Experience Arashiyama at its Best! A Delicious Guide to Must-Visit Cafes & Restaurants
Kyoto’s Arashiyama and Sagano area is one of the city’s premier tourist destinations, famous for its beautiful landscapes like the Togetsukyo Bridge and bamboo grove pathways. This popular area offers more than just sightseeing—it’s home to many wonderful cafes and restaurants that will make your visit truly unforgettable.
From Instagram-worthy Japanese sweets to historic traditional cuisine, we’ve carefully selected 10 exceptional establishments we’ve personally visited and been impressed by! Centered around the Keifuku Electric Railroad (Randen) Arashiyama Station, each place combines “visual beauty” and “authentic flavor”—all confidently recommended spots.
When you’re tired from strolling through the bamboo groves or along the riverside, take a moment to rest. Enjoy the unique flavors of Kyoto in these beautiful spaces!
Extremely popular! A Japanese-style cafe featuring adorably fluffy “Cloud Mousse.” In their stylish interior inspired by bamboo forests with a refreshing atmosphere, you can enjoy visually appealing desserts like “Bamboo Tube Tiramisu,” “Matcha Ice Cream,” and “Soufflé Cheesecake.”
A specialty shop for Kyoto matcha crepes. Their colorful and cute crepes are extremely popular! Not too sweet and easy to eat, with rich matcha that has a gentle aroma and the perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness—these crepes are made with attention to detail. The matcha drinks (latte), green tea, and Italian soda beverages are also highly recommended!
Kyoto Matcha Crepe ARINCO Access Information
Name
Kyoto Matcha Crepe ARINCO
Hours
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Address
〒616 - 8384 Kyoto, Ukyo - ku, Saga - Tenryuji Tsukurimichi - cho 20 - 1 Keifuku Arashiyama Station Hannari Hokkori Square 1F
A cafe and restaurant operated by “Bread and Espresso.” From Japanese dishes like udon, tempura rice bowls, rolled omelet set meals, and ochazuke, to chiffon cakes and espressos. In their stylish interior using a traditional Japanese house, you can enjoy visually beautiful meals.
An established souvenir shop founded in 1948. On the first floor, they offer traditional Japanese cuisine in their “Oku no Niwa” (Back Garden) restaurant. They also have menus accommodating vegan, vegetarian, halal, and gluten-free diets, upholding their motto of “Japanese cuisine for everyone around the world.” The interior has a stylish Japanese modern atmosphere.
Yoshiya Hondori Store Access Information
Name
Yoshiya Hondori Store
Hours
11:00 am - 5:30 pm
Address
〒616 - 8384 Kyoto, Ukyo - ku, Saga - Tenryuji Tsukurimichi - cho 31
A Japanese restaurant featuring Kyoto-style “seasonal obanzai” (small homestyle dishes) set meals and small plate dishes. Enjoying colorful small dishes in a calm Japanese atmosphere will definitely lift your spirits.
Gyatei Access Information
Name
Gyatei
Hours
11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Address
〒616 - 8384 Kyoto, Ukyo - ku, Saga - Tenryuji Tsukurimichi - cho 19 - 8
A cafe operated by Yojiya, famous for their oil blotting paper. While it has a refined, trendy cafe style, the courtyard features a Japanese garden allowing you to enjoy high-quality Japanese modern aesthetics. The latte art of “Yojiko,” the female character depicted in Yojiya’s logo mark, is very popular!
Yojiya Cafe Sagano Arashiyama Branch Access Information
Name
Yojiya Cafe Sagano Arashiyama Branch
Hours
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Address
〒616 - 8375 Kyoto, Ukyo - ku, Saga - Tenryuji Tateishi - cho 2
Their “Warm Dango Set” that you grill yourself is very popular! They also offer many Japanese sweets and photogenic menu items. Additionally, both the exterior and interior designs of the store are of very high quality, allowing you to enjoy a Japanese atmosphere that is traditional yet modern in a way not found elsewhere. Another recommended point is that besides coffee and lattes, you can also enjoy alcoholic beverages like local Kyoto beer.
eX cafe Kyoto Arashiyama Main Store Access Information
Name
eX cafe Kyoto Arashiyama Main Store
Hours
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Address
〒616 - 8384 Kyoto, Ukyo - ku, Saga - Tenryuji Tsukurimichi - cho 35 - 3
A super-popular tofu specialty restaurant that requires reservations. At this establishment, which is a renovated former residence of artist Kawamura Manshu where notable cultural figures like Kitaoji Rosanjin and Yokoyama Taikan gathered, you can enjoy meals while viewing an impressively elegant Japanese garden. Of course, the quality of the tofu-centered meals is excellent, but don’t underestimate the desserts. Their cake made with buckwheat features gentle Japanese color schemes and is a popular menu item that photographs beautifully.
A cafe terrace located in the Saga Arashiyama Bunkakan. On the spacious, open terrace, you can enjoy fresh salads, toast, and more. The prices are also reasonable, and you can visit just for the cafe portion. The sophisticated architecture and the open, airy cafe terrace are recommended highlights. You can spend a very pleasant cafe time here.
Kyoto sake all in one place! This Kyoto local sake specialty shop is located on the 1st floor of the Keifuku Arashiyama Station Hannari Hokkori Square. You can compare different types of sake and try local beer as well. They also offer sake cocktails, Kyoto whiskey highballs, amazake lattes, and more—all Kyoto-sourced alcoholic beverages, of course. Souvenir purchases are also available. This is a noteworthy shop where Kyoto’s sake is collected in one place—something you might expect to exist but hadn’t yet.
A Culinary Experience Only Possible in Kyoto, Only in Arashiyama
Kyoto’s Arashiyama offers not only famous attractions like bamboo groves and Togetsukyo Bridge but also wonderful cafes and restaurants like the 10 we’ve introduced that satisfy visitors’ hearts and palates. The beautiful seasonal landscapes, combined with Kyoto’s unique delicate flavors, Japanese modern spaces that blend tradition and innovation, and attentive hospitality all multiply the value of your trip.
While strolling through Arashiyama’s streets, drop into a cafe for a quick break. Enjoy matcha sweets while feeling the bamboo forest breeze, or savor Kyoto’s traditional cuisine for lunch in a historic building. Many shops also offer takeout options, making food walks another recommended activity.
This “Kyoto Landscape × Food” experience makes your Kyoto trip even richer. Take a break while touring beautiful scenery. Be sure to experience the culinary culture that’s only possible in Kyoto, only in Arashiyama.
We hope this article helps with your culinary journey in Kyoto’s Arashiyama. May your trip become a wonderful Kyoto food adventure.