Family Sushi Nigiri-Itcho! — Restaurant in Kyoto

Much like another reviewer, we pretty much stumbled across this place, then decided to return for a second time on Christmas Day for our dinner! The chef, Nishigaki Shougo, was so warm, friendly, and hospitable. He spoke a little English and we spoke some Japanese so were able to have a lovely dialogue, though don't let the language put you off! He truly aims to welcome and please, and had English menus too, but it's fun ordering in Japanese with a dictionary! He was keen to recommend new items for us to try too.

There's a vast array of different seafood that goes into his sushi... We ate seared scallops, icefish, fatty tuna (divine), tiger blowfish in two different forms (he showed us his certificate of training for handling this deadly poisonous, but delicious, fish!), snow crab, salmon roe, kumoko (fish intestines... trust me, they were truly delicious), and so much more, including your usual salmon, tuna, prawn, tamago etc. The miso soup was dark and rich, the beer was cold and refreshing, and the various sake we tried were a true experience (try the one with blowfish fins in it) We were able to continue ordering as and when we wanted things simply by asking him - Japanese style, he called it!

We tried most of the most expensive items on the menu (Christmas after all!) so our bill for two for around 40 pieces of sushi, various sake and beer came to 10,000, and we were so full. Had we eaten the equally delicious but much less expensive menu items (90-160 yen per piece), it'd have been a lot lower. But it's all prepared fresh in front of you by this absolute master, and the taste is like no other sushi we've tried - it beats all others we've eaten both in Japan and outside. Well worth splashing out a bit and trying whatever you want.

The place itself is small, cozy and relaxed, with the occasional local stopping by for dinner at the counter. There are Japanese style tables, but we opted for the counter for the best access to the chef! There was quiet but spot on jazz music playing, and it was all bright and warm. It was busy in no way, and that mystifies us, as it (and he) deserves so much more business. Perhaps it was the Christmas period, a time when the Japanese don't tend to eat a lot of sushi!

Either way, if you're anywhere near, just try it. Easily our best dining experience in Japan, made all the more special by Nishigaki Shougo, a host we'll remember...

Super cold night in kyoto. As tourist we were unsure of trying out a restaurant with multiple names. The outside definitely blended in with the old style of buildings surrounded. As the lights turned on outside. The door sliding to open. This great spot full of warmth and welcome from the owner/chef with smiles and great energy seats us. Felt like we have just encountered a hidden gem we've been longing in our trip. Immediately felt like we were home. Jazz playing the background and the scent of a aged wood. Sitting on tatami mats were new to us , Sogho-san(correct me if I'm wrong), the owner definitely gave us the larger area to sit( for six ) just so that we would be more comfortable. Still a bit uncomfortable, honestly after a sake or two , it was as if we were dining in our living room. As we tried to scrap some japanese, he picked up on our English and gave us a translated menu.

We pretty much ordered one of each item on the menu to try... Let's just say. We ordered 2nds and 3rds. We even turned over the menu to see if he had secretly added things on there we may have missed.

I highly recommend everything. Yes. Everything. This place is very homey, mom & pop shop. The woman/ his wife regretfully wasn't able to catch her name was an absolute saint. She folded uo some oragami as a gift for us. So sweet.

There was nothing disappointing other than the cold waiting...

Went to this place twice during our 5-day stay in Kyoto. First time it was out of just trying to find something nice to have dinner, second was to repeat as we liked it so much.

The owner was very eager to please and very humble. Most japanese people greet and bow out of just keeping the tradition but his felt one of the most truly sincere ones.

All the sushi we tried was absolutely delicious. Sake as well as other side dishes we tried were also excellent. We were astonished that this place was not more crowded with the quality we got.

Overall prices seemed acceptable, ranging from 120-270yen per piece of sushi (depending on the type, most common were at 160). We had no issues with that as, at the writting of this review, this place had hands down the best sushi I...