Hiwatashi

This kaiseki restaurant is located just south of Kyoto’s Imperial Palace in Kyoto Gyoen Park, where the style of dining it specializes in reached its zenith in centuries past. The store itself isn’t quite a palace itself, but the converted farmhouse building certainly has its own sophisticated charms. A married couple run the place, and their hospitality is one of the reasons that Hiwatashi holds a Michelin star. They give their full attention to each group, with a style of service that feels like a relic of a bygone age: totally personal, of the kind that's impossible to find nowadays. Their menu changes according to the seasons, as well as to celebrate the various Shinto festivals which bring Kyoto to life throughout the year.