Luxury things to do in Kyoto
Kikunoi Honten, Jiki Miyazawa, Isshisoden Nakamura and the Sento Palace grounds
Three days built almost entirely around what is on the plate, with Kyoto's most serious kaiseki tables anchoring each evening and one landmark lunch. For the traveller who comes to this city specifically to eat, and has decided to do it without compromise.
Day 1: Gion, Sasaki and Kikunoi
A quiet early walk up Ninenzaka, lunch at Gion Sasaki's counter, the Kanji Museum, then dinner at Kikunoi Honten.
- 9:30 AM
Ichikawaya Coffee
Start the day with specialty coffee in a quiet Gion-fringe spot before the streets fill up.
Map - 10:15 AM
Two-year Slope 二年坂
Stroll the iconic stone-paved Two-Year Slope, the quintessential Higashiyama morning walk before the tour groups arrive.
Map - 12:30 PM
Gion Sasaki
Hiroshi Sasaki's lively Gion kaiseki counter, where the chef cooks and talks you through every course.
Map - 2:30 PM
Kanji Museum & Library 漢検 漢字博物館・図書館 漢字ミュージアム
The Kanji Museum is a genuinely fun, hands-on cultural deep-dive, perfect for a post-lunch hour of exploration in central Gion.
Map - 7:30 PM
Kikunoi Honten
Yoshihiro Murata's family kaiseki house below Maruyama Park; a full seasonal menu in a private room.
Map
Day 2: Markets, gardens and peak kaiseki
Tea at Ippodo, Nishiki Market and the Shosei-en garden, lunch at Jiki Miyazawa, then a long dinner at Ogata.
- 10:00 AM
Ippodo Tea Kyoto Main Store
Founded 1717, taste ceremonial matcha grades, staff will brew and explain top blends.
Map - 10:15 AM
Nishiki Market 錦市場
Start the morning strolling Kyoto's famous covered food market, vendors open early and the atmosphere is electric before the crowds hit.
Map - 11:00 AM
Shosei Garden 渉成園
Stroll the serene stroll-garden of the Higashi Honganji temple estate, a calm, beautiful cool-down before lunch.
Map - 12:30 PM
Jiki Miyazawa
Small kaiseki counter near Nishiki; the grilled sesame tofu is the dish people remember.
Map - 7:30 PM
Day 3: Imperial Kyoto, manga and the pinnacle table
The Manga Museum, lunch at Muromachi Wakuden, the Sento Palace gardens, then dinner at Isshisoden Nakamura.
- 10:30 AM
Kyoto International Manga Museum 京都国際マンガミュージアム
Kyoto International Manga Museum, a genuinely one-of-a-kind cultural landmark right in the neighbourhood.
Map - 12:30 PM
Muromachi Wakuden
The Wakuden family's city restaurant near Karasuma Oike, for a calm seasonal kaiseki lunch.
Map - 2:30 PM
Sento Imperial Palace 仙洞御所
Sento Imperial Palace, a grand imperial landmark requiring advance reservation; stroll the ancient gardens in the afternoon light.
Map - 7:30 PM
Isshisoden Nakamura
Kaiseki passed down six generations, served in an old house near Teramachi; a long, quiet dinner.
Map
Where to stay
The Shinmonzen
A small, obsessively considered luxury hotel steps from Gion Sasaki and Kikunoi, with the kind of personal service that secures impossible reservations.
Park Hyatt Kyoto
Park Hyatt's Kyoto address sits above Higashiyama with a grand bar, spa and rooms that frame the hills, well-placed for Day 1 and a strong base for the full three days.
Make Kyoto your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Monk: a few days ahead
- Kikunoi Honten: months ahead
- Hozugawa Kudari River Boat Ride: weeks ahead
- Sagano Romantic Train: weeks ahead
- Kyoto Bike Tour Arashiyama: a few days ahead
- Seta Golf Course North Course: weeks ahead
Skip these
- Peak seasons (cherry blossom late Mar-Apr, autumn foliage Nov-Dec) require dawn starts and advance bookings
- Spontaneity does not work in Kyoto in peak season; plan and book weeks ahead
- Many restaurants close Wed/Sun or on set days; verify hours before visiting
- New Year Dec 29-Jan 3 many places close entirely; markets remain shut through Jan 4
The full Kyoto travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around