Top 20 Affordable and Delicious Lunch Spots Near Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is a must-visit icon of Kyoto, surrounded by a fantastic variety of dining options. After exploring the temple, treat yourself to a delicious local meal nearby. From elegant kaiseki cuisine featuring seasonal Kyoto ingredients to stylish cafes, there is something for everyone. You can find many great deals and affordable lunch sets, so explore the area and find your favorite spot!

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Head to the Kiyomizu-dera area of Kyoto to enjoy an obanzai lunch—traditional Kyoto home-style dishes—or an affordable local meal.

Around Kiyomizu-dera, one of Kyoto’s most popular sightseeing spots, you’ll find a wide range of appealing restaurants serving everything from Japanese cuisine to Western dishes. Some spots offer obanzai lunches—traditional Kyoto home-style cooking—making the area perfect for travelers looking to enjoy a truly Kyoto-style lunch.

What Kind of Lunch Options Can You Find Near Kiyomizu-dera?

With endless dining options around Kiyomizu-dera Temple, you’ll never have to worry about finding a place to eat. Simply stroll through the area and trust your mood—you'll find everything from traditional flavors to modern treats. Let’s dive into the best lunch spots this historic neighborhood has to offer!

From Japanese and kaiseki cuisine to Western dishes and cafes, the area offers plenty of lunch options.

When people think of restaurants near Kiyomizu-dera, many imagine kaiseki or traditional Japanese cuisine. Surprisingly, the area also has a wide range of Western-style restaurants and cafes. From spots serving nostalgic Japanese Western comfort food to Chinese restaurants famous for their gyoza, you can easily choose a lunch that matches your mood.

Tips for Choosing a Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-dera

With so many options, picking the perfect spot can be tough! Here’s what to look for when choosing your lunch near Kiyomizu-dera

If you want to enjoy Kyoto-style cuisine during your visit, a Japanese lunch is a great choice. Many restaurants offer obanzai—traditional Kyoto home-style dishes—and yuba (tofu skin) at special lunch-only prices, making it easy to enjoy authentic local flavors without spending too much.

Looking for a Change? Try Chinese or Western-Style Lunch

The area around Kiyomizu-dera is also home to a great selection of Western-style and Chinese restaurants. If you’re in the mood for something different, these spots are worth considering. Options range from hearty Western comfort food to lighter Chinese dishes like refreshing yuzu-flavored ramen.

Private Lunch Spots: Relax and Escape the Crowds with Family

Choose a restaurant with private rooms to enjoy your lunch in peace. These spots are perfect for families with kids or anyone celebrating a special occasion, offering a quiet space to relax and recharge near the temple.

If you’re looking to enjoy a stylish, Instagram-worthy lunch, a cafe lunch is the perfect choice.

Around Kiyomizu-dera, you’ll find convenient cafes that are perfect for both lunch and a relaxing break. Enjoy a leisurely meal in a stylish setting, and don’t miss cafes serving Kyoto-style Japanese sweets—ideal for a dessert after your meal.

10 Casual Japanese Lunch Spots Near Kiyomizu-dera

Popular Lunch Spots Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Rojiusagi

A machiya-style cafe where you can enjoy obanzai—vegetable-focused Kyoto home-style dishes—in a relaxed setting.

About a 4-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Line, this machiya-style cafe is housed in a renovated restaurant building over 100 years old. A small garden with seasonal flowers adds a Kyoto touch, while shelves of books on local history and food culture create a relaxed, book-cafe atmosphere. The menu features well-balanced meals centered on vegetable-rich obanzai, traditional Kyoto home-style dishes.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Kyounawa Honten Kiyomizu Hanare

Explore Kyoto's Famous Landmarks and Savor Premium Eel

"Located about a 17-minute walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station on the Keihan Line, Kyounawa Honten Kiyomizu Hanare is a specialty restaurant offering refined eel dishes in a distinctly Kyoto setting. Skilled chefs carefully grill premium eel sourced from Mikawa Isshiki in Aichi and other regions across Japan, finished with a traditional house-made sauce that enhances its rich flavor. The signature dish is hitsumabushi, which lets you enjoy grilled eel in three different ways, including with dashi poured over it for a lighter finish. The visually impressive ippon-ju, made with a whole eel, is also a popular choice.
The restaurant also offers wagyu skewers for easy street-style dining, including a HALAL wagyu chateaubriand skewer, making it accessible for international visitors. Inside, the calm wooden interior features comfortable table seating, perfect for a relaxed break while sightseeing."

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Unagi to Apple Pie Yasaka 1646

Yasaka-no-to, an Eel Dish Inspired by Yasaka Pagoda

Unagi to Apple Pie Yasaka 1646 has a first floor selling apple pies and a second-floor eat-in space where you can enjoy eel and wagyu dishes. For lunch, the restaurant’s specialty, teoke hitsumabushi, made with carefully selected rice from Tango in Kyoto, is very popular. A standout dish is Yasaka-no-to, skewered eel inspired by Yasaka Pagoda, which can be enjoyed in three different ways. The menu also features wagyu no gyu-ju and gyu hitsumabushi, made with high-quality wagyu sourced from the long-established Ginkakuji Onishi butcher, praised for its rich flavor. There’s even a 200g double portion option for those with a big appetite.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Seishuan Kiyomizu-ten

Savor Kyoto’s Flavors with Meals from ¥900 to ¥2,000

At Seishuan Kiyomizu-ten, you can enjoy a variety of Kyoto flavors at affordable prices, from hand-made soba and set meals to obanzai and traditional sweets. The lunch sets are great value, typically including a mini rice bowl with soba, along with oboro tofu and pickles. Choose from options like a mini Unagi(eel) bowl with soba, a mini tempura bowl with soba, or Kyoto soba with seasoned rice. For dessert, enjoy Japanese sweets such as homemade soba abekawa, warabi mochi, or zenzai.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Ukiya Kiyomizu Kisseian

Soba and set meals made with carefully selected ingredients and skilled preparation, priced from ¥1,100 to ¥2,150.

Founded in 1929, Ukiya Kiyomizu Kisseian near Kiyomizu-dera is a soba restaurant offering a wide variety of dishes, from hand-made soba to rice bowls and set meals. Classic options like tempura soba and chicken nanban soba are popular, while creative dishes unique to the restaurant are a hit with visitors. Try the Uki Soba, topped with a fluffy mixture of natto and raw egg for a light, airy texture. Hearty sets and meals, such as the tempura zaru set or soba with fresh yuba(tofu skin) and seasoned rice, are perfect for a satisfying lunch.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Kyo-ryori Kodai-ji Hashiba

Enjoy a lunch set featuring homemade Kyoto-style fresh yuba for ¥2,640.

At Kyo-ryori Kodai-ji Hashiba, you can enjoy authentic Kyoto-style yuba dishes made with their homemade fresh yuba. The rich and creamy kumiage yuba, which concentrates the natural flavor of soybeans, is featured in a variety of dishes.
For lunch, the restaurant’s most popular option is the Kyoyuba Zen set, priced at ¥2,640. This affordable set lets you fully enjoy the delicate taste of Kyoto-style yuba. Sample different preparations, including yuba with three sauces, a yuba gratin made with Hashiba’s original white sauce, and soft, creamy yuba rice.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Kiyomizu Gojo-zaka Yuba-sen

Enjoy a luxurious yuba lunch from ¥1,650 to ¥2,420.

"Kiyomizu Gojo-zaka Yuba-sen is a Japanese restaurant known for dishes made with homemade Kyoto-style fresh yuba. For lunch, the popular Kyoyuba Zen set offers a chance to enjoy carefully prepared yuba at an affordable price.
Try a variety of preparations, including the kumiage yuba three-piece platter, simmered komaki yuba, and fried tsutsumi yuba. The set also features yuba rice topped with the restaurant’s original dashi, and there’s even an affordable school trip plan with dessert for visiting students."

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Gokoku Hojou no Ochaya Gohan Itsuki Chaya Kiyomizu-ten

Enjoy a lunch set of five Kyoto-style rice bowls with seasonal ingredients for ¥4,000.

At Gokoku Hojou no Ochaya Gohan Itsuki Chaya Kiyomizu-ten, a calm space reminiscent of a traditional Kyoto machiya, you can enjoy beautifully presented Kyoto-style rice bowls made with seasonal ingredients.
The popular Kyodon Five-Variety Tasting Set lets you sample five different rice bowls highlighting the season’s best ingredients. The selection changes with the seasons. Each set comes with a daily Kyoto tea, served hot or iced, and is priced at ¥4,000.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Akoya Jaya

Enjoy a colorful assortment of pickles with an ochazuke buffet for ¥1,800.

At Akoya Jaya, the ochazuke buffet lets you enjoy a colorful variety of Kyoto-style pickles to your heart’s content. The buffet includes 20 types of pickles, white rice, 16-grain rice, rice porridge, miso soup, Japanese tea, and monaka (sweet wafers filled with red bean or matcha paste), all refillable.
In Kyoto, the traditional way to enjoy ochazuke is to place your favorite pickles on rice and pour hot roasted green tea over it. The restaurant offers a wide selection of pickles, from classic eggplant and cucumber to unique options like king oyster mushrooms.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Hagi Saryo

Kyoto-Style Soba Menus from 900 to 2,000 Yen

At Hagi Saryo, you can enjoy Kyoto-style soba while quietly admiring a serene garden. Some seats overlook the courtyard, making it a great choice for a special lunch.
In addition to classic options, the menu features Kyoto specialties such as nishin soba (soba with herring), yuba-maki soba, and Kyoto-style sweet fried tofu soba. Savor the gentle, flavorful dashi broth.
Soba sets come with seasoned rice (kayaku gohan) and pickles for a hearty meal. The restaurant also offers a variety of rice bowl dishes, including oyako-don, una-don, and tempura-don.

5 Recommended Western, Chinese, and Ethnic Restaurants Near Kiyomizu-dera

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Kyo-no Curry Udon Mimikou

Kyoto-style Curry Udon at Mimikou, from ¥1,250 to ¥1,400

Established in 1969, Kyo-no Curry Udon Mimikou is a long-standing udon restaurant that started as a street stall.
Enjoy Kyoto-style “wa” curry udon, made with a dashi stock of kombu and bonito, blended with 11 aromatic spices.
You can adjust the noodle thickness and portion size, and choose from a variety of toppings such as chicken tempura, pork cutlet, fried tofu, or simmered beef. Spice it up to your liking with tabletop Western-style shichimi chili or red Japanese pepper.

Popular Lunch Spots Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | ichiren KYOTO

Yuzu Ramen, with irresistible citrus flavor, from ¥1,200 to ¥1,400

At ichiren KYOTO, a renovated traditional Kyoto house, you can enjoy refreshing ramen infused with plenty of yuzu juice.
Choose from thin or thick noodles to suit your preference. Regular menu options include rich pork and chicken broth ramen “Ichiren”, seafood-based ramen “Sara”, and creamy yuzu soy milk ramen “Soy Yuzu Ramen”. Seasonal ramen is also available. Each bowl comes with toppings like tororo kelp, yuzu shichimi chili, and yuzu pepper, letting you enjoy changing flavors as you eat.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Shoentei

Generous Chinese set meals and combos from ¥880 to ¥1,100

Established in 1967, Shoentei serves authentic Chinese cuisine at affordable prices using carefully selected ingredients. In addition to classic Chinese dishes, the menu features Kyoto-style options such as dumplings made with plenty of Kyoto vegetables and their original negi‑soba ramen.
There are also plenty of hearty set meals, making it a great choice for lunch. A popular option is the Negi‑soba A Set, which includes both ramen and fried rice. Enjoy the rich flavor of ramen with plenty of Kujo green onions and thick slices of char siu.
Shoentei is conveniently located near Kiyomizu‑dera.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Shibosai Sumiyoshi

Enjoy a lunch-only Chinese course from ¥2,000 to ¥4,200, offering a modern twist on traditional flavors.

Shibosai Sumiyoshi offers a completely new style of Chinese cuisine with Kyoto-style influences. You can enjoy the chef’s original, highly creative dishes, where spice, sweetness, and umami are all perfectly balanced.
During lunch, special courses are available from ¥2,000 to ¥4,200. Each course includes appetizers, dim sum, a main dish, rice, and dessert, offering a full and satisfying meal.
The most popular option is the lunch-only braised whole shark fin course. Priced at ¥4,200, it features whole shark fin slowly braised and served in a piping-hot clay pot with fried rice.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Menya Torichu

Rich, creamy white soup packed with the flavor of Kyoto Akajidori chicken

Menya Torichu, run by Torichu, a Kyoto chicken specialty shop with over 60 years of history in Yamashina, serves carefully crafted chicken ramen. Using Kyoto’s brand chicken, Kyoto Akajidori, and Kujo green onions, the shop offers a uniquely Kyoto-style ramen experience.
Their signature Chicken Paitan Ramen features a rich, creamy chicken broth packed with the flavor of Kyoto Akajidori, straight thin noodles, freshly made chicken ham, and plenty of Kujo green onions. Add the spicy garlic miso for extra depth. The fragrant, sharp Special Soy Sauce Ramen is also popular.

3 Private Lunch Options Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Isobe Honten

Lunch with Homemade Kyoto Yuba and Yudofu, from ¥3,300 to ¥6,600

At Isobe Honten, you can enjoy kaiseki cuisine with homemade Kyoto yuba in a calm, serene atmosphere. Private rooms are available for special lunches or dinners; reservations are required. Lunch options include Kyoyuba-zukushi, Yudofu Zen, and other yuba-based kaiseki dishes. Families with children can order the Kids’ Bento. The most popular choice is Kyoyuba-zukushi, letting you savor yuba in multiple ways: three types of freshly scooped yuba, yuba gratin, and yuba wrapped and fried in dashi.

Popular Lunch Spots Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Fujitora

Enjoy a seiro (steamed basket) lunch with seasonal vegetables for ¥2,750.

In a space preserving the charm of a Kyoto machiya, Fujitora serves dishes with seasonal vegetables. The popular lunch set, Seasonal Vegetable Seiro Rice, includes steamers of seasonal vegetables, mixed rice, and Kyoto pork. Enjoy them with a variety of condiments such as yuzu koji miso, chili oil, and ponzu. Steamed buns and ice monaka desserts are also available, perfect for a light break.

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Kyogozen Sudare

Ryokan Kyoto Higashiyamaso offers rice bowls and layered bento from ¥2,200 to ¥4,600.

Ryokan Kyoto Higashiyamaso’s Kyogozen Sudare, located along Kiyomizuzaka, offers satisfying meals crafted with the inn’s signature attention to taste and portion.
Enjoy dishes made with carefully selected ingredients, including rice from Tamba Nishiyama, eggs from Mizuho Farm’s soy-fed hens, and premium Hiro Wagyu beef purchased whole from the Kyoto Meat Wholesale Market.
For lunch, the recommended Special Jumbo Prawn & Anago Tempura Bowl features crispy tempura, while the meal concludes with a soft-boiled egg over rice drizzled with a special dashi soy sauce. Another favorite is the Wagyu Harami on Ceramic Plate made with meat from Ginkakuji Onishi.

A Selection of Cafes Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple

Popular Lunch Spot Near Kiyomizu-Dera Temple | Salon de KANBAYASHI Kamibayashi Shunsho Honten

Specialty tea-based sweets from ￥770 to ￥4,800

Founded 450 years ago, KANBAYASHI Shunsho Honten in Uji offers a wide selection of carefully crafted teas. At Salon de KANBAYASHI Honten, you can enjoy these teas alongside stylish sweets in a cozy cafe setting.
The cafe is especially popular for its limited-availability afternoon tea set, Kyo KASANE, served in a romantic, retro-style atmosphere. You can also try tea-focused dessert sets, including Matcha-zukushi and Hojicha-zukushi, perfect for lunch or a relaxing cafe break.

Enjoy authentic obanzai and affordable lunch just steps from Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto.

Kiyomizu-dera and its surrounding streets are bustling with visitors and lined with a variety of excellent lunch spots. From traditional Kyoto-style obanzai to Western, Chinese, and café-style cuisine, the choices are endless. Pick a spot that suits your mood and enjoy a delicious lunch.