Kikunoi Honten
菊乃井 本店
Kaiseki in Gion, Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama, Kyoto, 13 min walk from Gion-shijo Station
Our analysis
- #13of 129 kaiseki restaurants in Gion, Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama
- ¥37,950least expensive dinner course; median ¥30,000
- ★★★Michelin Guide 2026
- Englishonline booking from abroad
Dinner ¥20,000–29,999Book online: Pocket Concierge
In our ranking, Kikunoi Honten is 13th of the 129 kaiseki restaurants in Gion, Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama and 26th of 332 in Kyoto. Its least expensive dinner course is ¥37,950 (on Pocket Concierge), 27% above the ¥30,000 median of the 21 kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto ranked nearest to it. Its record: three Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide 2026 (one of 6 in Kyoto in this guide), The Tabelog Award every year since 2021 (8 times; one of 38 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 Pocket Concierge and Tableall; 132 of the 332 kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto can be. Good for a private room (for 4, 6, or 8).
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 Tsukasa | #20 | ¥30,250 | ¥30,250 | Online in English (OMAKASE) | ★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 2 min, Higashiyama | Mon, Sun |
| Kappo Hassun | #23 | ¥27,500 | ¥13,200 | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | ★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 3 min, Gion-shijo | Sun |
| Shorenin Monzeki Mae Tsukioka | #24 | ¥30,000 | ¥15,000 | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 5 min, Higashiyama | Tue, Wed |
| 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 |
For international visitors
Easy to book from abroad
Takes bookings online in English and has a menu or staff in English.
| Menu | English |
|---|---|
| Staff | Not listed |
| Website | In English |
| Payment | |
| Seating and facilities | Private rooms, Tatami room |
How to book Kikunoi Honten
- Book online in English on Pocket Concierge or Tableall, the booking services the restaurant uses.
- The restaurant also takes online bookings in Japanese through Ikyu Restaurant.
- Call 075-561-0015 (+81-75-561-0015 from outside Japan). Staff may speak only Japanese, so a hotel concierge can call for you.
Courses and prices
As listed on Pocket Concierge, which takes bookings in English. Prices are per person. Book on Pocket Concierge
Seasonal Kaiseki Cuisine A
Lunch
¥37,950
per person, ≈$250
Cheapest
Seasonal Kaiseki Cuisine A
Dinner
¥37,950
per person, ≈$250
Seasonal Kaiseki Cuisine B
Lunch
¥63,250
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$420
¥25,300 more than the one above
Seasonal Kaiseki Cuisine B
Dinner
¥63,250
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$420
Seasonal Kaiseki Cuisine C
Lunch
¥88,550
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$590
¥25,300 more than the one above
Seasonal Kaiseki Cuisine C
Dinner
¥88,550
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$590
The food
Photos the restaurant posted on Tabelog.
On Instagram
Prices
| Dinner | ¥20,000–29,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Lunch | ¥30,000–39,999 per person |
| Diners report spending | ¥20,000–29,999 at dinner, ¥30,000–39,999 at lunch |
| Service charge | Service charge 15% |
| Credit cards | |
| Electronic money | Not accepted |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–20:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–20:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–20:00 |
| Thursday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–20:00 |
| Friday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–20:00 |
| Saturday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–20:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–20:00 |
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in the restaurant's own photos.
| Seats | 120 |
|---|---|
| Private rooms | Yes, for 4, 6, or 8 people |
| Smoking | Designated smoking area The revised Health Promotion Act for passive smoking prevention has been in effect since April 1, 2020. Please check with the restaurant for the most up-to-date information. |
| Setting | Beautiful view, A house restaurant, Relaxing space, Spacious seating, Tatami room |
| Drinks | Sake (Nihonshu), Wine |
Getting there
13 min walk (1,040 m) from Gion-shijo Station, Exit 6.
Also near: Higashiyama (Exit 1): 16 min · Keage: 21 min
- Leave Gion-shijo Station by Exit 6 and walk east for 240 m.
- Turn right at Tully's Coffee onto Hanami-koji and walk 70 m.
- Turn left and walk 180 m.
- Bear left and walk 30 m.
- Turn right onto Higashiōji Street and walk 20 m.
- Bear left at Imo Pi Pi and walk 260 m.
- Bear left and walk 60 m.
- Bear left and walk 150 m.
Kikunoi Honten is on your right.
On your right
Look for
菊乃井 本店
The restaurant's name, as on its sign
The entrance, in the restaurant's own photo
Show this to a taxi driver
菊乃井 本店京都府京都市東山区下河原通八坂鳥居前下ル下河原町459
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 459 -, Kyoto 605-0825 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | 920 meters from Higashiyama. |
Nearby
Sights within a walk
- Kōdai-ji Temple, 120 m, about 2 min walk
- Yasaka Shrine, 400 m, about 7 min walk
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple, 790 m, about 13 min walk
Awards
MichelinMichelin Guide 2026: three stars
Kikunoi Honten has three Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide 2026. Kikunoi Honten 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 Kikunoi Honten cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥20,000–29,999 per person and lunch at ¥30,000–39,999. Drinks and a service charge (Service charge 15%) may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
Does Kikunoi Honten have an English menu?
Yes. The restaurant lists a menu in English.
What is the nearest station to Kikunoi Honten?
Gion-shijo Station, about 13 minutes on foot (1,040 m). Higashiyama Station is about 15 minutes away.
Does Kikunoi Honten have a Michelin star?
Yes. Kikunoi Honten has three Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide 2026.
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026), Ikyu, Pocket Concierge, the Michelin Guide, and the restaurant's website; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.