Shingetsu

Otsu is the neglected little brother of Kyoto, in spite of its being 9 minutes away by train and having some of the most stunning sights in Japan. One of these is Ishiyama-dera, a Buddist temple nestling in a paradise valley near the terminus of the little local railroad line. A very old tradition s...ays that Lady Murasaki began writing The Tale of Genji there. Near the end of the ten-minute walk from the station to the temple gate is this modest-looking restaurant, where you will be served excellent Japanese kaiseki cuisine at a very reasonable price by elegant staff in a quiet decor. Expect no Western food or foreign language skills, but this reviewer can gratefully attest to a few rooms with actual tables. The smallest menu (3500 Yen at writing plus drinks, tax and a small service charge) consists of 7 gorgeously-arranged courses of modest size which will leave you satisfied in every way, unless your appetite is gargantuan.

Visited March 2015