Kaiseki in Kyoto

Kaiseki doesn’t refer to a specific dish, but to a Japanese dining experience. It refers to a traditional multi-course dinner consisting of several small artfully prepared dishes. You can think of it as the Japanese equivalent to western haute cuisine.

Traditional kaiseki meals typically consist of appetizers, a soup course (suimono), seasonal courses, cooked dishes, a rice course (shokuji), and dessert and tea. Each course is meticulously prepared using fresh seasonal and mostly local ingredients that are carefully plated and arranged to enhance both the appearance and seasonal theme of the meal.

Kaiseki meals are typically served at ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) or ryoteis (traditional Japanese restaurant). You can enjoy kaiseki anywhere in Japan but it’s probably best to have it in Kyoto where it’s originally from. Kyoto was home to the imperial court for over a millennium which helps explain the development of this style of dining. Kaiseki-style cooking is often referred to as Kyoto cooking.

As incredible as it is, just know that kaiseki meals don’t come cheap. At ryokans and good restaurants in Kyoto, expect to pay anywhere between JPY 10,000-40,000 for kaiseki.