Top Restaurants near Kyoto Station – Recommended By Locals

When planning your Japan trip and searching for things to do in Kyoto, you’re probably imagining all the delicious Kyoto Japanese cuisine you’ll be able to eat, too. But with so many restaurants in Kyoto, Japan, it can be hard to find what you’re looking for!

To help you out, we’ll share with you the top Restaurants around Kyoto Station – recommended by locals (AKA the MACHIYA INNS & HOTELS team)! These are our favorite Kyoto restaurants to visit for lunch near the JR Kyoto Station area.

Kyoto Station is not just the main train station to explore the city of Kyoto from, but is also home to numerous restaurants and shops. It is also close to many sightseeing locations, like the Kyoto Tower, Toji Temple, and Higashi Honganji Temple, as well as giving easy access to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Fushimi Inari Taisha, and many more of Kyoto’s sights.

Whether you’re looking for authentic Japanese cuisine, some great Italian food, or a fusion restaurant, we’ve got the best recommendations. Take a look at our list below of favorite Kyoto restaurants to visit for lunch.

RECOMMENDED: 10 Best Things to Do in Kyoto, Japan – According to Locals

Just a 5 minute walk from JR Kyoto Station, isoism is a Kyoto restaurant that embraces the ‘zuke’, or pickled, food culture in Japan and takes it to a whole other level.  This restaurant is also a part of the ISOYA group, a group of restaurants in Kyoto, Japan which are well-known for the delicious Japanese food  using fresh and local Kyoto vegetables and adding a unique spin to it. 

There are 2 floors inside the restaurant, with an open-kitchen with counter seating on the first, and roomier table seating on the second floor. The food menu centers around various pickled vegetables and dishes using them, but don’t be afraid to try the fish and meat dishes!  Each Kyoto Japanese cuisine offered has a special touch that can only come from isoism, bringing out the flavor of the various ingredients.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

If you’re visiting for lunch, we highly recommend trying their set lunch with 12 different types of pickled ‘tsukemono’ vegetables. It also comes with fresh and delicious ‘donabe’ gohan, or rice cooked in an earthen pot. For vegetarians traveling to Japan and looking for Kyoto Japanese cuisine, there are many options without meat and meat products, making isoism a great pick.  Using local Kyoto vegetables and ingredients, and with a focus on veggies throughout the menu, if you’re looking for healthy Japanese food, isoism is a great choice out of the many Kyoto Japanese restaurants in the Kyoto Station area.

RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION: ‘Ayaginu’ Machiya House (MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN KYOTO)

At first glance, Camos may not look like a normal recommendation for travelers in Japan looking to try Japanese foods in a Kyoto restaurant, but the theme of the restaurant makes this one of our favorites in the Kyoto Station area.  Camos reopened in February of 2022 after undergoing renovations, and is an Italian restaurant with a Kyoto twist.  Using fermented dishes and local Kyoto vegetables throughout their menu items, the Kyoto restaurant manages to combine classic Italian dishes enjoyed around the would with Kyoto Japanese cuisine. Fermented dishes like pickles, miso, soy sauce, vinegar, and wheat gluten have a long history in Japanese foods. 

This Kyoto restaurant is also located in a relatively quiet area within walking distance of Kyoto Station. You can enjoy a leisurely lunch in the fashionable restaurant, or maybe choose one of the terrace seating available during nice weather.  Camos is also located close to Toji Temple and the Kyoto Aquarium, making it a great stop during sightseeing.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Trying traditional Japanese food and Kyoto Japanese cuisine is a must during your travels, but the unique collaboration between familiar Italian dishes and Kyoto food culture is definitely worth a visit.  Even better, the prices for the lunch sets are fairly reasonable here at this Kyoto restaurant.  Try a pizza topped with Japanese pickles, or a pasta dish made using fermented tomatoes.  If you’re in the mood for a drink, they also have a selection of wines, Japanese whisky, and Japanese sake.

RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION: ‘Akebono-an’ Machiya House (MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN KYOTO)

This unique restaurant has a long history behind the delicious Japanese food served here. Kamado-Takitate-Gohan Doi is operated by Doi Shibazuke Honpo, which has over 100 years of experience and history in making Kyoto style pickles in Ohara, a mountain village in Kyoto, Japan. The pickles buffet is a must, as you can try many different types of Japanese tsukemono pickles. The location of the restaurant is also convenient, as it is located at the Hachijo south exit of Kyoto Station, near the Shinkansen ticket gates as well as Kintetsu, JR, and subway gates. This Kyoto restaurant is a great addition to your list of places to visit during your travel in Japan!

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

When ordering the lunch set, we recommend trying one of the grilled fish dishes.  The sets come with freshly cooked rice, miso soup, and the all-you-can-eat Kyoto pickles buffet.  Try various types of tsukemono pickles at this Kyoto restaurant, including shibazuke, yuzu radish, and red turnip, to find your favorite. And before leaving, be sure to take a look at the pickles available for purchase near the cash register for a souvenir of your favorite pickles to enjoy later on!  Tsukemono pickles are delicious and make a great addition to any meal or a quick snack as you enjoy a drink, not to mention being a great option for healthy Japanese food.

RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION: ‘Kohaku-an’ Machiya House (MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN KYOTO)

Japan is known for cute and adorable foods, and that goes for traditional Japanese food as well! Here at Tempura and Temari-sushi Miyako, you can find authentic and cute Kyoto Japanese cuisine in the form of temari-sushi.  Temari-sushi is a bite size sushi, said to have originated from making small sushi that even small-mouthed maiko could enjoy delicately. While enjoying the delicious and beautiful temari-sushi along with freshly made tempura using seasonal ingredients, enjoy the view from the 11th floor looking out over the area to the south of Kyoto Station.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

When ordering the lunch set, not only can you enjoy tempura and temari-sushi, but you also receive warm red miso soup and a dessert.  Eye-catching and visually pleasing, the  temari-sushi is carefully made one by one.  As each one is small in size, you are able to enjoy a larger variety of flavors all at once. This Kyoto restaurant is located on the 11th floor of CUBE, which is connected to JR Kyoto Station, making access while exploring the city a breeze.  Be sure to arrive early for lunch to ensure a table, as the delicious food and great view make this one a popular destination! 

RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION: ‘Garaku-an’ Machiya House (MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN KYOTO)

Lorimer Kyoto is a restaurant with a Japanese traditional atmosphere while also maintaining a modern touch.  Located in a renovated Kyoto machiya, or traditional Japanese townhouse, this Kyoto restaurant lets you feel the unique atmosphere of being in Kyoto City even as you dine. Serving traditional ‘washoku’ style Japanese cuisine, they pride themselves on using fresh fish and vegetables, local to Kyoto and the surrounding area. Lorimer Kyoto is also popular with locals for the delicious taste and eye-catching wa-modern interior design.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

When visiting for lunch, we recommend trying the ICHIJU SANSAI lunch set, which includes rice, miso soup, fish of the day, and 3 side dishes made using fresh, local ingredients.  The fish of the day is purchased every morning freshly from Maizuru, a port city in the north area of Kyoto.  If you’re looking to try healthy Japanese food using fresh, local ingredients, Lorimer Kyoto is a must visit!

RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION: ‘Fujinoma’ Machiya House (MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN KYOTO)

Next on our list of recommendations is FUKUNAGA 901, a cafe famous for its seasonal fruit parfaits, colorful sweets and more. Although most of their menu consists of desserts & sweets, they also offer a cafe menu full of Japanese-style “Western food” often served in retro cafes. A juicy hambagu (hamburger steak) smothered in a sweet-savory demi glace sauce, chicken ‘karaage’ (Japanese fried chicken) plates, and ‘doria’ (rice gratin covered in a creamy white sauce). 

But, if you’re planning on having lunch or dinner at FUKUNAGA 901, you won’t want to miss out on their parfaits. Their limited-edition strawberry parfait, known as “Ichigo-yama”, is made with a mountain of sweet strawberries, which is layered in between homemade custard, strawberry sorbet, strawberry jelly and more. Since it’s located inside of Kyoto Station, you’ll have easy access. We recommend stopping by before you catch a train, or if you’ve just arrived at Kyoto Station and want to relax and enjoy a meal at a table. 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Looking at their sweets menu, you might be torn between all of the choices! If you’re unsure as to which menu to choose, we say go for the “901 Tower Parfait” or the “Kyo no Bonsai”. The 901 Tower parfait is a classic parfait topped with 3 different types of macarons, homemade chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream, homemade custard cream, 4 different types of berry sauces, and more! But if you love the balance between the earthy taste of matcha green tea and the sweetness of vanilla ice cream, we say go for the “Kyo no Bonsai”. As the name suggests, they’ve imagined a traditional bonsai tree when creating this sweet dessert. This dessert is created in a Kiyomizu-yaki pottery bowl, and filled with all sorts of matcha sweets: matcha ice cream, matcha castella cake, matcha jelly, homemade matcha ice cream, shiratama mochi, and more.

Although the Kawaramachi and Gion areas may be famous for the numerous Kyoto Japanese restaurants, there are also delicious restaurants in the Kyoto Station area.  If you’re visiting some of the many sightseeing spots close to the area, be sure to visit one of our recommended Kyoto restaurants!

We hope to see you in Kyoto, Japan soon!

MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN KYOTO