Eating out with kids in Japan can be a interesting experience. There doesn’t seem to be the same consideration for child safety as in the west. Hot plates, gas burners and sharp utensils are the norm. Here’s our guide to the best (and safest) places to eat in Kyoto with kids.
Oasi
Cuisine Italian
Price $$$
Why it’s good for families
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Location of Oasi
Nestled in the heart of the old Nishijin textile district where you can sometimes still hear the old cotton weaving machines, Oasi is a perfect stop when exploring the history of the Kimono.
Kura Sushi
Cuisine Sushi / Noodles / Tempura
Price $
Our kids love Kura Sushi. They can’t get enough of watching the carousel of sushi going round. Plus the excitement of a special delivery of food we’ve ordered from the tablet. Kura Sushi is a chain restaurant but don’t let that put you off. They quality is great and the price is gives very good value for money. For authentic conveyor belt sushi, look no further.
Why it’s good for families
Location of Kura Sushi
There in fact 10 Kura Sushi restaurant in Kyoto and many more around Japan. Here’s a good one we recommend.
Italian Bar Ne? (Italian バール ne?)
Cuisine Italian
Price $$
Review Beautifully cosy Italian restaurant tucked away on a quite street near Kitano shrine. The food is wonderful and authentically Italian. But it has a Kyoto twist. The style is western as you would expect. Plenty of books to read including some for kids. The chef trained in Turin, Italy, and it shows. The food is subtle, yet this makes you focus on the few simple ingredients used. Try the Tiramisu, it’s devine!
Why it’s good for families
Recommendation Get their right at 12:00 noon and try the lunch menu.
Location of Italian バール ne?
Kawa Café
Cuisine French
Price $$
Review We stumbled across Kawa Café when we cycled down the Kamogawa river one sunny spring morning. Pontocho is an area of Kyoto which is densely packed with restaurant, cafés and bars. From the riverside it looks stunning. The restaurants have terraces which extend out over the small steam which runs parallel to the river. In summer the river provides a much needed respite from the heat. Kawa Café serves excellent French cuisine with a great selection of wines. A fun thing about this place for us is watching Kawa – the owner’s cat – chase off the huge cranes which land on the terrace.
Why it’s good for families
Recommendation
Location of Kawa Café
Blink and you’ll miss it. The entrance is down a side alley off Pontocho.
Higakisaryo Palace Restaurant
Cuisine Japanese
Price $$
Review
Recommendation
Location of Higakisaryo restaurant
Inside the Kyoto Imperial Palace grounds.
