HOME Kansai Kyoto Gion, Kawaramachi, Kiyomizu-dera Temple 10 Best Places for Lunch Near Kiyomizu Temple: Enjoy Traditional Yudofu, Yuba & Tsukemono!
10 Best Places for Lunch Near Kiyomizu Temple: Enjoy Traditional Yudofu, Yuba & Tsukemono!

10 Best Places for Lunch Near Kiyomizu Temple: Enjoy Traditional Yudofu, Yuba & Tsukemono!

Last updated: 8 February 2021

While there are many spots for lunch near Kiyomizu Temple, it can be tough to sort them all out! From restaurants where you can enjoy some of the local cuisine, to ones where the locals go, we've put together ten outstanding places for lunch near Kiyomizu Temple!

Table of Contents
  1. 1. Souhonke Yudofu Okutan Kiyomizu: This Restaurant with a Gorgeous Japanese Garden is Over 300 Years Old!
  2. 2. Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya: Make your own tofu!
  3. 3. Yumeji Café Goryukaku: A casual lunch near Kiyomizu Temple at a national cultural property
  4. 4. Kiyomizu Gojozaka Yubasen: Enjoy a smooth yuba set lunch near Kiyomizu Temple
  5. 5. Akoya Jaya: 20 varieties of all-you-can-eat tsukemono
  6. 6. Hanbey Fu Honten and Tea House: Traditionally made Fu
  7. 7. Nichigetsuan: Elegant Kyoto Kaiseki at a reasonable price
  8. 8. Yoshimura Kiyomizuan: Exquisite handmade soba in a calm setting
  9. 9. Men Kuroudo: a must for fans of soba, udon, and other noodles
  10. 10. Sapporo Kaniya Kyoto King crab, snow crab, and more!

1. Souhonke Yudofu Okutan Kiyomizu: This Restaurant with a Gorgeous Japanese Garden is Over 300 Years Old!

1. Souhonke Yudofu Okutan Kiyomizu: This Restaurant with a Gorgeous Japanese Garden is Over 300 Years Old!

Founded about 385 years ago, Okutan is located at the intersection of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, making it a perfect place for lunch near Kiyomizu Temple.

From the dining area, patrons can observe the expression of each season on display in the restaurant’s nearly 2,000 square meter garden.

Okimari Hitotori
Okimari Hitotori

Okutan is especially known for its yudofu (hot tofu). Using carefully selected soybeans, the tofu is handmade in the restaurant’s kitchen and has a smooth texture and rich soybean flavor. The lunchtime “Okimari Hitotori” (3,300 yen, tax included) features tofu, skewered tofu, sesame seed tofu, tempura, etc. is popular.

Okutan’s COVID-19 prevention measures include an ample supply of hand disinfectant, disinfection of the restaurant, masked employees, and vinyl curtains at the cash register.

  • Souhonke Yudofu Okutan Kiyomizu
    総本家 ゆどうふ 奥丹清水
    • Address 3-340 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862
    • Phone Number 075-525-2051
    • Hours: 11:00 - 16:30 (last order 16:00), Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 11:00 - 17:30 (last order 17:00); closed Thursdays

2. Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya: Make your own tofu!

2. Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya: Make your own tofu!

Located down Kiyomizu-zaka from Kiyomizu Temple’s Niomon gate, Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya is one of the more popular spots for lunch near Kiyomizu Temple. It also serves high-quality tofu.

The yudofu is great, but “Otemae Fuji” (2,200 yen, tax included), which allows you to make and eat your own tofu, is recommended.

Otemae Fuji
Otemae Fuji

The soy milk is made from 100% domestic soybeans and, just before eating, nigari (the liquid remaining after removing salt from seawater) is added to make it hot and fresh. This lunch set also comes with cooked vegetables and tempura.

Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya has English menus available and COVID-19 prevention measures include hand disinfectant, disinfection of the restaurant, masked employees, safe distance between seating, and vinyl curtains at the cash register.

  • Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya
    清水順正 おかべ家
    • Address 2-239 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862
    • Phone Number 075-541-7111
    • Business hours: 11:00 - 17:00 (last order 16:00) *Subject to change

3. Yumeji Café Goryukaku: A casual lunch near Kiyomizu Temple at a national cultural property

3. Yumeji Café Goryukaku: A casual lunch near Kiyomizu Temple at a national cultural property

The Yumeji Café Goryukaku, just across from the Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya, is found in the former home of businessman, Shofu Kajo, who built it about 100 years ago. There you can enjoy tea and meals in a striking building that is designated as a national cultural property.

The most popular lunch item is the “Kyoto Vegetable Curry” (1,400 yen, tax included). It uses locally grown vegetables and spices that go well with them and comes with a tofu side salad that includes tofu made by Okabeya.

Kyoto Vegetable Curry
Kyoto Vegetable Curry

COVID-19 prevention measures such as hand disinfectant, disinfection of the restaurant, masked employees, safe distance between seating, and vinyl curtains at the cash register have been implemented at Yumeji Café Goryukaku.

  • Yumeji Café Goryukaku
    夢二カフェ五龍閣
    • Address 3-340 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862
    • Phone Number 075-541-7111
    • Hours: 11:00 - 16:30 (last order 16:00); closed Thursdays. *Temporarily closed. Scheduled to resume business before Obon. Please contact for current hours.

4. Kiyomizu Gojozaka Yubasen: Enjoy a smooth yuba set lunch near Kiyomizu Temple

4. Kiyomizu Gojozaka Yubasen: Enjoy a smooth yuba set lunch near Kiyomizu Temple

As implied by the name, the specialty of Gojozaka’s Yubasen is “yuba” – a thin film that forms on the water’s surface when tofu is boiled and has been eaten as a health food since ancient times.

At Yubasen it is carefully made using traditional methods and domestic soybeans, and is characterized by its extremely smooth texture.

Kyoyuba Set
Kyoyuba Set

The “Kyoyuba Set” (2,200 yen, tax included) features three kinds of homemade yuba, yuba sashimi, yuba rice and more.

Kiyomizu Gojozaka Yubasen’s COVID-19 countermeasures include hand disinfectant, disinfection of the restaurant, masked employees, restrictions on the number of guests allowed to enter, temperature checks for those who enter, and vinyl curtains at the cash register.

  • Kiyomizu Gojozaka Yubasen
    清水五条坂 ゆば泉
    • Address 6-583-113 Gojobashi Higashi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0846
    • Phone Number 075-541-8000
    • Hours: 11:00 - 15:00 (last order 14:30) *Subject to seasonal change, Yuba sales 10:00 - 16:00 *Ends when sold out

5. Akoya Jaya: 20 varieties of all-you-can-eat tsukemono

5. Akoya Jaya: 20 varieties of all-you-can-eat tsukemono

Facing the stairs of Ninenzaka, Akoya Jaya is the place to experience a rare Ochazuke buffet.

The only entrée is the “Ochazuke Buffet” (1,600 yen, tax included), but it includes all you can eat rice, 16-grain rice, rice porridge, miso soup, and 20 kinds of colorful tsukemono (pickled vegetables) without a time limit! It's the perfect lunch near Kiyomizu Temple for folks looking to fill up.

Ochazuke
Ochazuke

The best way to prepare your dish is to put your favorite pickles on top of rice and pour hot roasted green tea over it to make Ochazuke. For dessert, you’ll be satisfied by an anko (sweet red bean paste)-filled monaka wafer sandwich.

At Akoya Jaya COVID-19 prevention is addressed via hand disinfectant, masked employees, restrictions on the number of guests allowed to enter, and vinyl curtains at the cash register.

  • Akoya Jaya
    阿古屋茶屋
    • Address 3-343 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862
    • Phone Number 075-525-1519
    • Hours: 11:00 - 16:00 (last entry 15:00), Saturday and Sunday 11:00 - 17:00 (last entry 16:00)

6. Hanbey Fu Honten and Tea House: Traditionally made Fu

6. Hanbey Fu Honten and Tea House: Traditionally made Fu

Located just south of Keihan Electric Railway's Kiyomizu-Gojo Station, Hanbey Fu Honten is a Fu store that was established in 1689. Fu is a traditional food made from wheat and water. Because of its simplicity, the shop adheres to time-honored ingredients and methods of production to preserve the traditional fu taste.

If you want to fully enjoy carefully prepared fu, try the lunch “Mushi Yashinai set” (3,500 yen, tax included). You’ll be able to experience the deliciousness of the fu as well as that of the side dishes.

Hanbey Fu Honten is combating COVID-19 by offering hand disinfectant, disinfecting the restaurant, requiring employees to wear mask, restricting the number of guests allowed to enter, and ventilating the restaurant.

  • Hanbey Fu Honten
    半兵衛麸 本店
    • Address 433, Shonin-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0903
    • Phone Number 075-525-0008
    • Hours: 11:00 - 16:00 (Last entry 14:30); closed Wednesdays

7. Nichigetsuan: Elegant Kyoto Kaiseki at a reasonable price

7. Nichigetsuan: Elegant Kyoto Kaiseki at a reasonable price

Another highly recommended option for those seeking a lunch near Kiyomizu Temple is Nichigetsuan, located where Kiyomizuzaka and Sannenzaka meet.

The restaurant serves kaiseki cuisine (traditional Japanese course meals) crafted with plenty of Kyoto ingredients and served in a setting that overlooks the city.

Nichigetsu Kyoto Kaiseki
Nichigetsu Kyoto Kaiseki

Kaiseki has an image of being expensive, but here you can enjoy it at a reasonable price starting from 3,300 yen. Among the menu options, the most popular is “Nichigetsu Kaiseki” (3,300 yen, tax included). Delicate, carefully prepared dishes are served one by one, such as sashimi, baked goods, and cooked dishes.

Nichigetsuan’s COVID-19 preventative actions are: available hand disinfectant, disinfection of the facility, masked employees, limiting the number of guests allowed to enter, temperature checks for those who enter, and ventilation.

  • Nichigetsuan
    日月庵
    • Address 2-232 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862
    • Phone Number 075-561-0077
    • Hours: 10:30 - 21:00

8. Yoshimura Kiyomizuan: Exquisite handmade soba in a calm setting

8. Yoshimura Kiyomizuan: Exquisite handmade soba in a calm setting

At Yoshimura Kiyomizuan, located straight down from Kiyomizu Temple on Kiyomizuzaka just past Gojozaka, you can eat soba noodles that are hand-made every day by grinding domestic buckwheat flour with a stone mill.

Kiyomizuzaka is crowded during the sightseeing season, but the interior of the restaurant, which was built about 100 years ago, has a calm atmosphere allowing you to forget the outside noise.

Tenzaru Zen
Tenzaru Zen

While taking in the scenery of the Higashiyama area, you can dine on a “Tenzaru Set” (2,200 yen, tax included) of tempura, buckwheat noodles and rice.

Yoshimura Kiyomizuan has implemented COVID-19 prevention such as hand disinfectant, employee masks, and a guest limit.

  • Yoshimura Kiyomizuan
    よしむら清水庵
    • Address 2-208-9 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862
    • Phone Number 075-533-1212
    • Hours: 11:00 - 17:00 *subject to change for New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and Kiyomizu-dera light-up period

9. Men Kuroudo: a must for fans of soba, udon, and other noodles

9. Men Kuroudo: a must for fans of soba, udon, and other noodles

Men Kuroudo serves domestic buckwheat soba flour, chasoba made using matcha from Uji, Kyoto, and udon at reasonable prices.

The shop is on the 2nd floor of Yuzen, a chopstick shop at the corner of Kiyomizuzaka and Gojozaka.

Itaseiro
Itaseiro

Popular items include the “Itaseiro” (1,309 yen, tax included) and the “Tenseiro” (1,606 yen, tax included) sets. The former is full of flavorful soba and the latter features chef-recommended tempura.

Men Kuroudo has English, Chinese, and Korean menus. The restaurant is also equipped with antiseptic, disinfects its facilities, employees wear masks, entry is limited, and has installed vinyl curtains at the cash register in order to prevent cases of COVID-19.

  • Men Kuroudo
    めん蔵人
    • Address 2F, 2-218-1 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862
    • Phone Number 075-551-2422
    • Hours: 11:30 - 18:00 (last order 17:00) *subject to change

10. Sapporo Kaniya Kyoto King crab, snow crab, and more!

10. Sapporo Kaniya Kyoto King crab, snow crab, and more!

For those who say “Kyoto cuisine is good, but I want to eat Japanese seafood,” Sapporo Kaniya Kyoto is recommended.

The large restaurant, which usually accommodates about 550 people, is down Kiyomizuzaka on Higashioji Dori, towards Yasaka Shrine. There you can enjoy king crab, snow crab, and horsehair crab carefully selected by skilled craftsmen.

Kani Zousui Set (Miscellaneous Crab Set)
Kani Zousui Set (Miscellaneous Crab Set)

The recommended lunch is the “Kani Zousui Set (2,420 yen, tax included).” Comprised of a gorgeous snow crab small pot, shrimp tempura, and crab porridge, it a great value-priced set.

There are English-speaking staff and English menus at Sapporo Kaniya Kyoto. Guests are protected from COVID-19 via hand disinfectant, disinfection of the restaurant itself, employees wearing masks, a limit on the number of people allowed to enter the premises, and the installation of an acrylic partition at the cash register.

  • KANI-YA Kyotomise
    札幌かに家 京都店
    • Address The Gion, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto stone stairway lower south, 605-0829
    • Nearest Station Gionshijo Station (Keihan Line)
    • Phone Number 075-541-1110

There are many unique variations on Kyoto cuisine to be found around Kiyomizu Temple. If you’re in town for a few days, try a few for lunch, and enjoy!

Text by: Efeel

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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