Restaurants in Japan

I had such a lovely dining experience here! From the beautifully presented dishes to the warm and welcoming service, everything made the evening feel really special. I especially appreciated how foreign-friendly the restaurant is. The chef takes the time to explain each dish in English, which makes it even more enjoyable when trying traditional Japanese ingredients and preparations. My favorites were the Bluefin Tuna with Wasabi Soy Sauce, the Sukiyaki-style Wagyu Beef with Burdock Tempura, and the Japanese ceramic kettle-cooked rice with side dishes and red miso soup. Everything was thoughtfully prepared. The staff made the experience even better. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and fun to be around. They even joined my videos, which made filming effortless and enjoyable. With its intimate atmosphere, attentive service, and welcoming team, I think this is a beautiful spot for couples and date nights. A wonderful combination of delicious food, great hospitality, and memorable moments!

I love that SHARI Akasaka staff and chefs gave me the opportunity to come by and give them a review! Arigato gozaimasu! |My experience here was absolutely amazing. The staff were really friendly and professional, and they made the experience comfortable and fun. From the set up to the dishes and how everything was presented, they did a phenomenal job. The restaurant is also very foreign-friendly, and the chefs take their time explaining each dish to you in English. |The Kaiseki Course had me shocked! Each dish was carefully prepared and exploded with flavor. My favorites were the Shine Muscat in Tofu Dressing with Seared Barracuda Sushi, Tilefish & Deep-fried Sesame Tofu in Kudzu Sauce, and Sukiyaki-style Wagyu Beef & Burdock Tempura. The other dishes were just as amazing, so it was really hard to choose my favorites. |I would really recommend this place to foreigners who want to experience Japanese cuisine. They also have menus in English and Japanese, so there is no Google Translate or confusion! This is honestly a remarkable place. I really loved every second of the experience!

It was really a good experience! Would recommend it to everyone! Sushi was really good!

Such an amazing experience. The projection is awesome, staff is very kind and patient but OMG the food. Soooo great.

Impresionante. Gran servicio y gran calidad de producto. Excelente

Great experience. The food was awsome. The atmosphere was perfect.

Absolutely spectacular! The chef was amazing. Very attentive, funny and interactive. Food was the best we have had all trip and we’ve had some amazing food! Thank you for a very memorable evening!

It was clear the chef was totally used to running the whole place by himself. I loved how the seasonality showed in everything from the plates to his fun explanations of the food. With a quiet vibe and a lovely view outside, it was just a great place to sit back and enjoy good conversation with the chef and my companion. We chose the Seasonal Kaiseki Course, and the chef's culinary techniques were truly impressive. A standout for us was the hot dishes course—the crispy deep-fried sweetfish (Ayu) was cooked so perfectly that you could eat it whole, and the Yamashina eggplant dengaku with rich sweet miso was pure comfort. The attention to detail was everywhere. The sashimi featured flounder wrapped with edible chrysanthemum petals (Hirame Kikkamaki), which was as gorgeous as it was delicious. For the vinegared dish, the sweet horsehair crab served with refreshing Tosa vinegar, raw water eggplant, and cucumber provided a wonderful contrast in textures. The meal finished with an aromatic sea bream cooked rice, red miso soup, and a lovely dessert of Shine Muscat, Yokan, and Matcha. Experiencing such authentic Kyoto seasonality and refined cooking techniques made this special evening truly unforgettable. Highly recommended!

Such a great location for a date night in Kyoto. The atmosphere was quiet and cozy, and the chef was super friendly. They’re also very English-friendly, so we had no trouble at all. We got to enjoy some amazing Kyoto cuisine in such a relaxed setting. We had the seasonal Kaiseki course (¥22,000), and every single dish was beautifully presented and thoughtfully prepared. From the refreshing starter of NAGAIMO noodles with sea cucumber gut to the exquisite appetizers presented on bamboo, you can really taste the freshness of seasonal Japanese ingredients. The highlight for us was the pike conger (Hamo) dishes—both the clear soup with delicate broth and the green-onion wrapped Hamo were exceptional. The sashimi featured medium fatty tuna and Sawara, perfectly fresh and buttery. We were also super impressed by the horsehair crab with Tosa vinegar and the savory sea bream cooked rice to finish the meal. The Shine Muscat and matcha dessert rounded off a truly memorable dining experience. Highly recommended if you want to experience authentic, high-end Kaiseki in Kyoto!

First time trying a full-course kaiseki dinner, and wow, it was totally worth it! I was skeptical about kaiseki at first, but my worry was proved completely unfounded. Every dish was delicious and beautifully presented. We dined throughout the course without any worry, since the chef took really great care of us during the meal. Out of all the dishes, my favorites were the Hamo Clear Soup and the Sea Bream Takikomi Gohan. They were so delicious that I decided to get another serving of the rice (gohan). The chef and staff were friendly, accommodating, the service was also impeccable, moreover the 5th-floor view of the Kamo River was beautiful. Definitely recommended even for first-timer! 😁

The kaiseki course experience was a wholesome one. From how the ingredients were selected, prepared, and then presented to us, everything was totally beautiful and captured the essence of Japanese cuisine. The meals themselves were all of high quality and taste. Everything was so fresh and how they were cooked really highlighted the taste of the ingredients, not heavily seasoned and kept the balance of the flavor. Watching the cooking process live really elevated the meal experience. Tucked away inside a building in the Pontocho alley, it was a perfect meal to have during your stay in Kyoto. A night you won’t be able to forget!

The food is so amazing. Very high quality and you can see how much passion the chef puts into the menu and the attention to detail and plating was magnificent. I got to try various arrangements and I really enjoyed the chefs calm and friendly manner. Highly recommend