Kizahashi at The Thousand Kyoto – Kaiseki in Japan

The thousand-year history of Japanese kaiseki is as complex and beautiful as the individual dishes and collective statements delivered during these meals. So it is appropriate, then to enjoy an authentic kaiseki meal inside The Thousand Kyoto hotel – a young and modern contrast with the historic and old-fashioned city, decorated in a timeless manner that could be described as minimalist, austere, or brilliant depending on one’s perspective. A moving piece of art in the lobby uses puffs of air to create the hotel’s logo from a floating net, and an impossibly wide indoor staircase leads to Kizahashi, one of many Kyoto restaurants specializing in kaiseki cuisine.

At Kizahashi, guests choose from one of three (lunch) or four (dinner) set menus cued to locally available, seasonal produce. Ranging from $50 to $130 at lunch or $65 to $130 at dinner, the collection of dishes typically includes an amuse bouche, appetizer, appetizer sampler, soup, sashimi, rice dish, and dessert, adding one additional course, substituting one or two courses, and including an aperitif at higher price points.