikawa cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥20,000–29,999 per person and lunch at ¥10,000–14,999. Drinks and a service charge (A service charge of 10% applies for both lunch and dinner.) may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
When is Gion Nishikawa closed?
It is closed on Mondays and Sundays.
Can I bring children to Gion Nishikawa?
Children are welcome at some times or seats. Check when you book.
What is the nearest station to Gion Nishikawa?
Gion-shijo Station, about 11 minutes on foot (870 m). Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station is about 16 minutes away.
Does Gion Nishikawa have a Michelin star?
Yes. Gion Nishikawa has two Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide 2026.
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026), Ikyu, and the Michelin Guide; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.