ima
French in Pontocho, Kiyamachi & Kawaramachi, Kyoto, 7 min walk from Shijō Station
Our analysis
- 55%of high-end restaurants in Kyoto have a higher dinner budget
- ★Michelin Guide 2026
- Englishonline booking from abroad
Dinner ¥15,000–19,999Closed Mondays and SundaysBook online: TableCheck
All 13 photos, by dishes, the room and the entrance
Dishes 6
Inside 5
Entrance 2
Its dinner budget on Tabelog (¥15,000–19,999) is lower than that of 55% of the high-end restaurants in Kyoto in this guide, and lower than that of 43% of its French restaurants. Its record: one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide 2026 (one of 68 in Kyoto in this guide). From abroad it can be booked online in English on TableCheck; 32 of the 63 French restaurants in Kyoto can be. Good for a seat at the counter and a less expensive lunch (from ¥10,000, 33% below its dinner budget).
How it compares
French restaurants in Pontocho, Kiyamachi & Kawaramachi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luca | — | budget ¥15,000–19,999 | budget ¥8,000–9,999 | Online in English (TableCheck) | — | 8 min, Kyoto-Kawaramachi | — |
| Maison de Vin Uzura Tei | — | ¥8,500 | — | Online, Japanese only | Tabelog 100 2021 | 2 min, Kyoto-Kawaramachi | Sun |
| Pittoresque | — | ¥16,000 | ¥8,000 | Online in English (TableCheck) | — | 1 min, Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae | Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu |
| ima | — | budget ¥15,000–19,999 | budget ¥10,000–14,999 | Online in English (TableCheck) | ★ | 7 min, Shijō | Mon, Sun |
| Les Confluents | — | ¥13,500 | — | Online in English (TableCheck) | — | 5 min, Shijō | Tue, Wed |
For international visitors
Easy to book from abroad
Takes bookings online in English and has a menu or staff in English.
| Menu | English |
|---|---|
| Staff | English |
| Payment | |
| Seating and facilities | Counter seats, Sommelier |
How to book ima
- Book online in English on TableCheck, the booking service the restaurant uses.
- Call 075-746-2222 (+81-75-746-2222 from outside Japan). The restaurant says it has English-speaking staff.
- Reservations: required. Walk-ins are not accepted.
The food
Photos the restaurant posted on Tabelog.
Prices
| Dinner | ¥15,000–19,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Lunch | ¥10,000–14,999 per person |
| Diners report spending | ¥20,000–29,999 at dinner, ¥10,000–14,999 at lunch |
| Service charge | We charge a service fee of 10%. |
| Credit cards | |
| Electronic money | Not accepted |
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 18:30–21:30 |
| Wednesday | 18:30–21:30 |
| Thursday | 12:00–15:00, 18:30–21:30 |
| Friday | 12:00–15:00, 18:30–21:30 |
| Saturday | 12:00–15:00, 18:30–21:30 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in the restaurant's own photos.
| Seats | 10 |
|---|---|
| Private rooms | No |
| Private hire | Possible |
| Smoking | Non smoking Since the meal starts for everyone at the same time, we kindly ask that you refrain from smoking during your meal. Thank you for your understanding. |
| Dress code | Please refrain from wearing men's shorts and sandals. Additionally, to fully enjoy the aromas of the dishes, we kindly ask that you do not wear perfume or cologne when visiting. |
| Setting | A house restaurant, Relaxing space, Counter seating |
| Drinks | Wine |
| Services | Sommelier available, English menu, English-speaking staff |
| Opened | February 2025 |
Getting there
7 min walk (570 m) from Shijō Station.
Also near: Karasuma: 8 min · Karasuma Oike (Exit 6): 9 min
- Leave Shijō Station and walk west for 30 m.
- Turn right at nana's green tea onto Muromachi street and walk 160 m.
- Turn left at Lawson onto Nishikikōji Street and walk 130 m.
- Turn right onto Shinmachi Street and walk 130 m.
- Turn left at Kyoto Shimmachi-Takoyakushi Post Office onto Takoyakushi-dori and walk 80 m.
ima is on your right.
On your right
The entrance, in the restaurant's own photo
Show this to a taxi driver
京都府京都市中京区不動町183-4
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 183-4 Fudocho Nakagyo-ku Kyoto, Kyoto 604-8215 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | 10-minute walk from Hankyu Karasuma Station / Subway Shijo Station. |
Awards
MichelinMichelin Guide 2026: one star
Ima has one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide 2026. ima in the Michelin Guide · All Michelin-starred restaurants in Kyoto · Michelin-starred French restaurants in Kyoto
Questions visitors ask
How much does ima cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥15,000–19,999 per person and lunch at ¥10,000–14,999. Drinks and a service charge (We charge a service fee of 10%.) may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
Does ima have an English menu?
Yes. The restaurant lists a menu in English.
When is ima closed?
It is closed on Mondays and Sundays.
What is the nearest station to ima?
Shijō Station, about 7 minutes on foot (570 m). Karasuma Station is about 8 minutes away.
Does ima have a dress code?
Please refrain from wearing men's shorts and sandals. Additionally, to fully enjoy the aromas of the dishes, we kindly ask that you do not wear perfume or cologne when visiting.
Does ima have a Michelin star?
Yes. Ima has one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide 2026.
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026) and the Michelin Guide; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.