I have a full blog post on exploring Arashiyama with kids here. However, please keep reading if you are just curious about the family-friendly dining options in Arashiyama.
Please remember that Arashiyama generally doesn’t open up very early so, apart from the occasional convenience store and Tully’s Coffee, you will need to wait until at least 11am for a meal in a restaurant as a family. Arashiyama also closes down early, so I don’t recommend planning to eat in a restaurant here after 6pm.
Arashiyama is famous for the bamboo forest but also for yudofu. Yudofu is pieces of tofu served in a boiling broth – it’s like a warm comforting soup. A large portion of the restaurants in Arashiyama serve yudofu -but that doesn’t mean that it is the only option.
Where to eat in Arashiyama with kids?
Nakagawa Hatsumeido is a cafe that is 6 min walk from Saga-Arashiyama Station or 3 mins walk from Randen Saga Station. They have gluten free desserts and some vegan menu options. I recommend ordering a rice burger or a fried tofu and Japanese omelette sandwich. You can also order items to go and then have a picnic by the river. Please note that this restaurant is cash only.
NAKAGAWA HATSUMEIDO
8 SAGATENRYUJI TSUKURIMICHICHO, UKYO-KU, KYOTO
OPEN 8AM-5PM
A wonderful spot to try traditional kaiseki style dining in Japan is at Kumahiko. Kaiseki dining with children, outside of a ryokan, is not always the easiest option but this is a wonderful place to try traditional kaiseki dining.
Reservations are possible but are required at least 2 days in advance – for both lunch and dinner. Cancellation charges also apply.
Please note that this is fine dining and the budget for lunch is approximately 6000 yen and dinner is more like 18,000 yen.
The menu is based on ingredients of the season. Although the menu on the Kumahiko website is in Japanese, the prices and the pictures will give you a good idea of what types of food to expect. There is also a children’s menu.
The restaurant is right next to the Togetsu Bridge so, as you can imagine, the views are spectacular.
Kumahiko accepts most major credit cards.
The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
ARASHIYAMA KUMAHIKO
京都市右京区嵯峨天竜寺芒ノ馬場町5-1
5-1 SAGATENRYUJI SUSUKINOBABACHO, UKYO-KU, KYOTO
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30AM-3PM ( LAST ORDERS 2PM)
OPEN FOR DINNER: 5PM-9PM (LAST ORDERS 8PM)
CLOSED TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS
Sushi with a gluten free menu
Sushi Naritaya is off the main street and the staff understand about gluten free sensitivities. The sushi is made right in front of you. 2 mins walk from Arashiyama Station. Walk-ins are fine. Budget for lunch ? Approx 2000 yen per person. Children are welcome (no options but rice and sushi/sashimi though.) There is space to store a stroller while you dine. Sushi Naritaya accepts most major credit cards. There is an English menu here. This restaurant is super casual. They also have gluten free soy sauce here.
SUSHI NARITAYA
都市右京区嵯峨天龍寺芒の馬場町3-25 嵐山スクエア ウエストパーク
3-25 SAGA TENRYUJI SUSUKINOBABACHO, UKYO-KU WEST PARK, ARASHIYAMA SQUARE, KYOTO
OPEN EVERYDAY (EXCEPT WEDNESDAYS) 11AM-3PM
CLOSED WEDNESDAYS
Really good coffee (even by Australian standards)
There is a fantastic coffee shop right on the river called % Arabica Kyoto Arashiyama open 8am – 6pm.
For something close to the station on the way back, my kids quite enjoy a walk through the “Kimono Forest.” It’s a short, but pretty, art installation just one min walk from Arashiyama Station or 8 mins from JR Arashiyama Station. It lights up at night but is also pretty in the day time. My kids also loved throwing a coin in the pond too and making a wish.
There is a Tully Coffee (open daily 9am-8pm) right near the entrance so grown ups could grab a takeaway coffee for the little walk through the kimono forest. It only takes a couple of minutes and makes for some cute pictures. If you have a toddler or a newly walking baby, this is great place to “set them free” to wriggle for a little bit.
Udon & Japanese Curry etc
Just 1 minute walk from the Kimono Forest and Arashiyama Station, if you’re looking for lunch option with kids. I recommend Obu Cafe. There is a terrace out the back with outdoor seating. This cafe doesn’t accept reservations. I would budget 2000 yen per adult to eat here. Obu Cafe accepts most major credit cards. They have an English menu and a vegetarian menu. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. This cafe welcomes children and babies – they have a children’s plate too (a mild Japanese curry served with rice and other cute little sides for 800 yen). It’s a casual spot so zero pressure for kids to be really quiet or anything. The restaurant itself is lovely and spacious (for Japan.) I recommend eating the Yaki-Udon (Stir-fried Udon Noodles) or the chocolate waffles.
OBU CAFE, ARASHIYAMA
京都市佐賀天竜寺造路町20-1 はんなりほっこりスクエア 2F
2ND FLOOR, HANNARI HOKKORI SQUARE, 20-1 TSUKURIMICHO, SAGATENRYUJI, KYOTO
OPEN 11AM-6:30PM
Yudofu
If you love Yudofu like I do (Arashiyama is famous for Yudofu which is why you’ll see so many amazing restaurant) then I recommend dining at Yudofu Takemura. This restaurant doesn’t need any reservations for lunch (they seat 50 people so you may have to line up for a short time depending on the time of year) but you do need a reservation for the evening. There is a dinnertime service charge. I recommend budgeting for 4000 yen per adult to enjoy a meal here. You can see pictures of the menu at Yudofu Takemura here – please note that even though it is a tofu restaurant – it is not a vegetarian or vegan restaurant.
YUDOFU TAKEMURA
京都市佐賀天竜寺造路町48-7
48-7 TSUKURIMICHO, SAGATENRYUJI, KYOTO
OPEN 11AM-7:30PM (LAST ORDERS 6:30PM)
CLOSED ON THURSDAYS
Bakery
Just 3 mins walk from Arashiyama Station is Miffy Sakura Kitchen. A Japanese bakery with Miffy shaped breads and pastries. This bakery accepts most major credit cards. The Miffy Sakura Kitchen is a takeout-only bakery. All breads and pastries are under 1000 yen.
ARASHIYAMA MIFFY SAKURA KITCHEN, ARASHIYAMA
京都市佐賀天竜寺造路町20-27
20-27 TSUKURIMICHO, SAGATENRYUJI, KYOTO
OPEN 10AM-6PM
Vegan and veggie laden options
If you are vegan (or just want lots of yummy colourful veggies) I recommend making a reservation at Musubi Cafe. They have lunch plates that include a choice of a daily curry, pasta or plant-based taco meat on rice with salad. The miso soup is also vegan. You can see pictures of the Musubi Cafe menu here. They have an English menu. Breakfast here is two giant rice balls in seaweed, pickles and a veggie-laden vegan miso soup for just 700 yen. For other meals, I recommend budgeting approx 2000 yen per person. They accept most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. They have free wifi. This is also a good spot for parents to try some hot and cold sake while dining here too.
They are have space to store strollers while you dine.
MUSUBI CAFE
京都市西京区嵐山西一川町1-8
1-8 ARASHIYAMA-NISHIICHIKAWACHO, NISHIKYO-KU, KYOTO
OPEN FOR BREAKFAST 10:30AM-11:30AM
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11:30AM-3PM
CLOSED TUESDAYS (OPEN IF TUES IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY & THEN THE WED IS CLOSED INSTEAD)
