Gion Fukushi
The Michelin-lauded restaurant delivers seasonal Kyoto-style kaiseki in its skillful simplicity, among the storied townhouses of the geisha district.
Restaurant Details
Among the aged, latticed townhomes mounted in the geisha district of Gion, its noren sways lazily; at dusk, the restaurant glows from within and the atmospheric, sukiya-style space snoozes into the evening. Such is the subdued yet profound soul of Gion Fukushi, which, rather than bursting on it, slotted comfortably into the culinary battlefield of Kyoto when it opened in 2017.
These days, the change-adverse city has approved owner-chef Fukushi Takuyoshi’s tenure (the Michelin Guide, too; the restaurant has maintained a star since 2019). This acceptance was partly due to his stint in the lauded kitchens of Ginza’s darling kappo restaurant, Kaiseku, and the high-end ryotei Tsubaki in the esteemed Oku-Yugawara, plus another 17-year residency at Tankuma Kitamise in Kyoto. But mostly, it was due to his high-definition dexterity in the craftwork of kaiseki.
Specifically, Kyoto-style kaiseki, or kyo-ryori, where the inherent flavors of foodstuffs and seasonality become the prime backbone of the kitchen. Organic and pesticide-free vegetables, alongside fish, are sourced from local producers and transformed into gourmet art. Ingredients receive the proper treatment they deserve; sweetfish ayu in the summer are deep-fried, while fugu sashimi is crowned with milt and bathes in ponzu sauce, served in bowls crafted by renowned ceramists.
A few touches are uniquely personal: petite Hina dolls stand among stunning appetizer platters, and Kyomaru-uchiwa fans — summer greeting fans used by maikos — are mounted on one end of the wall.
Fukushi’s wife handles the service side of things, and dining feels like a pleasant lull with a venue tethered by the stunning 200-year-old, single-cut hinoki cypress counter, timber furnishings and gentle lightning — this is the way of Gion Fukushi. If you are lucky enough to land a place at their 8-seat counter, witness Fukushi’s brilliance up close.
Michelin Guide accolades:
2019 - 2024 - 1 Michelin Star
※ The available reservation slot for the Michelin-starred Gion Fukushi is at 6 pm.
A high-definition kaiseki course designed by the brilliant kappo chef, where diners saddle into the counter seats and lean against the single-piece hinoki cypress counter to watch their meal made before them. The course includes a welcome drink, selected from its library of sake, sparkling wine, draft beer, white wine, red wine and soft drinks. ※ The course menu content listed below is an example and is subject to change based on seasonal availability.
A high-definition kaiseki course designed by the brilliant kappo chef, where diners saddle into the counter seats and lean against the single-piece hinoki cypress counter to watch their meal made before them. The course includes a welcome drink, selected from its library of sake, sparkling wine, draft beer, white wine, red wine and soft drinks. ※ The course menu content listed below is an example and is subject to change based on seasonal availability.
Gion Fukushi Remarks
Guests with dietary restrictions and/or food allergies should inform the restaurant beforehand. The restaurant might not be able to accommodate guests who make same-day requests.
The restaurant reserves the right to refuse reservations to guests who have excessive dietary restrictions, particularly those of fish or vegetables.
The course menu content listed below is an example, and is subject to change based on seasonal availability.
While the restaurant will do its best to reserve guests’ preferred seating options, it may not always be possible due to availability.
The pictures provided are for illustrative purposes.
Gion Fukushi Business Days
Gion Fukushi Address
570-120 Giommachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0074
Gion Fukushi Access Info
Gion Fukushi is a 5-minute walk from Goion-shijo Station on the Keihan Line, an 8-minute walk from Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line or a 13-minute walk from Kiyomizu-gojo Station on the Keihan Line.
Gion Fukushi Phone Number
Gion Fukushi Cancellation Policy
Cancel your reservation at least 48 hours before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Restaurant location
Gion is the traditional entertainment center of Kyoto, where arts like kabuki theater, tea ceremony and flower arrangement have flourished for hundreds of years. Gion is one of five hanamachi (geiko or geisha communities) in Kyoto. Some of the most gorgeous traditional tea houses are also in Gion, and geisha can be seen moving between ochaya tea houses, on their way to a performance. During sakura season, maiko and geiko perform at the Miyako Odori, one of the largest annual spring shows. But all year round, Shirakawa Dori (Shirakawa Street) is a stunning and timeless sight.
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10 meals
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Kaiseki in its birthplace, a meal at one of the oldest establishments to serve it — the 300-year-old Minokichi brand returns to Kyoto, now serving ultra-seasonal kaiseki in Kawaramachi to showcase the city's culinary splendor.
SEAT RESERVATIONIharada
This Kyoto restaurant adds a modern twist to traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine, sourcing high-quality ingredients from their own farm and the local seafood market.
SEAT RESERVATIONGion Nanba
Tradition at its finest. Secreted within Kyoto’s traditional district, Gion Nanba offers Michelin-quality kaiseki courses, featuring the best quality produce from all over Japan.
SEAT RESERVATIONNijojo Furuta
You won’t be bored for a single second when you sit at the counter of this creative kaiseki restaurant in Kyoto.