10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto

Update-date: Nov 07 2023
Author: SAVOR JAPAN
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto

The old capital, Kyoto, is a fantastic place to soak in traditional Japanese culture. If you stay for lunch or dinner in its townscape full of history, you should opt for a traditional delicacy like sushi, don't you think? This is the ultimate selection of 10 of the best and most popular sushi restaurants in Kyoto.

1. Gion Sato (Gion-shijo)

3. Gion Sato (Gion-shijo)
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto
Established in a renovated machiya (old merchant's house) from 150 years ago that oozes the old Kyoto feel, Gion Sato offers Japanese cuisine and sushi with a focus on the seasonality of the ingredients. Once you've enjoyed an assortment of their delicious sashimi of seasonal fish, leave some space for their [Saba Sushi] (1,000 JPY), which is mackerel sushi. Different from the so-called Edo-style nigiri, this one is made by pressing marinated mackerel on top of vinegared sushi. Eating this during festivals or celebrations is believed to bring about good luck. You'll love its taste and texture!

Gion Sato

Open: [Opening hours] 17:00 - 23:30
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: About a 7-minute walk from Keihan Line, Gion-Shijo station.
Address: 570-118 Minamigawa Gionmachi , Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Map
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2. Japanese Restaurant Mai (Kyoto)

4. Japanese Restaurant Mai (Kyoto)
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto
Walk 1 minute from the Hachijo West Exit of Kyoto Station, and you'll find a hotel with Japanese Restaurant Mai inside. Their menu is comprised of several Japanese dishes focusing on seasonal seafood directly delivered from various places, as well as set meals that come with an appetizer, main dish, and even dessert (from 1,950 JPY). Of course, since fresh fish is their specialty, their sushi is fantastic! Above all, the [Seki Saba] (380 JPY), directly stocked from Saganoseki, wisely combines fatty mackerel and vinegared rice. If you want to try different things, have the [Sushi Assortment] (7 varieties, 1,670 JPY).

Japanese Restaurant Mai

Open: Breakfast 6:30 am - 10:00 am, Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,300 JPY
Address: 1F, El Inn Kyoto, 13, Higashi Sanno-cho, Higashi Kujo, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

3. Nijo Kizuki (Kyoto City Hall)

5. Nijo Kizuki (Kyoto City Hall)
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto
When you feel like trying different Japanese dishes, especially nigiri sushi, Nijo Kizuki comes highly recommended. Its stylish interior offers both wooden counter seats and casual tables for families and friends. Here, you'll be served course meals with sushi as the main dish. Ideal for when you want to eat something light, the popular [Aoi Course] (5 servings, 3,500 JPY) includes an appetizer, a platter of 6 nigiri, and other delicacies. When you're particularly hungry, go for the 9-dish [Tsuki Course] (5,000 JPY) instead.

Nijo Kizuki

Open: Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Address: 1F, Vine Oak Fine, 659, Seimei-cho, Yanagi no Banba Higashi-iru, Nijo-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation 

4. Daiki-Suisan Kaiten-Zushi (Kyoto)

1. Daiki-Suisan Kaiten-Zushi (Kyoto)
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto
This popular kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurant is inside Kyoto Tower, right in front of Kyoto Station. Accessible in just 2 minutes on foot from there, it's a great opportunity to enjoy delicious sushi made with seasonal ingredients at the convenient prices typical of kaiten-zushi spots! Above all, make sure you try their [Hon-maguro Toro] (350 JPY). It's a fatty cut of tuna that is considered to be the king of nigiri (hand-formed sushi). There are other delicacies, such as the [Today's Seafood Kushiage] (580 JPY), the deep-fried seafood on skewers, and the [Octopus Karaage] (350 JPY), which is the deep-fried octopus.

Daiki-Suisan Kaiten-Zushi

Open: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 1,400 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from the central exit of JR Kyoto Station, in Kyoto Tower 
Address: 721-1, Higashishio-Koji Cho, Karasuma Dori Shichijo Sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto  Map
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5. Kakuredokoro Shunsai Sengyo Sanji (Karasuma Oike)

2. Kakuredokoro Shunsai Sengyo Sanji (Karasuma Oike)
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto
You can easily reach Kakuredokoro Shunsai Sengyo Sanji, a casual Japanese-style izakaya (Japanese pub), in just 4 minutes on foot from Karasuma Oike Station. It is renowned for its Japanese dishes that go great with alcohol and made with plenty of seafood, which is either directly delivered from fishers or pole-fished when in season. What you definitely shouldn't miss is their seasonal nigiri, made to enhance the flavor of each ingredient. [Maguro] (bluefin tuna) and [Tai] (sea bream) are 180 JPY each. Even premium toppings come reasonably priced, like the [Raw Uni] (sea urchin) for just 380 JPY! If you don't know what to order, go for the [5 Variety Omakase] (980 JPY), and you'll get a selection of the chef's recommendations!

Kakuredokoro Shunsai Sengyo Sanji

Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
[Saturday] 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
[Sunday] 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 800 JPY
Address: 1F, Nijo Coop, 40, Matsuya-cho, Ainomachi-dori Nijo Nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

6. Sushi Gion Matsudaya (Gion-shijo)

6. Sushi Gion Matsudaya (Gion-shijo)
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto
Sushi Gion Matsudaya is popular among Kyoto's discerning food experts. This tiny and simple restaurant furnished with a white wooden counter that has only 7 seats offers the truly superb sushi! Starting from delicious tuna caught in the adjacent sea, they exclusively use seasonal and natural fish stocked from the local Nishiki Market or Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. Order their luxurious [Omakase Nigiri] (from 16,500 JPY) for a starred sushi experience you'll never forget!

Sushi Gion Matsudaya

Open: [Tuesday - Saturday] 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 10:00 pm)
[Sunday] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) *Reservations required for lunch up until the day before, Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
[National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: Monday, Irregularly closes 1 day each month
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 15,000 JPY
Address: 570-123, Gion-machi Minami-gawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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7. Nontaro Tomo (Gion-shijo)

7. Nontaro Tomo (Gion-shijo)
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto
Nontaro Tomo has inherited the traditions of a well-established sushi restaurant that was open for over 50 years in Gion, Kyoto's most iconic shopping district. Classic nigiri like [Toro] (1,200 JPY) and [Tai] (800 JPY) have the seal of approval from all Kyoto's gourmands! Can't decide? Order the [Omakase Course] (from 6,500 JPY) to taste various nigiri. Also worth trying is the [Kanoko] (1,000 JPY), made with carefully selected beef that has been quickly scorched and seasoned with ponzu (soy sauce with a citrus base) and momiji-oroshi (grated daikon with other ingredients).

Nontaro Tomo

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner, 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
[Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm 
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Address: 3F, Nontaro Bldg., 357, Kiyomoto-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

8. Sushi Matsumoto (Gion-shijo)

8. Sushi Matsumoto (Gion-shijo)
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto
When you ask for a recommended sushi spot around Gion, you'll most likely get Sushi Matsumoto as the reply. The owner, who trained at Sushi Shimizu in Shinbashi, Tokyo, makes old-school sushi in perfect Edo style. Stocked every morning from either Akashi, Kansai's first harbor, or Tsukiji Market, their seasonal fish is boiled, scorched, or marinated, depending on the traditional recipes of Edo-style sushi. You'll only find 2 options on the menu, the [Omakase Nigiri] and the [Snacks and Nigiri], but they properly express the chef's fine taste and skills!

Sushi Matsumoto

Open: [Monday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm), Dinner 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
[Tuesday, Wednesday] 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 9,000 JPY
Address: 570-123, Gion-machi Minami-gawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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9. Sushidokoro Man (Karasuma Oike)

9. Sushidokoro Man (Karasuma Oike)
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto
Sitting in a quiet residential neighborhood, the popular sushi restaurant, Sushidokoro Man, has a laid-back and cozy atmosphere that makes it feel like a hideaway. Take a seat at the counter, from where you can witness the chef's knife skills, or at one of the large tables, and enjoy the genuine flavor of the seasonal nigiri sushi. The especially famous [Akagai] is a sublime delicacy that combines the amazing texture and flavor of red clam with the delicate taste of vinegared rice. Also, try the [Ika] - a nigiri with impeccably cut squid - to experience the sophisticated taste of Japanese sushi.

Sushidokoro Man

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
*Lunch is available upon reservation only
Closed: Monday, 3rd Tuesday of the month
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY / [Lunch] 8,000 JPY
Address: 436, Shirakabe-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

10. Aoba (Fukuchiyama)

10. Aoba (Fukuchiyama)
10 Delicious Sushi Spots in Kyoto
Aoba is a long-established sushi restaurant in Fukuchiyama that has been appreciated by local food connoisseurs for over 40 years. Located in an area a little far away from the busy train station, it serves delicious Japanese a-la-carte dishes and lunch sets, as well as sushi of seasonal fish. Their signature sushi items are classics like [Toro] (750 JPY) and [Tai] (270 JPY), but they also make various sushi rolls like [Tekkamaki] (750 JPY) and [Nattomaki] (320 JPY). If you're in the mood for a variety of dishes, the [Omakase Course] (3,500 JPY) is for what you're looking.

Aoba

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday] 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
*Reservations accepted for lunch up until 2 days before
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,500 JPY
Address: 42-1, Aza Nakano, Fukuchiyama-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details
Did any of these 10 sushi spots in Kyoto pique your interest? These are only a few of the many popular restaurants in Kyoto, a city visited by millions of tourists every year. Check out the locals' reviews and pick your favorite!
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
Update-date: Nov 07 2023
Author: SAVOR JAPAN

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