Kyoto, Japan
Sushi Naritaya in Kyoto: Is It Worth Planning Lunch Around?
Updated
I have eaten a ridiculous amount of sushi in Japan. I’ve spent several months there across different trips, including one three-week trip when we ate sushi just about everywhere we went. And the place I still think about most is Sushi Naritaya, a tiny restaurant down a stone path in Arashiyama, Kyoto.
If you’re exploring Arashiyama and want a casual sushi lunch, this is where I’d go. The salmon was the reason I loved it; the small dining room and quickly forming line are the reasons I’d plan around opening time. Here’s what I’d order, how to find it, and what to know before you go.
Hannah’s notes
My take
- Best for
- A casual sushi lunch in Arashiyama
- Would I go back?
- One of my first stops back in Kyoto.
- What would I order again?
- The salmon. I still think about it.
Quick details
Sushi Naritaya · Arashiyama, Kyoto
A casual lunch on an Arashiyama day, with some flexibility for a wait.
- Listed budget
- ¥1,000–¥1,999 per person
- Lunch hours
- 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Closed
- Wednesdays; other closures possible
- Reservations
- Listed as unavailable
- Seating
- Around 16 seats
- Closest station
- Keifuku Arashiyama, about a 2-minute walk
- Menu
- English menu listed as available
- Parking
- None at the restaurant
My order againSalmon.
My tipAim to arrive before opening and leave some flexibility afterward.
Restaurant details checked against the Tabelog listing on . The budget is the listing’s range, not the bill from my visit. Recheck hours and prices before going.
The salmon is what I’d go back for
The salmon was so soft, and the freshest I’ve had in Japan. If you like salmon, that’s what I’d order.
We ate at more expensive restaurants on that trip, and prettier ones. I would still go back here first. I care much more about how good the food is and whether the meal feels worth the money than how elaborate the experience is. This was a small room, very good sushi, and a price that felt reasonable to me.
How to find Sushi Naritaya
Look behind the market area for the little stone path. The entrance is easy to miss, so I’d keep the restaurant pinned in Google Maps for the last few minutes. It’s the sort of place you could walk straight past without realizing lunch was back there.
Tabelog places it about a two-minute walk from Keifuku Arashiyama Station. Use that station name when checking directions; Arashiyama has several rail stations, and the two-minute estimate does not apply to all of them.
Open the restaurant mapArrive before opening, and allow for a wait
We happened to arrive just before it opened and got a table for two. A line started forming quickly, and with so few tables inside, I remember feeling very lucky about our timing.
I’d arrive just before opening again. That won’t guarantee a table, so I wouldn’t put a tightly timed activity immediately after lunch. If your day has no room for a queue, this may be an awkward stop to build it around. Check that day’s opening hours before heading over; the listing notes occasional closures as well as Wednesdays.
Ordering when you don’t speak Japanese
The chef and staff spoke only Japanese when we visited. We don’t speak Japanese, so we pointed at what we wanted and figured it out. It was much less complicated than it might sound: point, order, eat.
The current Tabelog listing includes an English menu. View the listing
Make it part of an Arashiyama day
I’d fit lunch into a day exploring Arashiyama, with Tenryu-ji or the bamboo grove before or afterward. Japan’s official tourism guide covers both, along with the area’s rail connections. Pick the sights you care about, save Sushi Naritaya in Maps, and leave yourself time to enjoy lunch.
Plan the rest of your day with JNTO’s Arashiyama guideThis is not sponsored. I just really, really liked the sushi.
