aitaiJapan

If you have had enough of the coffee shops and all the medium quality restaurants around the main tourist attractions, we can suggest you a real Japanese traditional lunch/dinner in an elegant setting for a very reasonable price. An experience you might never forget.

Japanese traditional food is expensive and the best restaurants are often open only to insider.

A restaurant which combines high quality food, excellent taste in an esthetical atmosphere for very good value is the Ganko Takasegawa Nijoen near Nijo in Kyoto.

Ganko is a famous chain restaurant virtually known by all Japanese, but few have ever heart bout the special Ganko at Nijo.

The restaurant is set in the former private villa of a wealthy merchant built about 380 years ago. There are several vast Japanese style rooms, mainly for groups and a smaller, but elegant western style area for a more intimate dinner. Most of tables offer you the view on a lush garden that can be visited after your dinner finished. It is particular nice in summer when fireflies are all around.

At some occasions the restaurant offers life koto music (Japanese harp) in the entrance hall.

Dinner/ lunch can be ordered “a la carte”, but we suggest you to try one of those great set menus (or little kaiseki) you can choose directly from a picture.

This assures you all the best and most beautiful of traditional Japanese food, including local delicacies such as Yuba, a byproduct of the tofu making process. One of the highlights is the chance to make your own tofu at table towards the end of the dinner.

Ingredients are always fresh and vary according to the season.

In summer (until end of September) you can enjoy your meal outside on the restaurant’s private Yuka – the famous terraces overlooking the Kamogawa.

Prices are very reasonable and start at 2700Yen for a set menu, prices on Yuka start at about 6000 Yen (+ service charge).

Reservations are to be made in advance, especially for the popular Yuka. No English spoken.

The restaurant also sells some of the most popular ingredients and sweets as well as some table decorations.

All our activities suppose that the visitors cover all costs for the guide including meals, but for those on a tight budget, we can suggest to only make the reservation for you and give you some indications how to go there. But the guide will not accompany you to the place.

For ratings and pictures go to yahoo

For more info please contact: aitaijapan@gmail.com