Honke Tankuma Honten

Unclaimed

We were momentarily stunned upon arrival, as if we had stumbled upon a hidden, forbidden castle. From the entrance to the very end of our journey, it felt like stepping back into the era of the shogun. Words cannot fully capture the experience—the exquisite cuisine, the impeccable service, and the timeless atmosphere. It is truly a must-visit destination, transporting you through decades of history with every moment spent within its walls.

This was an incredible meal. We had an incredible little room with a view overlooking the river. Every dish was delicious and there was a great variety in the food served - we got the classic sashimi and cooked fish, but a lot of dishes we hadn’t tried during our trip to Japan. We did the Japanese Sake pairing which was a great experience. We got to taste different types of Sake and learn about regional differences. The team was absolutely amazing. The owner explained the history of the restaurant and took a photo with us after! Felt like home!

My partner and I (Americans in their mid 30’s) had an amazing and unforgettable meal here. We got standard fish/seafood meal and did the Sake wine pairing. The owners came out and met with us before the meal started and gave us a brief history of the restaurant. The meal took 2 hours from start to finish. We also had a private tea ceremony room. The staff were very friendly and attentive. They were so appreciative and grateful to host us and you could tell they took a lot of pride in their foods history and culture. We have had a lot of fine dining experiences and eaten at several Michelin restaurants- we will always remember this one as one of our best experiences. After the meal, I looked up the Google reviews and was surprised to read some of the lower star ratings. I can only shake my head and wonder why those people even try venturing beyond McDonalds. If you cannot appreciate the subtlety and delicacy of Japanese food, don’t eat at Japanese restaurants. Every dish was superb and unique- I consider them very flavorful in their own way but obviously very different from European or American cuisine. If you are interested in Japanese food which is lighter and more subtle in flavor and appreciate their culture, this is the place for you. After the meal the server showed us the back deck area and took photos of us. Then the owners came back out and showed us one of the paintings they had which is apparently a famous painting. We also took a photo with them. I included all my photos so you should have a good sense of whether this is something you are into or not, especially when considering the price point.

Unforgettable experience. The food was absolutely incredible and we were served each of our dishes by the couple that owned the restaurant (that had been passed down generations) with their son in the kitchen. Their family has owned the restaurant for 98 years!! So passionate about their food and you can taste it!! I will never ever forget my experience at this restaurant, it was so special. Unique food I have never tried anywhere else! I highly recommend if you are in Kyoto.