Hotaru

With a name that means “firefly”, it’s only fitting that Hotaru offers an atmosphere brimming with warmth and light from dawn to dusk. With banquet seating for up to 32 guests and service for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Hotaru is perfect for any special gathering during your time in Japan. To celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2023, the restaurant has introduced a series of rotating seasonal menus and events, such as annual “new sake” banquets and holiday dining options that widen an already satisfying range of options. As is appropriate for a restaurant that specializes in kyo-kaiseki — that is, Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine — Hotaru’s specialty is its dashi, which is the flavorful essence of many Japanese dishes. The dashi’s unmistakable taste makes its presence felt in miso soup to boiled sides and fragrant seafood mains. Diners hoping to fully enjoy the careful techniques and ingredient balance that make this key element core to Hotaru’s cuisine will love the dashi-forward special course menu. Children’s meals and chef’s specialty menus are available for lunch and dinner, while traditional breakfast courses ready guests for a day of exploring the nation’s historic capital.