Sakuragawa - Kyoto

Ate at the restaurant on October 24, 2018. Probably the most expensive meal I've ever paid for (20,000 jpy/person) but when done I felt it was totally worth it. My wife and I sat at at the counter. Wonderfully and beautifully prepared, delicious food. Great watching the choreography and technique of the crew cooking. The taste palette is subtle and lets the ingredients shine. Great service by the hostess who greeted us on the sidewalk before coming inside, and then behind us during the meal.

If you like small dishes around mainly fresh quality fish, perfectly constructed, you will enjoy this place! The chefs are friendly, fast, quiet and accurate working in front of you building nice combinations of flavors. The service is well done.

Paid 7000 yen for their lunch menu, and it was well worth the money! Super welcoming and lovely atmosphere. It is almost therapeutic to watch the chefs cook the food with so much care.

I had the traditional Kaiseki dinner at Sakuragawa. It is also a Michelin starred restaurant. There was only a total of 10 bar seats and one table for 4. I had the hotel made the reservation for me a couple of months ago. There was a group of 9 local high school teachers plus me sitting at the bar. The teacher next to me got me a shot of Sake. One of the chefs hung my jacket when I came in, and was waiting behind me and had my jacket in his hands while I was paying. After I told him I came from California and just spent three days in Tokyo, he said that Keanu Reeves was in Tokyo yesterday. He also got a Food Encyclopedia out trying to explain every dish I had so I'd know what I was eating. Everything was very tasty and all of the dishes were in hand-made traditional ceramics or lacquer ware. It almost took three hours to finish the meal. Quite an experience!

Incredible experience! Hope to come by again sometime