Kōdaiji Jūgyūan — Restaurant in Kyoto

It is notoriously difficult to secure a reservation for finer dining Japanese restaurants directly, and especially so when you have a larger dining party. Kodaiji Jugyuan is an exception.

We were looking for a special venue for a celebratory lunch and Kodaiji Jugyuan seemed to fit the bill. Boasting one Michelin star, the restaurant is housed in a beautiful historic building from the Meiji period and set within lush, landscaped gardens. Leading up to our visit, we corresponded with the restaurant via email and received prompt responses in English confirming our requirements.

From the moment we arrived to our farewell a few hours later, the restaurant exceeded our expectations. We were looked after by the staff with the utmost care and diligence to detail. Although we were mere footsteps from the often frenetic crowds of Gion, Kodaiji Jugyuan was an oasis of calm serenity and aesthetic beauty. We were seated in a private room with picturesque views of the garden where we were presented with multiple courses showcasing seasonal, local ingredients. Both food and drink were superb and the service faultless.

We cannot recommend Kodaiji Jugyuan enough for anyone seeking an exemplary, unforgettable Japanese dining experience in Kyoto, and we thank all the staff for making our...

Amazing Kaiseiki dining experience at this 1* Michelin restaurant. The food was superb and really showcased the freshness of ingredients and skills of the chef, the service was top notch and the private dining room was the icing on the cake.

Our waitress/service crew was waiting for us outside the main door and led us all the way in, and patiently helped us with all our queries and photo taking. Felt like a royalty being shown around the beautiful garden, and even escorted us to the exit.

The tranquil location and view from the windows really is a drastic difference from the messy/crowded streets just outside the restaurant. Felt super relaxed just enjoying the food and soaking in the ambience.

Price point for lunch was good, not too expensive for the entire experience.

Would...

My family and I had dinner at Kodaiji Jugyuan and had an absolutely wonderful evening. The ingredients they chose were based on the season and cooked perfectly. Their omakase menu is truly a work of art. The smallest details are always perfect, the freshness and flavours of the ingredients mingle in such a harmonious fashion that it feels like a carefully composed symphony.

Of course, being a Michelin establishment, the service was top notch. Fuki looked after us during our dinner. She hosted us gracefully, making sure we were informed of how they were cooking our next dish, as well as offering a wonderful sake to pair with our dishes. She really tied our experience together! Next time I’m in Kyoto, I will definitely make time to visit Kodaiji...