Kikunoi Honten, a ryotei restaurant that has inherited the name of famous water
Kikunoi Honten ” is a ryotei restaurant located on a slightly secluded hill at the foot of Higashiyama in Kyoto, not far from Gion. The name “Kikunoi” comes from the name of a well called “Kikusui Well” that was carefully guarded for use in the tea ceremony when the ancestor of the owner, Yoshihiro Murata, served as a tea master (serving and entertaining guests) for the Kita Masajo.
Located next to Kodaiji Temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, the spacious site and Japanese-style architecture create a dignified and elegant space. The stone pavement in front of the restaurant is sprinkled with water, and the “aesthetics of hospitality” are fully demonstrated from the moment you arrive.
Kaiseki cuisine is a gem that combines the meticulous attention to detail in the presentation of the dishes and the flavors that express the changing seasons. The dishes are filled with the spirit of hospitality and are gorgeous to the eye. Wabi-sabi” is an aesthetic concept, and in the case of Kikunoi, “Kirei-Sabi” is the sentiment that is expressed in the pursuit of “deliciousness and beauty.
Enjoy the food according to the taste of the party, and enjoy the interior design and the flowers and plants arranged in the restaurant. The groundwater used at Kikunoi is said to be the same quality as the water that used to boil at Kikusui no Ii. The flow of the famous water cherished by Kitamasato has been transformed into the taste of Kikunoi ryotei and passed down to the next generation.
