The "Osaka/Kyoto Michelin Guide Tokyo 2024" was announced. Initially featuring 150 starred restaurants, the guide added the Bib Gourmand category in 2014, and this year, it has introduced the Selected Restaurants category. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the guide now includes a record of 440 restaurants in Kyoto and Osaka!
We've picked four standout restaurants from the new "Selected Restaurants" category. With tourism to Japan on the rise, why not book a table during your visit? Don't forget to share your experiences by posting reviews and videos!
■Osaka Recommended Michelin Selected Restaurants
Sushidokorokurosugi shinkan 
The second restaurant of Michelin one-star chef Akihiro Kurosugi, “Sushidokoro Kurosugi Shinkan'', opened in 2022. This new establishment embraces the concept of "creating a place where you can enjoy sushi freely," allowing diners to order à la carte as much as they like, with prices starting from 440 JPY per piece. For special occasions, guests can indulge in the omakase course starting at 8,800 JPY, or the "Appetizer nigiri course" for 11,000JPY, which features a variety of sushi and other delectable dishes.
Additionally, Kurosugi expanded his culinary reach by opening his third restaurant, and his first overseas location, on Jeju Island, Korea, in October 2023. This expansion means that the exquisite taste of “Sushidokoro Kurosugi” can now be enjoyed internationally, bringing Chef Kurosugi's renowned sushi experience to a global audience.
Kamekichi bistro
Located a 3-minute walk from Tanimachi 4-Chome Station, this restaurant is recognized as one of the top's 100 bistros and is popular for its generous portions. The restaurant serves casual French cuisine made with seasonal ingredients, making it an ideal spot for gatherings with friends or a date. Its homey and comfortable atmosphere often leads it to be mistaken for a beauty salon or cafe, breaking the stereotype of high-end French cuisine. You can also enjoy seasonal flavors unique to this time of year, such as the "game cuisine" featuring wild birds. Appetizers are available from a wide variety of menus starting at 1,650 JPY, and main dishes range from 3,000 to 5,000 JPY, making it an attractive option for those on a budget.
■Kyoto Recommended Michelin Selected Restaurants
Kyou ajiwa
"Kyo Ajiwa" is a Japanese restaurant located in an alley of Shinmiyagawacho-dori, where the unique streetscape of Kyoto unfolds. The owner, "Hidehiro Noto", is a Japanese cuisine instructor and a master of the Japan National Association of Culinary Technicians. He opened the restaurant after 10 years of training at ｍultiple renowned restaurants in Osaka. In addition to serving delicate and diverse Japanese cuisine, the restaurant is dedicated to preserving and sharing Japanese culture.
This renovated townhouse hideaway serves beautiful dishes that utilize seasonal ingredients, seafood delivered directly from the source, and flavors such as conger eel and firefly squid. To make Kyoto cuisine accessible, the restaurant offers reasonable prices, with lunch courses starting at 6,600 JPY and dinner courses starting at 12,000 JPY. Sukiyaki and shabu-shabu courses are also available for 23,000 JPY.
Additionally, it is possible to hold a special banquet with geisha and maiko, making it a rare place to experience authentic Kyoto cuisine in a private setting. Each visit promises a unique journey into the world of Japanese cuisine.
Oryori Maeshiro
A Japanese counter-style restaurant quietly located south of the Imperial Palace. The restaurant is run by a chef from Okinawa and his wife, offering a cozy interior with only 10 seats at a beautiful L-shaped plain wood counter. Although the prices are casual, the course composition and dishes are traditional, reflecting the quality of the ingredients and taste. In a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere, you can enjoy the recommended courses of the day and season, as well as your favorite a la carte dishes.
Lunch is by reservation only, with courses priced at 6,500 JPY or 10,000 JPY. In the evening, you can choose from 9,000 JPY or 12,000 JPY courses, with a focus on a la carte options. Children are welcome during lunchtime, and a kids' menu and baby chairs are available. Please feel free to contact the restaurant for more details.
＊Note: If you are unable to come to the restaurant, please cancel in advance. No-shows cause inconvenience to the restaurants and other customers. Thank you for your cooperation.