Tofu kaiseki at Shoraian
Run by a renowned master calligrapher who connects people heart-to-heart through food and art, Shoraian presents a feast for the senses. Your next Kyoto getaway pairs Arashiyama’s breathtaking scenery with artfully curated food inspired by nature.
Experience kaiseki with speciality tofu dishes at a comfy price
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A traditional multi-course meal prepared with intricate detail, kaiseki-ryōri (懐石料理) is Japan’s haute cuisine. Shoraian’s version of kaiseki is served with “wa no kokoro” (和の心), which roughly translates to spirits of harmony that bring the heart, spirit and mind together.
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Despite the elevated gourmet and premium hospitality, Shoraian keeps their prices affordable, as it is their aim to bond people across different cultures through food.
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The restaurant offers three kaiseki sets: 7-course Shoyo (¥3,800, ~USD26.53), 9-course Shorai (¥4,600, ~USD32.11) that’s served with seasonal items and chef’s creation, and the luxurious 12-course Shofu (¥5,800, ~USD40.49) which includes wagyu beef.
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In Kyoto, tofu is a renowned speciality. It’s no surprise that most of the staple signature dishes at Shoraian, which are available in all the kaiseki sets, are tofu-themed.
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The signature yudofu (湯豆腐; soup with tofu) is simple goodness that melts in your mouth. Fresh handmade tofu is cooked in spring water, then seasoned lightly with soya sauce, spring onions and shichimi (七味; seven-spices powder). Free refills of the entire bubbling hotpot are available upon request.
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To round off your meal, the dessert served at the end even contains the creamy bean curd product. The tofu ice cream is topped with black sugar syrup and yatsuhashi (八ツ橋; cinnamon-flavoured mochi sheets), delivering a delightful natural sweetness to your palate.
Seasonal art & cuisine designed by master calligrapher
Image adapted from: Fuyoh Kobayashi and Shiro Ang
Not many restaurants serve food with handmade paintings, and even fewer are run by the artist themselves. Shoraian’s okami (女将; proprietress), Fuyoh Kobayashi, is a master calligrapher who specialises in the “calligraphy of healing”.
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Kobayashi’s elegant paintings and calligraphy adorn the walls of Shoraian, including the prominent plaque that welcomes you with the restaurant’s name.
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If you order the Shorai or Shofu kaiseki sets, the additional seasonal menu items are served alongside postcards handmade by the okami herself.
These designs combine calligraphy with paintings to capture the pictographic nature of kanji, and are presented as mementos to guests.
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The Kyo-ryori seasonal selection is also decorated by creative plating. Guests visiting in the tsuyu (梅雨; warm rainy summer) period will be presented with a frog made from an edamame floating beside an umbrella-shaped “ame” (雨; rain).
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In fall, vibrantly coloured gourds come with paper imprinted with momiji (紅葉; red autumn leaves). The fresh seasonal cuisine matches the changing red and amber foliage.
Panoramic views of Arashiyama and Katsuragawa River
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Complementing the seasonal menu and art pieces at Shoraian is the spectacular nature outside. The surrounding lush greenery changes colours as seasons pass.
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We definitely recommend a window seat, but the restaurant has windows all-round for amazing views wherever you’re seated. Enjoy the expansive serenity with your meal while seated on tatami mats.
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A balcony extends off the hillside over the emerald waters of the Katsura River, so you can take in the picturesque scenery with all your senses in the semi-outdoors.
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Shoraian is located in the former holiday villa of Prince Fumimaro Konoe, Japan’s former three-time Prime Minister who frequently visited the abode. It was refurbished and reopened as under the restaurant’s current name in 2005.
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Almost a century later since Fumimaro Konoe’s last stay here, the panoramic views here still offer a beautiful backdrop to patrons taking a respite from busy life.
Getting to Shoraian
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With exquisite food, warm hospitality and charming views, it’s no wonder that Shoraian is one of Kyoto’s most highly rated tofu kaiseki restaurants. To ensure that you get a spot to experience this restaurant’s views and foods, place your reservations by 5pm on the day before your visit.
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There are 2 routes to Shoraian, and both are as scenic as the view there. These 2 walking routes will bring you past the Katsura River. There are signboards all the way to the restaurant so you don’t have to worry about getting lost in the mountains.
Getting there:
- Via Hankyū Railway: alight at Arashiyama Station (Hankyū), then head towards the Togetsukyō Bridge and keep walking upstream along the river for 20 minutes.
- Via Randen Railway: alight at Arashiyama Station (Randen), then take a 15-minute walk through the mountain path.
Address: Inside of government land, Sagakamenocho, Ukyo Ward, 616-8386, Kyoto
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11am-5pm| Fri-Sun & national holidays 11am-8pm | closed on New Years holidays
Contact: 0758-61-0123 | Shoraian website
Also check out:
- Ryokan with river views & nagashi somen
- Japan’s best garden since 2003
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- 9 retro Kyoto cafes
- 9 cafes in Kyoto in heritage buildings
Cover image adapted from: Hello Momo, Hello Momo, Shiro Ang