Nakazen
中善
Kaiseki in Shimogamo, Kita-Shirakawa & Ginkaku-ji, Kyoto, 18 min walk from Chayama·Kyōto-Geijutsudaigaku Station
Our analysis
- #8of 19 kaiseki restaurants in Shimogamo, Kita-Shirakawa & Ginkaku-ji
- ¥17,600least expensive dinner course; median ¥17,325
- Englishonline booking from abroad
Dinner ¥15,000–19,999Closed WednesdaysBook online: AutoReserve
All 13 photos, by dishes, the room and the entrance
Dishes 9
Inside 4
In our ranking, Nakazen is 8th of the 19 kaiseki restaurants in Shimogamo, Kita-Shirakawa & Ginkaku-ji. Its least expensive dinner course is ¥17,600 (on Ikyu), about the same as the ¥17,325 median of the 21 kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto ranked nearest to it. Its record: a listing without a star in the Michelin Guide 2026. From abroad it can be booked online in English on AutoReserve; 132 of the 332 kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto can be. Good for a seat at the counter, a late dinner (open until midnight), and an anniversary (it prepares a celebration if asked when booking).
How it compares
Kaiseki restaurants in Shimogamo, Kita-Shirakawa & Ginkaku-ji 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oryori Hayashi | #16 | ¥15,730 | ¥7,260 | Online, Japanese only | Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 5 min, Demachiyanagi | Wed |
| Kappo Shinatomi | — | ¥20,000 | — | Online in English (OMAKASE) | — | 5 min, Jingū-Marutamachi | Wed |
| Shimogamo Saryo | — | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | budget ¥10,000–14,999 | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | — | 7 min, Demachiyanagi | Tue |
| Nakazen | — | ¥17,600 | — | Online in English (AutoReserve) | — | 18 min, Chayama·Kyōto-Geijutsudaigaku | Wed |
| Kyoto Tempura Endo Okazaki tei | — | ¥9,944 | ¥6,600 | Online in English (TableCheck) | — | 11 min, Jingū-Marutamachi | — |
| Japanese cuisine Fujii | — | ¥18,150 | ¥9,680 | Online, Japanese only | — | — | 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 |
| Website | In English |
| Payment | |
| Seating and facilities | Counter seats, Sommelier |
How to book Nakazen
- Book online in English on AutoReserve, the booking service the restaurant uses.
- The restaurant also takes online bookings in Japanese through Ikyu Restaurant.
- Call 075-708-7519 (+81-75-708-7519 from outside Japan). Staff may speak only Japanese, so a hotel concierge can call for you.
- Anniversaries and birthdays: the restaurant prepares a celebration if you ask when you book (a dessert plate with your message, a cake or a surprise). More in Kyoto.
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)
Dinner course
おまかせコース
Dinner · 2–4 guests
- Crab
What is served (2)（menu in Japanese）
- Omakase course using seasonal ingredients.
- Koppe crab can be added only in November.
¥17,600
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$120
The food
Photos from the restaurant's page on Tabelog.
Prices
| Dinner | ¥15,000–19,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Diners report spending | ¥15,000–19,999 at dinner |
| Credit cards | |
| Electronic money | Not accepted |
Opening hours
| Monday | 18:00–00:00 (next day) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 18:00–00:00 (next day) |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 18:00–00:00 (next day) |
| Friday | 18:00–00:00 (next day) |
| Saturday | 18:00–00:00 (next day) |
| Sunday | 18:00–00:00 (next day) |
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in photos from the restaurant's page on Tabelog.
| Seats | 10 |
|---|---|
| Private rooms | No |
| Private hire | Possible |
| Smoking | Non smoking |
| Setting | Hideout, Stylish space, Relaxing space, Counter seating |
| Drinks | Sake (Nihonshu), Shochu (Japanese spirits), Wine, Particular about Sake (Nihonshu), Particular about Shochu (Japanese spirits), Particular about wine |
| Services | Celebrations and surprises, Sommelier available |
Getting there
18 min walk (1,470 m) from Chayama·Kyōto-Geijutsudaigaku Station.
Also near: Mototanaka: 18 min
- Leave Chayama·Kyōto-Geijutsudaigaku Station and walk south-east for 270 m.
- Turn right and walk 580 m.
- Turn left onto Mikage Street and walk 100 m.
- Turn right and walk 380 m.
- Turn left onto Shigagoe-michi and walk 10 m.
- Turn right and walk 90 m.
Nakazen is on your right.
On your right
Look for
中善
The restaurant's name, as on its sign
Show this to a taxi driver
中善京都府京都市左京区北白川久保田町26
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 26 Kitashirakawa Kubotacho Sakyo-ku Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8266 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | City bus: 3 minutes walk from Ginkakuji-michi stop. |
Nearby
Sights within a walk
- Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion), 750 m, about 12 min walk
Awards
Michelin Guide2026
Nakazen is one of the restaurants selected in the Michelin Guide 2026, without a star. Nakazen in the Michelin Guide
Questions visitors ask
How much does Nakazen cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥15,000–19,999 per person. Drinks may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
When is Nakazen closed?
It is closed on Wednesdays.
What is the nearest station to Nakazen?
Chayama·Kyōto-Geijutsudaigaku Station, about 18 minutes on foot (1,470 m). Mototanaka Station is about 18 minutes away.
Is Nakazen in the Michelin Guide?
Yes. Nakazen is one of the restaurants selected in the Michelin Guide 2026, without a star.
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026), Ikyu, the Michelin Guide, and the restaurant's website; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.