Many people ask me how to make a kaiseki meal out with children more do-able and for several reasons I’ve listed here, Kaiseki with kids can often be tricky than some originally imagine.
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However, here are some Kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto that I do recommend and who also welcome children and babies.
Arashiyama Kumahiko
While in Kyoto, I always recommend adding Arashiyama with kids to your itinerary and a wonderful spot to try traditional kaiseki style dining in Japan is at Kumahiko.Reservations are possible but are required at least 2 days in advance – for both lunch and dinner. Cancellation charges also apply.
Please note that this is fine dining and the budget for lunch is approximately 6000 yen and dinner is more like 18,000 yen.
The menu is based on ingredients of the season. Although the menu on the Kumahiko website is in Japanese, the prices and the pictures will give you a good idea of what types of food to expect. There is also a children’s menu.
The restaurant is right next to the Togetsu Bridge so, as you can imagine, the views are spectacular.
Kumahiko accepts most major credit cards.
The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
ARASHIYAMA KUMAHIKO
京都市右京区嵯峨天竜寺芒ノ馬場町5-1
5-1 SAGATENRYUJI SUSUKINOBABACHO, UKYO-KU, KYOTO
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30AM-3PM ( LAST ORDERS 2PM)
OPEN FOR DINNER: 5PM-9PM (LAST ORDERS 8PM)
CLOSED TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS
Matsui Honkan in Karasuma, Kyoto
This is actually a ryokan that also allows diners to make use of the restaurant -even when they aren’t staying here.
Children are welcome here. Lunch is approximately 6000 yen per person and more like 15,000 yen for dinner. Be sure to let them know if you are celebrating an anniversary or birthday while here. Matsui Honkan accept most major credit cards. Reservations required to dine here. This ryokan is 8 mins walk from Shijo Station or 10 mins from Karasuma Station. This restaurant can also cater to large groups.
MATSUI HONKAN
京都府中京区柳馬場通六角下る井筒屋町405
405 405 YANAKIBABA ROKKAKU-SAGARU, NAKAGYO-KU, KYOTO
OPEN 11AM-3PM & 5PM-7:30PM
This is a very casual version of Kaiseki :
Kotowari
Just 5 mins walk from Keihan Sanjo Station or 5 mins walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station (or 7 mins walk from Hankyu Kawarachi Station) is family-friendly Kaiseki style Izakaya restaurant Kotowari. If you have older kids, ask to sit at the counter so that you can watch eat dish be cooked and prepared. If you have infants or toddlers, you will be seated in the tatami room (this is better as it is easier for kids to have a wriggle during the meal and less pressure to be quiet.) Kotowari can also prepare a special kids menu if they are given advance notice. They also have children’s plates and cutlery. Here, they accept most major credit cards. Reservations are required to dine here. If it’s someone in your group’s birthday, they can organize a birthday dessert plate – with a minimum 3 day notice.
Budget for lunch : 2000 yen per person. Budget for dinner : 4500 yen per person.
KOTOWARI
京都市中京区松ケ枝町463
463 MATSUGAECHO, NAKAGYO-KU, KYOTO
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-2:30PM & 3PM-10PM
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Although it is not in Kyoto, these ryokans in Takayama have Kaiseki meals for dinner for their guests and can accommodate children.
Ryokan Asunaro, Takayama (only accept children 7 years and older.)
Takayama is the most beautiful town in countryside Japan and I love visiting Takayama with kids.
Ryokan Asunaro is 6 mins walk from Takayama Station. The whole building is a traditional old Japanese house with Japanese style bedding and dining. This ryokan also allows guests to borrow bicycles (for adults and kids 12+ only) while staying with them. The ryokan also has it’s own onsen. I recommend booking a room that includes a traditional kaiseki dinner. Guests are also given yukata to wear to and from the onsen but also as pyjamas.
For breakfast, you can choose western (bread, omelette, tea, coffee, toast and jam, vegies) or Japanese (fish, pickled veg, locally grown rice, salad etc.)
Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan, Takayama
Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan, Takayama is a luxury ryokan with private hot springs. They welcome families travelling with children and babies. In fact, for babies, they can provide bouncers and little toddler/baby chairs and high chairs. For bigger kids they also have plastic plates and forks etc as well as books and toys. You can also make use of a stroller while you stay here and other accessories such as a toddler seat for the toilet or a change table for your room. Dinner is a stunning kaiseki style meal. Breakfast is a choice of an elaborate feast of either Western or Japanese dishes. See here for images of dinner and breakfast at Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan. This ryokan is 16 mins walk from Takayama Station so the ryokan will organise a shuttle to collect you from the station.
Please see my Kaiseki with Kids in Tokyo post on additional tips on dining kaiseki style with children in Japan.
