Junidanya Hanamikoji Branch

Said to be the original home to shabu shabu in Japan, the historic and steadfast Junidanya has etched its name in the culinary annals of Japan for more than a century. Located in Gion’s Hanamikoji Street, the restaurant's name — "Junidanya," meaning "twelfth act" — is inspired by the owner’s love of kabuki, with the hope that, like the final act in the theatre, the store becomes the last stop for diners before they end their day. At its core is the exceptional preparation of Kobe beef, still cooked in a warming shabu-shabu broth in a copper hotpot, heated by charcoal—a traditional method the restaurant has upheld since its early days. Proteins and vegetables are served raw, with most of the cooking done right at the table. Diners can also enjoy sukiyaki, shabu-shabu’s bolder counterpart, where marbled beef is simmered in a rich warishita broth made from soy sauce, sake, mirin and sugar. For a lighter option, there’s the yuba and soy milk hotpot, where fresh tofu can be simmered as diners savor the specialty pale-yellow rolled omelet. Other options include a yakiniku bowl set or, for splurge-worthy moments, the Japanese Black beef sirloin set that comes with a one-person grill. The space itself, retaining the charm of its historic wood merchant house, showcases works by potters Kawai Kanjiro and Hamada Shoji, woodworker Kuroda Tatsuaki and printmaker Munakata Shiko, all friends of the restaurant’s second-generation owner.