Shinjuku Kyo Kaiseki Kakiden

Designed by prolific architect Taniguchi Yoshiro, the man responsible for some of Japan’s most famous buildings like the State Guest House of the Akasaka Palace and the original incarnation of the Imperial Garden Theater, Kakiden is literally founded on excellence. The kanji characters in the restaurant’s title were even personally written by Nobel laureate Kawabata Yasunari. Thus it follows that the cuisine of this Shinjuku kyo-kaiseki restaurant is similarly second to none. For over 40 years, Kyoto-style kaiseki has been served within this magnificent building in the heart of Tokyo, the interior of which instantly transports diners back to the Genroku and Kyoho periods of the Edo period: the renaissance of cha-kaiseki (food served before tea ceremony). Traditional dishes like soft-shelled turtle soup and desserts made with powdered Japanese arrowroot (kuzukiri) convey the spirit of kaiseki at its purest. Through its unwavering dedication to tradition, Kakiden keeps the flame of almost 300 years of kyo-kaiseki cuisine and tea ceremony burning bright. Aside from serving traditional kaiseki delicacies, Kakiden also facilitates tea ceremonies and teaches kaiseki “manner” classes, to educate guests on the ins and outs of both Japanese tea ceremony and the cha-kaiseki culinary art form. Seating types range from small, intimate rooms with tatami flooring, to more modern dining tables.