Best Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki in Kyoto: 8 Top Picks Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Reservation Guide-

Update-Date: Mar 9, 2026

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Izakaya Shabu Shabu Sukiyaki

Best Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki in Kyoto: 8 Top Picks

Kyoto is a city that captures the essence of Japan, from its historic shrines to its breathtaking landscapes. But beyond the sightseeing, Kyoto is a world-class culinary destination. If you’re looking for the best shabu shabu in Kyoto or the best sukiyaki in Kyoto, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we feature 8 top-rated restaurants, ranging from the traditional streets of the Higashiyama area to the serene, lush riverside retreats of Kibune.

Gion Kaifuku Shokudo Haru-Haru

Located a short walk from Gion-shijo Station, Gion Kaifuku Shokudo Haru-Haru specializes in shabu-shabu and sukiyaki featuring premium Kobe and Kyoto Wagyu beef. Guests can enjoy these refined flavors in a serene Japanese-style setting, where shabu-shabu is uniquely served in custom-made natural crystal pots. The menu, available in multiple languages, highlights high-quality ingredients paired with special dipping sauces. Beyond the meal, the traditional interior and complimentary wooden plaque making service provide international travelers with a relaxing and memorable cultural experience in a quiet corner of Gion.

Best Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki in Kyoto: 7 Top Picks

Gion Kaifuku Shokudo Haru-Haru

Open: 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 8,500 JPY
Access: Nearby from Gion-shijo Station (425m)
Address: 1F, Gion-yuuki Bldg., 347-31, Kitagawa, Gion-machi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Pontocho HOUSHOAN

Houshoan offers refined Japanese cuisine in the scenic Pontocho area, ideal for those seeking a cultural dining experience. Guests can enjoy dishes like sukiyaki and teppanyaki with premium Japanese Black beef, along with seasonal specials such as riverside Noryo-yuka dining in summer and sukiyaki in winter. With English menus and staff, it’s a welcoming spot for international visitors to savor Kyoto’s charm.

Pontocho HOUSHOAN

Open: [Tuesday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 8,500 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line, 3-minute walk from Gion-shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line
Address: 1F, Shiko-kaikan, 227, Nabeya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Kibune WHAT'S

A 10-minute bus ride from Kibuneguchi Station, Kibune WHAT’S stands by the lush Kibune River, where one can enjoy high-quality branded wagyu while feeling the charm of the ancient capital. The course featuring Matsusaka beef shabu-shabu includes beautiful appetizers and yuba dishes, allowing guests to savor Kyoto-style gourmet cuisine. Additionally, the grilled meat platter featuring three types of branded wagyu is also highly recommended.

Five Restaurants to Enjoy Delicious Shabu-Shabu and Sukiyaki While Sightseeing in Kyoto

The restaurant features table seating and private rooms with tatami mats, creating a stylish space where Japanese and Western elements harmonize. Guests can relax and forget the hustle and bustle of the city while being soothed by the greenery visible through the large windows. During the summer, they can enjoy a shabu-shabu course while feeling the nature on the kawadoko (terrace by the river). The kawadoko, a summer tradition in Kyoto, is also popular among tourists, and early reservations are essential.

Kibune WHAT'S

Open: [Monday, Wednesday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] 11:00 am - 6:00 pm (L.O. 5:00 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY
Access: 10-minute by Kyoto Bus from Kibuneguchi Station of Eizan Electric Railway
Address: 78, Kurama Kibune-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
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Imomatsu Kita-bekkan

Imomatsu Kita-bekkan, located a 4-minute walk from Sanjo Station, is an izakaya where a wide variety of dishes and drinks can be enjoyed casually. The recommended option is the 'Wagyu Course,' which includes sukiyaki made with black-haired wagyu and black-haired wagyu sushi. Guests can also enjoy a selection of unique local sake, shochu, and a 'Tasting Set' featuring three types of high-quality sake, all of which can be paired with Japan's distinctive beverages.

Five Recommended Restaurants for Enjoying Delicious Shabu-Shabu and Sukiyaki Alongside Kyoto Sightseeing

The restaurant is located on the basement level of the building. Descending the narrow stairs, a space with a total of 86 seats unfolds. The casual interior is primarily wood-based, featuring not only table seating but also tatami seating where guests can relax without shoes, as well as semi-private rooms. The last order is at midnight (2 AM on Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before holidays), making it a great option for dinner on nights when sightseeing runs late.

Imomatsu Kita-bekkan

Open: [Monday-Thursday] Dinner 6:00 pm - 2:00 am (L.O. 1:00 am), [Friday, Saturday, Day Before National Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 5:00 am (L.O. 4:00 am)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: 4-minute walk from Keihan Sanjo Station, 7-minute walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station
Address: B1F, New Kyoto Bldg., 181-2, Zaimoku-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
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Wagyu Restaurant Bungo Gion

Located a 7-minute walk from both Gion-Shijo Station and Sanjo Station, the wagyu restaurant bungo Gion is situated on the picturesque Shinbashi Street in Gion. It operates on a reservation-only basis, offering the finest wagyu, Oita wagyu, which can be enjoyed in dishes such as sukiyaki and grilled meat. The recommended menu item, 'sukiyaki,' features large cuts of marbled red meat marinated in sauce, prepared in a unique way to achieve a perfect rare doneness, with the staff finishing it right in front of the guests.

The restaurant, which has been renovated from a traditional Japanese house designated as a cultural property by Kyoto City, features counter seating and four private rooms (for a fee), with stunning furnishings. As a unique plan exclusive to Kyoto's geisha districts, guests can enjoy a meal while watching performances by maiko and geiko. This experience is also available (additional fee and reservation required). For more details, please contact the restaurant.

Wagyu Restaurant Bungo Gion

Open: Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm / Reservations only. Reservations are available at 17:00, 18:00, and 19:00. Each one is 2 hours and 30 minutes. Some days may have reservations available for 20:00 (please ask the restaurant for details).
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 16,000 JPY
Access: 7-minute walk from Exit 8 of Gion-shijo Station on Keihan Railway. It is located along Shimbashi-dori Street.
Address: 56, Motoyoshi-cho, Yamatooji Higashi-iru, Shimbashi-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
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Kyoto Kanigin Kawaramachi Branch

All-you-can-eat crab and black wagyu shabu-shabu and sukiyaki!

Located just a 2-minute walk from Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, Kyoto Kanigin is a restaurant where guests can enjoy all-you-can-eat courses featuring crab and black wagyu beef. The recommended option is the 'All-You-Can-Eat Black Wagyu Two-Color Hot Pot Course,' which allows diners to savor both shabu-shabu and sukiyaki at once. There is also a selection of a la carte dishes, including nigiri sushi and fried items, available for all-you-can-eat. Guests can add an all-you-can-drink option for an additional fee.

The spacious restaurant with 155 seats also accepts reservations for seats only. It is conveniently located in the center of Kyoto, which is often crowded with tourists. The restaurant offers an English menu, and the staff can communicate in English, Chinese, and Korean, providing peace of mind. On weekends and holidays, it also serves lunch, making it an easy stop after exploring the Higashiyama area.

Kyoto Kanigin Kawaramachi Branch

Open: [Monday-Friday, Day Before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm), [Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 12:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: Take Exit 3 of Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, and go north on Kawaramachi Dori from the Shijo-Kawaramachi intersection. Walk for about 2 minutes, and you will find the restaurant on your right.
Address: 5F, Kawaramachi DECK by COAST, 291, Naraya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
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Sukiyaki Shabu-shabu Kyoto Fushimi Inari Hirano

5 Recommended Restaurants for Shabu-Shabu and Sukiyaki in Kyoto

At Sukiyaki Shabu-shabu Hirano, guests can enjoy premium dishes prepared right at the counter. The sukiyaki features A5-rank Japanese Black wagyu rib-loin, Kikaijima brown sugar, and Mizuho Farm eggs, served as staff explain their culinary commitments. For shabu-shabu, the restaurant offers wagyu misuji and Kyoto-style yudofu in a kelp broth extracted the day before, paired with house-made ponzu. The meal concludes with a Kyoto-inspired cultural experience, where guests enjoy homemade warabi mochi and whisk their own matcha.

Sukiyaki Shabu-shabu Kyoto Fushimi Inari Hirano

Open: [Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Monday, 2nd and 4th Tuesday (Summer holidays and January holidays)
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 6-minute walk from the West Exit of Ryukokudai-mae-Fukakusa Station on the Keihan Main Line
Address: 4-33-2, Fukakusa Nishiura-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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shikinouta Kyoto Ekimae Ten

Just a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Station, the restaurant Shikinouta offers creative dishes made with fresh seafood harvested daily from the wholesale market. Their signature dish, red shrimp shabu-shabu, features fresh red shrimp that can be eaten raw. The special broth is characterized by the rich flavor of the shrimp miso blended into a saikyo miso soup.

Five Recommended Restaurants for Delicious Shabu-Shabu and Sukiyaki to Enjoy Alongside Kyoto Sightseeing

Conveniently located near the station, the restaurant offers a fully private dining experience where guests can forget the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy their meal. The Japanese modern interior and soft lighting create a comfortable atmosphere, with private rooms available for groups of 2 to larger parties. The drink selection includes a variety of sake and shochu. There is an English menu available, and staff who can assist in English, providing peace of mind.

shikinouta Kyoto Ekimae Ten

Open: 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from Kyoto Station
Address: 1F, 736, Higashi-shiokojicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.

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