Tsuru Yoshi
つる由
Kaiseki in Nara & Saidaiji Area, Nara, 9 min walk from Nara Station
Our analysis
- #6of 17 kaiseki restaurants in Nara & Saidaiji Area
- ¥14,300least expensive dinner course; median ¥18,800
- 1×The Tabelog Award
- Japaneseonline booking only
Dinner ¥20,000–29,999Closed MondaysBook by phone
All 16 photos, by dishes, the room and the entrance
Dishes 12
Inside 4
In our ranking, Tsuru Yoshi is 6th of the 17 kaiseki restaurants in Nara & Saidaiji Area and 6th of 24 in Nara. Its least expensive dinner course is ¥14,300 (on Ikyu), 24% below the ¥18,800 median of the 16 kaiseki restaurants in Nara ranked nearest to it; at lunch, ¥11,000 (on Ikyu) is 14% above the ¥9,680 median of 13. Its record: The Tabelog Award in 2026 and Tabelog 100 in 2025. It takes bookings online only in Japanese, on Ikyu Restaurant; 6 of the 24 kaiseki restaurants in Nara can be booked online in English. Good for a seat at the counter, a private room (for 2 or 4), a less expensive lunch (from ¥11,000, 23% below its least expensive dinner course), and a meal with children (its Tabelog listing says they are welcome).
How it compares
Kaiseki restaurants in Nara & Saidaiji Area with a dinner budget close to its own, nearest to it in our ranking.
| Restaurant | Rank in Nara | Dinner from | Lunch from | Booking | Awards | Walk | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nara Nikon | #1 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | Online, Japanese only | ★★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 8 min, Nara | Mon, Sun |
| Tsukumo | #2 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | Phone only | ★★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 14 min, Kyōbate | Mon |
| Gen | #3 | ¥18,150 | budget ¥2,000–2,999 | Online, Japanese only | Tabelog 100 2025 | 15 min, Kyōbate | Mon, Sun |
| Oryori Hirooka | #4 | budget ¥15,000–19,999 | budget ¥15,000–19,999 | Online in English (OMAKASE) | ★ | 6 min, Nara | Wed |
| Okada | #5 | ¥20,570 | budget ¥8,000–9,999 | Online in English (TableCheck) | ★ | 7 min, Nara | Sun |
| Tsuru Yoshi | #6 | ¥14,300 | ¥11,000 | Online, Japanese only | Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 9 min, Nara | Mon |
For international visitors
Book through a concierge
No online booking in English and no menu or staff in English are listed. A hotel concierge can book for you.
| Menu | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Staff | Not listed |
| Payment | |
| Seating and facilities | Counter seats, Private rooms, Sunken seating (no kneeling), Tatami room |
How to book Tsuru Yoshi
- The restaurant also takes online bookings in Japanese through Ikyu Restaurant.
- Call 0742-26-7798 (+81-742-26-7798 from outside Japan). Staff may speak only Japanese, so a hotel concierge can call for you.
Can't get a table? Kaiseki nearby you can book online
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
11000円コース
Lunch · 2–8 guests
¥11,000
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$70
Cheapest
Course
14300円コース
Dinner / Lunch · 2–8 guests
¥14,300
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$100
¥3,300 more than the one above
Course
16500円コース
Dinner / Lunch · 2–8 guests
¥16,500
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$110
¥2,200 more than the one above
Course
22000円コース
Dinner / Lunch · 2–8 guests
¥22,000
per person, tax & service incl., ≈$150
¥5,500 more than the one above
The food
Photos from the restaurant's page on Tabelog.
Prices
| Dinner | ¥20,000–29,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Lunch | ¥10,000–14,999 per person |
| Diners report spending | ¥20,000–29,999 at dinner, ¥10,000–14,999 at lunch |
| Credit cards | |
| Electronic money | Not accepted |
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Wednesday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Thursday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Friday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Saturday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–21:30 |
| Sunday | 12:00–14:00, 17:00–21:30 |
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in photos from the restaurant's page on Tabelog.
| Private rooms | Yes, for 2 or 4 people |
|---|---|
| Private hire | Possible |
| Smoking | Non smoking |
| Children | Children are welcome |
| Setting | A house restaurant, Relaxing space, Counter seating, Tatami room, Sunken seating |
| Drinks | Sake (Nihonshu) |
Getting there
9 min walk (700 m) from Nara Station, Exit 2.
Also near: Kyōbate: 12 min
- Leave Nara Station by Exit 2 and walk east for 10 m.
- Turn right at Lawson onto Higashimuki and walk 240 m.
- Turn left at Owl Cafe Watawata onto Sanjō Dōri and walk 20 m.
- Turn right at FamilyMart onto Mochiidono Shopping Street and walk 420 m.
Tsuru Yoshi is on your right.
On your right
Look for
つる由
The restaurant's name, as on its sign
Show this to a taxi driver
つる由奈良県奈良市脇戸町22-1
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 22-1 Wakidocho Nara, Nara 630-8337 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | train. |
Awards
- Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2025
Questions visitors ask
How much does Tsuru Yoshi cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥20,000–29,999 per person and lunch at ¥10,000–14,999. Drinks may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
When is Tsuru Yoshi closed?
It is closed on Mondays.
Can I bring children to Tsuru Yoshi?
Children are welcome.
What is the nearest station to Tsuru Yoshi?
Nara Station, about 9 minutes on foot (700 m). Kyōbate Station is about 15 minutes away.
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026) and Ikyu; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.