Keninji Gion Maruyama — Restaurant in Kyoto

This is a very cozy restaurant where you immediately feel calm and at ease. Every dish is presented like a work of art—beautiful, thoughtful, and full of flavor. The atmosphere is special: it feels as if you’ve stepped into another time, with everything around you inviting stillness and reflection.

What impressed me most was Chef Yoshio Maruyama—a man with deep experience and respect for tradition. It’s no surprise the restaurant has TWO Michelin stars; the quality really comes through in everything, from the food itself to the way guests are taken care of.

There are also some practical details worth knowing. Guests aren’t allowed in wearing shorts or barefoot. If you arrive without socks, they’ll ask you to purchase a pair on-site. I found this to be an interesting touch, showing how much they care about keeping the atmosphere consistent and refined.

Overall, for me this wasn’t just a dinner—it was a calm and beautiful experience that I’d be happy...

Unique Kaiseki Experience. I loved the fact that they fully utilise the ingredients they gain locally. Each course is cooked in different ways giving rise to combinations of texture and flavors. Grill show was also fascinating to watch!

Service has been outstanding - staff members are very kind, easy to talk to, give good drink recommendations. It does help to speak Japanese. Fortunately, even if you don't speak Japanese, they do have the course menu printed in English for you to read.

Atmosphere is excellent. The room is very tidy and gives a traditional vibe. You get a view of the garden through the window.

I'd highly recommend it to those who'd like a unique kaiseki experience. It's definitely worth a try - very different to Japanese...

Apparently this Michelin Kaiseki meal has to be booked well over a month in advance. We booked barely a month in advance and was informed that only lunch would be available during our visit to Kyoto. The entrance isn’t grand but the restaurant didn’t seem small and it seems every booking is a private room.

There was no a la carte either so just a set menu. The menu was very long but quantity was rather small. The presentation was very elegant and delicate so full marks for that. The beef was fantastic but only three thin slices were available. The sashimi was decent. The other dishes were interesting.

Service was typical Japanese. ...