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6 Delicious Breakfast Spots for Early Morning Sightseeing in Kyoto
Kyoto is one of the most popular travel destinations in Japan. No matter when you go, it's likely that it will be very crowded. So why not take advantage of the time when there are the least amount of tourists and plan an early morning visit? With less people around you'll get to experience the calm atmosphere of temple and shrines, and even enjoy beautiful sunrise views.
In this article we will introduce you to some great cafes and restaurants in Kyoto where you can enjoy breakfast during your early sightseeing!
Easily reachable by foot from Kyoto Station and just a 15-minute walk from Toji Temple, this hostel is very popular with foreign tourists. Their cafe space opens in the morning and is available to guests and outsiders alike.
Take a break with a coffee and their popular brunch plate (served all day long) or a hot sandwich. At night, the cafe doubles as a bar space.
The Lower East Nine Hostel is right next to the Kujo subway Station, giving easy access to Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, Heian Shrine, Nanzenji Temple and the Nijo Castle. From the bus stop in front of the hostel you can reach Kinkakuji, Gion and Kyomizu-dera.
Address: 32 Higashikujo Minamikarasumacho, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (MAP)
Holidays: irregular
Website: https://lowereastnine.com/ja/nextdoor/café
Pictures courtesy of THE LOWER EAST NINE HOSTEL
Just a 10-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station in Kyoto's urban area, this Japanese restaurant serves tasty seasonal dishes. Here you can savor a Kyoto style Japanese breakfast with items like Saikyo-yaki (Kyoto style grilled fish) and fluffy dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet). If you make a reservation, they will make fresh rice for you!
Shunsai Imari is filled with staples of the Kyoto cuisine! They also have counter seats, ideal if you're visiting alone.
Address: 108 Nishirokkakucho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (MAP)
Closed on Tuesdays
Website (Japanese-only): https://kyoto-imari.com/index.html
This coffee shop is also a 10-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station. For a more western breakfast (with a Japanese touch, of course) head to this long-established joint.
Their classic breakfast set includes boneless ham and scrambled eggs. Enjoy it with their signature dark roast blend coffee.
Address: 140 Doyu-cho, Sakaimachi-dori, Sanjo kudaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (MAP)
Website: https://www.inoda-coffee.co.jp/english/
A 6-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station, close to Kiyomizu-dera!
Savor a Japanese breakfast in a 100-year old traditional townhouse in the Miyagawa-cho geisha district. Dishes include fish and Kyoto-style obanzai, along with the never missing dashimaki tamago omelet. Another great dish served here is the morning curry. Reservation is recommended.
This place feels both homely and traditional. Breathe the air from the past and enjoy a quiet and dreamy atmosphere while gazing at the beautiful inner garden.
Address: 176 Shimoyanagicho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (MAP)
Irregular holidays
Website (Japanese-only): https://ameblo.jp/cafe-rojiusagi/
Run by the same couple that runs the long-established Maeda Coffee, Cafe Yamamoto is one of the prides of Shirakawa. Their home-roasted coffee made them a great reputation and it's also why the locals love it so much.
You might have guessed by now that eggs are a very Kyoto-like breakfast dish. Here, fluffy omelets are served in a lovely sandwich set. The best way to gather some energy before your morning stroll.
The Chion-in Temple bus station is the closest access to the cafe. It is also in walking distance from the Higashiyama subway Station and Gion-Shijo Station.
Address: 307-2 Ishibashi-cho, Shirakawa-dori Higashioji-nishi-iru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (MAP)
Closed on Tuesday
Close to the Heian Shrine and Murin-an garden, this udon restaurant is right next door to where they make the noodles.
In order to serve the freshest udon, they match the noodle making time and open the restaurant at 4 a.m.!
Here you can enjoy a soft udon Kyoto style like the kaachan no udon (mommy's udon) in a delicious egg soup. If you want to try a bowl be sure to arrive as soon as they open to enjoy the noodles as fresh as possible.
These udon will warm you up on a cold morning and give you the right head start for a day in Kyoto.
In this article we will introduce you to some great cafes and restaurants in Kyoto where you can enjoy breakfast during your early sightseeing!
Kujo/Karasuma Area
■THE LOWER EAST NINE HOSTEL
Hours: Cafe time 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. / Bar time 6:00p.m. - 11:00 p.m.Easily reachable by foot from Kyoto Station and just a 15-minute walk from Toji Temple, this hostel is very popular with foreign tourists. Their cafe space opens in the morning and is available to guests and outsiders alike.
Take a break with a coffee and their popular brunch plate (served all day long) or a hot sandwich. At night, the cafe doubles as a bar space.
The Lower East Nine Hostel is right next to the Kujo subway Station, giving easy access to Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, Heian Shrine, Nanzenji Temple and the Nijo Castle. From the bus stop in front of the hostel you can reach Kinkakuji, Gion and Kyomizu-dera.
Brunch plate 680 yen (tax-exclusive)
Hot sandwich (mini salad with pickles included) 500 yen (tax-exclusive)
Information
THE LOWER EAST NINE HOSTELAddress: 32 Higashikujo Minamikarasumacho, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (MAP)
Holidays: irregular
Website: https://lowereastnine.com/ja/nextdoor/café
Pictures courtesy of THE LOWER EAST NINE HOSTEL
Karasuma Oike Area
■Shunsai Imari
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. / 5:30 a.m. - 00:00Just a 10-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station in Kyoto's urban area, this Japanese restaurant serves tasty seasonal dishes. Here you can savor a Kyoto style Japanese breakfast with items like Saikyo-yaki (Kyoto style grilled fish) and fluffy dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet). If you make a reservation, they will make fresh rice for you!
Shunsai Imari is filled with staples of the Kyoto cuisine! They also have counter seats, ideal if you're visiting alone.
Kyoto Style Breakfast 1,382 (tax-inclusive)
Information
Shunsai Imari | 旬菜いまりAddress: 108 Nishirokkakucho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (MAP)
Closed on Tuesdays
Website (Japanese-only): https://kyoto-imari.com/index.html
■Inoda Coffee Main Shop
Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (last order 6:30 p.m.)This coffee shop is also a 10-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station. For a more western breakfast (with a Japanese touch, of course) head to this long-established joint.
Their classic breakfast set includes boneless ham and scrambled eggs. Enjoy it with their signature dark roast blend coffee.
Breakfast set 1,380 yen (tax-inclusive)
Information
Inoda Coffee Main Shop | イノダコーヒー 本店Address: 140 Doyu-cho, Sakaimachi-dori, Sanjo kudaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (MAP)
Website: https://www.inoda-coffee.co.jp/english/
Gion Area
■Machiya Cafe Roji Usagi
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. / 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last order 30 minutes before closing)A 6-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station, close to Kiyomizu-dera!
Savor a Japanese breakfast in a 100-year old traditional townhouse in the Miyagawa-cho geisha district. Dishes include fish and Kyoto-style obanzai, along with the never missing dashimaki tamago omelet. Another great dish served here is the morning curry. Reservation is recommended.
This place feels both homely and traditional. Breathe the air from the past and enjoy a quiet and dreamy atmosphere while gazing at the beautiful inner garden.
Japanese style breakfast 900 yen (tax-inclusive)
Rojiusa curry 900 yen (tax inclusive)
Information
Machiya Cafe Roji Usagi | 町家カフェ ろじうさぎAddress: 176 Shimoyanagicho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (MAP)
Irregular holidays
Website (Japanese-only): https://ameblo.jp/cafe-rojiusagi/
■Cafe Yamamoto
Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last order 4:30 p.m.)Run by the same couple that runs the long-established Maeda Coffee, Cafe Yamamoto is one of the prides of Shirakawa. Their home-roasted coffee made them a great reputation and it's also why the locals love it so much.
You might have guessed by now that eggs are a very Kyoto-like breakfast dish. Here, fluffy omelets are served in a lovely sandwich set. The best way to gather some energy before your morning stroll.
The Chion-in Temple bus station is the closest access to the cafe. It is also in walking distance from the Higashiyama subway Station and Gion-Shijo Station.
"Tamago" Omelet sandwich set 780 yen (tax-inclusive)
Information
Cafe Yamamoto | やまもと喫茶Address: 307-2 Ishibashi-cho, Shirakawa-dori Higashioji-nishi-iru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (MAP)
Closed on Tuesday
Sakyo Ward Area
■Kyo Shogoin Hayaokitei Udon
Hours: 4:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Close to the Heian Shrine and Murin-an garden, this udon restaurant is right next door to where they make the noodles.
In order to serve the freshest udon, they match the noodle making time and open the restaurant at 4 a.m.!
Here you can enjoy a soft udon Kyoto style like the kaachan no udon (mommy's udon) in a delicious egg soup. If you want to try a bowl be sure to arrive as soon as they open to enjoy the noodles as fresh as possible.
These udon will warm you up on a cold morning and give you the right head start for a day in Kyoto.
Kitsune udon 500 yen (tax-inclusive)
Kaachan no udon 400 yen (tax-inclusive)
Information
Kyo Shogoin Hayaokitei Udon | 京 聖護院 早起亭うどん
Address: Taniguchi Seimenjo-waki, 9 Shogoin Rengezocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi (MAP)
Closed on Friday
Address: Taniguchi Seimenjo-waki, 9 Shogoin Rengezocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi (MAP)
Closed on Friday
Enjoy Kyoto at Your Own Pace with Some Morning Sightseeing
Early in the morning, when the air is fresh and crisp is when you can see the beauty of the landscapes in Kyoto from a different angle.
For those who feel like crowds in Kyoto are inevitable, and for those who want to visit and enjoy Kyoto no matter what, try an early morning adventure to discover a new face of the city!
*The above information is based on a coverage from October 2018. Menu items, prices and other information may change or vary seasonally.
For those who feel like crowds in Kyoto are inevitable, and for those who want to visit and enjoy Kyoto no matter what, try an early morning adventure to discover a new face of the city!
*The above information is based on a coverage from October 2018. Menu items, prices and other information may change or vary seasonally.
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THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 01 28,2019 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team
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