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Kyoto

Sakamaruyama

Sakamaruyama is a quiet little tea house tucked away in a corner of Maruyama-koen Park. Here you can enjoy specialty teas and traditional Japanese sweets, in a tranquil but friendly atmosphere. ![Sak

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Sarasa Nishijin

An old sento (public bath) decorated with tile mosaics that has been turned into a café, Sarasa Nishijin is one of Kyoto's most interesting restaurants. We always feel conflicted when we go into Sara

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Saryo Housen

You'd have to know where to go to find Saryo Housen. One of the city's finest shops for tea and sweets is located in the suburbs of Central Kyoto, and it's well worth seeking out. Kyoto has hundreds

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Senmonten Southern Higashiyama

This hole-in-the-wall shop in Gion sells only two things: gyoza (Chinese friend dumplings) and beer. The gyoza are the best in town. The name of this shop -- Senmonten -- means specialty shop in Japa

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Shigetsu Restaurant Arashiyama

Inside the grounds of Tenryu-ji Temple, Shigetsu is a great place to try traditional Japanese Buddhist cuisines, also known as shojin-ryori. While no one would describe the fare here as "stick to you

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Smart Coffee

Retro kissaten Smart Coffee in Teramachi Shopping Arcade not only serves fantastic coffee, their egg sandwiches are also killer. Sparing some time for breakfast or tea here is a no-brainer! The spect

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Suiba Shijo Karawamachiten

For a fun, inexpensive night out with friends, try a standing izakaya like Suiba in Shijo Kawaramachi. Good, cheap food and drink -- what more could you ask for from dinner? ![Suiba's mentaiko omelet

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Sumibi Kushiyaki Torito

This is "haute yakitori" -- dynamite yakitori (various bits of chicken cooked on skewers) in fashionable surroundings. Yakitori restaurants are usually smoky joints filled with half-drunk salarymen p

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Sushisei

Sushisei is one of the best moderately priced sushi restaurants in Kyoto. They're relatively comfortable with foreigners and its right downtown. ![Sushisei - Downtown Kyoto](https://photos.smugmug.co

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Takashimaya Basement Food Floor Kyoto

Takashimaya Basement Food Floor is one of the most impressive food markets you'll find anywhere. Takashimaya Department Store's basement flood floor vies with [Daimaru Department Store's basement foo

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Takashimaya Resutoran Gai

The Takashimiya Resutoran-gai (restaurant floor) is a great place to eat while exploring downtown Kyoto. While both of Kyoto's main downtown department stores (Daimaru and Takashimaya) offer excellen

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Takashiyama Kyoto

Perhaps the most elegant department store in Kyoto, Takashimaya is the place to go to see just how opulent a Japanese department store can be. Kyotoites and foreign residents love to debate which is

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Tavelt Food Floor

Located in the basement of Fujii-Daimaru Department Store, Tavelt is a small but excellent food floor. The takeaway sushi and sashimi is especially strong. ![Tavelt sign](https://photos.smugmug.com/K

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Tempura Endo Yasaka

How many tempura places can you name that have been in business for more than 100 years? Tempura Endo Yasaka has been deep-frying food with flair for the last century -- with tempura this good, it's n

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Tenyu

Fresh ingredients superbly deep-fried in crisp batter -- what's not to like about tempura? Tenyu near Kyotoshiyakushomae Station has some of the best in Kyoto. Head over there to have your idea of tem

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The Cube Food Court Kyoto

Note that The Cube is now part of the Porta Kyoto complex. For details see our Porta Kyoto page. The Cube Food Court, a collection of excellent restaurants on the 11th floor of the

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Tiger Gyoza Kawaramachi

We don't believe in being snobby about chain restaurants -- some in Japan serve excellent food. One of our favourites is Tiger Gyoza, where you can eat a wide variety of great dumplings. Whether they'

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Tonkatsu Butagorira

The oddly-named Tonkatsu Butagorira serves up some super-crispy batter -- encasing juicy pork loin cutlets, of course! Eating this cheap and cheerful meal is best paired with a visit to nearby Nijo Ca

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Tonkatsu Ichiban

Who can argue with tonkatsu made from pigs raised in the Hokkaido mountains? Certainly not us. Tonkatsu Ichiban is a 15-minute walk west of Kyoto Station, but it's worth the short trek out there. The

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Toraya Ichijoji

Not far from the west side of the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, this superb and tranquil tearoom is a great place to sample some traditional Kyoto sweets and excellent green tea. If you want to sample

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Tousuiro

If you think you know tofu, think again! The artisans at this branch of a famed Kyoto tofu restaurant chain do more with tofu than you'd have thought possible. Hidden down a narrow allow off of Kiyam

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Towzen

If you've always avoided ramen because you're vegetarian or vegan, you no longer have to worry. Towzen serves up one of Kyoto's most delicious bowls of soy milk ramen, and it's completely vegan! ![To

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Unagi Hirokawa Arashiyama

Unagi Hirokawa is an excellent Michelin-starred grilled eel specialist located on the main street of Arashiyama. But be warned: Book ahead or wait hours in the queue. ![A simple noren greeting you at

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Vegan Kyoto

With a strong Buddhist vegetarian tradition, Kyoto has plenty of dining choices for vegans, but you'll have to work hard to avoid fish products. Here is a list of our favorite vegan restaurants in Kyo

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Warajiya

WIth over 400 years of serving unagi under its belt, Warajiya has an eel pedigree to be proud of. It's located near Keihan Shichijo Station, and best paired with a visit to Sanjusangendo Temple up the

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Wabiya Korekido

Wabiya Korekido is a restaurant in Gion that serves top-notch oyakodon (chicken-and-egg rice bowl) at lunch and fabulous yakitori at dinner. If you can't decide what time to head there, don't choose -

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What To Eat In Kyoto

Kyoto is famous for its tofu, its sublime kaiseki cuisine and its Buddhist vegetarian fare. It's also a great place to sample all the main classics of Japanese cuisine. ![Kaiseki, traditional Japanes

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Yagura Southern Higashiyama

For a good bowl of noodles while exploring Gion or before taking in some kabuki at nearby Minamiza, Yagura is the perfect choice. Directly across the street from Kyoto's kabuki theatre, [Minamiza Kab

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Yamamoto Mambo

Beloved by locals, Yamamoto Mambo is a family-run okonomiyaki joint that's a good bet for a hearty meal. Their flavourful, iron-griddled dishes are fantastic washed down with drinks. Who could fail t

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Yoshikawa Tempura Restaurant Kyoto

Yoshikawa Tempura serves Kyoto's best tempura in a beautiful old wooden building built around a sublime Japanese garden. Yoshikawa is our favorite tempura restaurant in Kyoto because it hits all the

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