KYOTO RESTAURANT: RESTAURANTS CLOSE TO NIJO CASTLE: Where to eat near Nijo Castle
Where to eat with kids near Nijo Castle
1) Kura Sushi Sushi Train
I recommend then stopping by Kura Sushi sushi train restaurant – just 5 mins walk from Nijo Station. This restaurant really requires zero Japanese language skills and is completely automated. It’s easy and so much fun with kids. They are smoke-free and accept most major credit cards. They are open everyday from 11AM-Midnight. It’s very affordable. I’d expect to budget for 1500 yen per adult for lunch or dinner. Sushi train chain Kurasushi have a list of all of their food with common allergens here. (Kurasushi is great when dining with kids and there are lots of cooked non-raw sushi options but if you really love sushi you may be a little disappointed with the raw-fish quality. See here for my tips on what to do in Japan if your kids like to eat westernized versions of sushi or california rolls etc.)
For sushi train options in Japan – Kura Sushi definitely has the most gluten free options (you can even put a filter on the ipad menu to see what is an option for you.)
2) Kikyo Sushi
Kikyo Sushi is 4 mins walk from Nijo Castle.
This local Mom&Pop style local sushi and tempura restaurant is quaint and adorable. The staff here speak English well. The restaurant seats 18 so it’s best to make a reservation at Kikyo Sushi Kyoto. The seating is a mixture of counter seats and horigotatsu (kneeling on the floor or sitting on the floor with your feet going into the cut out section of the floor. My kids LOVE this style of seating). The entire restaurant is non-smoking. Kikyo Sushi Kyoto has an English menu. They accept most major credit cards. To eat here I would budget 1000 yen per person for a lunch set and more like 5500 yen per adult for dinner. Almost the entire menu at Kikyo Sushi is gluten free and they also have gluten free soy sauce ( you do need to ask for it.) I recommend ordering the Miso Cod, Teriyaki Salmon and the Nigiri Sushi. Please note that this restaurant is closed on Wednesdays and sometimes on Tuesdays too so before visiting, please check the Kikyo Sushi restaurant’s operation hours here. It’s best to make a reservation (they do keep 4 tables free just for walk-ins.)
KIKYO SUSHI
京都市中京区油子路通丸太町下る大文字町43
43 DAIMONJICHO, ABURAKOJIDORI, MARUTAMACHI-SAGARU, NAKAGYO-KU, KYOTO
OPEN FOR LUNCH ON WEEKENDS 11:30AM-1:30PM (RESTAURANT CLOSES AT 2PM)
OPEN FOR DINNER WEEKDAYS 5PM-10PM (RESTAURANT CLOSES AT 11PM)
OPEN FOR DINNER WEEKENDS 5PM-9PM (RESTAURANT CLOSES AT 10PM)
CLOSED WEDNESDAYS AND SOMETIMES ON TUESDAYS
3) Premarche Alternative Diner
This organic vegetable restaurant serves pizza, burger and salad and is only 8 mins walk from Nijo Castle. Premarche Alternative Diner also offer some gluten free menu options.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards and is entirely non-smoking. They also have a vegetarian menu. See here for Premarche Alternative Diner’s full menu. I recommend their vegan avocado and tomato rice bowl. At this restaurant I would budget 1500 yen for an adult lunch and twice that amount at dinner time .
PREMARCHE ALTERNATIVE DINER
京都市中京区橋西町672 プレマヴィレッジ京都堀川三条 2F
2ND FLOOR, 672 HASHINISHICHO, NAKAGYOKU, KYOTO
OPEN EVERYDAY FOR LUNCH 11:30AM-3PM (LAST ORDER 2:15PM)
OPEN EVERYDAY FOR DINNER 5PM-10PM （LAST ORDER 9PM)
4) 400C Pizza Kyoto
Many people agree with me that this restaurant has some of the best pizza they have ever eaten (even the New Yorkers agree!) This restaurant is called 400C Pizza Kyoto. They take reservations. Budget 4500 yen per person. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. This welcomes children who are 6 years and older. This restaurant is 2 mins walk from Marutamachi Station or 6 mins in a taxi from Nijo Castle.
400C PIZZA KYOTO
京都市上京区養安町242-25
242-25 YOUANCHO, JYOKYO, KYOTO
OPEN 11AM-6:10PM
CLOSED WEDNESDAYS
5) Menbaka Fire Ramen
Just across from Nijo Castle is this Fire Ramen restaurant. It isn’t great for little kids but would be so much fun with teens. It also has some good options for vegans and those who need gluten free meals.
I have written about the Fire Ramen restaurant in detail here if you are interested.
