HA@hannahvholmes

Kyoto, Japan

The Best Sushi I Had in Japan

By 4 min read
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Hannah with a white ribbon in her hair outside Sushi Naritaya in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Sushi Naritaya, Arashiyama, Kyoto

Quick details

Sushi Naritaya · Arashiyama, Kyoto

Google Maps

A casual sushi lunch while exploring Arashiyama.

Price
¥1,000–¥1,999 per person (listed range)
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 tipGet there before opening if you really want a table.

Restaurant details checked against Tabelog on . Hours and prices can change; check before going.

My experience

I have eaten a ridiculous amount of sushi in Japan.

On one trip alone, I was there for three weeks and we basically ate sushi the entire time. Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka, Matsumoto, Tokyo, random little stops in between. I’ve also spent several months in Japan total over different trips.

And somehow, the sushi I still think about the most came from this tiny place in Kyoto.

Sushi Naritaya in Arashiyama.

It is not fancy. It is not one of those insanely expensive places where you have to book months in advance and spend hundreds of dollars for a tasting menu. Honestly, I usually don’t even like restaurants like that. I care way more about whether the food is actually good and whether it feels worth the money.

This place absolutely was.

It is also kind of hard to find.

You have to walk behind the market area and down this little stone path. I genuinely think you could miss it if you weren’t looking for it. The restaurant itself is tiny. There are only a few tables inside.

We happened to get there right before it opened, which ended up being perfect because a line started forming pretty quickly. We got a table for two, and I remember feeling very lucky because there really isn’t much seating.

The chef only spoke Japanese when we were there, and so did the staff. We do not speak Japanese.

It was completely fine.

We basically pointed at what we wanted and figured it out. No elaborate ordering process. No awkwardness. Just point and eat.

And the salmon.

I still think about the salmon.

It was the freshest salmon I have ever had in my life. I know that sounds dramatic, but I have eaten a lot of sushi in Japan, and nothing beat it for me. It was so soft and fresh and just insanely good.

There were definitely more expensive meals on that trip. There were prettier restaurants. There were places that felt more high-end.

I would still go back here first.

That is probably what I loved most about it. It felt simple. Tiny restaurant, very good sushi, reasonable price, no huge production around it.

I still crave it.

If I go back to Kyoto, this is absolutely one of the first places I would return to.

How to find it

Once you get close, don’t expect a big obvious storefront. It is tucked behind the busier market area, down a little stone path. It would be easy to walk straight past it, so keep Google Maps open for the last few minutes.

Do you need to speak Japanese?

We don’t speak Japanese, and it was completely fine. When we went, the chef and staff spoke Japanese, so we pointed to what we wanted and figured it out.

Tabelog currently lists an English menu, which may make ordering easier. View the listing

When should you go?

I would go right before opening. That is what we did, and we got a table for two. A line started forming pretty quickly. With such a small dining room, I would not leave the timing to chance if this is high on your list.

What should you order?

Salmon. It is the reason I still think about this place, and it was the freshest salmon I had anywhere in Japan.

Is it worth going out of your way for?

If you are already exploring Arashiyama, absolutely. I would not cross the entire country for one sushi lunch, but I would happily plan an Arashiyama day around getting here at opening.

Easy to pair with

Tenryu-ji, the bamboo grove, or just a walk around Arashiyama. I’d do some sightseeing first, aim for lunch around opening, then keep exploring.

Arashiyama area guide

Before you go

  • Go before opening if this is a priority.
  • Double-check the day’s hours before heading over.
  • Keep Maps open once you get close because it is easy to miss.
  • Do not worry if you do not speak Japanese.
  • Order the salmon if you like salmon.
  • Expect a small dining room and possibly a wait.
Sushi NaritayaArashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

This is not sponsored. I just really, really liked the sushi.