A 5-minute walk from Kyoto Station brings guests to Kyoto Ito. This one-star Japanese restaurant, secluded on the opposite side of the moat of Higashi Honganji Temple, offers creative, one-of-a-kind dishes prepared by chef Shohei Noguchi,
Chef Noguchi trained at a two-star French restaurant in Osaka for seven years; he have created a one-of-a-kind Japanese cuisine inspired by French classics and made his restaurant a popular gourmet destination.
“This restaurant is a place where different genres of cuisines, such as Japanese, European, and Chinese, meet and combine,” says Noguchi. “I also want to make it a place where food meets tableware crafted by artists and where people who pursue a career in cooking can meet and enjoy learning from one another. The word “Ito” in the restaurant name is intentionally spelled in hiragana to represent multiple meanings, such as a string that ties things together, intention, and affection.”
Ingredients, especially vegetables, are carefully selected and directly sourced from farmers in Hokkaido, as well as Nagasawa Noen and other long-acquainted farmers in Kyoto, to offer sublime vegetable dishes. The chef’s specialties include a richly flavored duck rice topped with Kujo scallions, yolk, and black truffles and consommé with locally raised chicken. Bonito flakes are not only used to produce a stock, but also blended with vegetables and used as a seasoning. Thus, a harmonious blend of Japanese and European ingredients and techniques can be found at Kyoto Ito.
The restaurant also offers a wide selection of drinks, including renowned Japanese sake, such as Juyondai from Yamagata, Hakkaisan from Niigata, and Isojiman from Shizuoka, which was offered to world leaders at the Hokkaido Toyako Summit, as well as premium Japanese whiskies, such as 17-year-old Hibiki and 12-year-old Yamazaki, plus rare wines from a small winery in Hokkaido.
Inside the restaurant, there are two private rooms seating up to four guests each on the second floor, and an eight-seat counter on the first floor. Tables are graced with elaborate dishware, ranging from antique china to ceramics crafted by young artists.
Guests are invited to enjoy one-of-a-kind dishes in an extraordinary setting at Kyoto Ito, to create memories and connections with family, a partner, friends, or colleagues.
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* The availability of this webpage does not guarantee that the restaurant presented provides services in English, unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that English services may also depend on staff availability at the restaurant.
Access
A 5-minutes walk from Kyoto Station on the Karasuma Line of Kyoto City Subway
