Kappazushi

Kappa zushi (or sushi) is a great restaurant in the heart of cosy Pontocho. Friendly reception and staff, we ate twice during our six-days stay in Kyoto . Most of the seats are right at the counter in front of the chefs, so they prepare the food you order on the spot (if sushi). We had sushi beside... octopus, squid and eel, all delicious , sushi is mouthwatering and looking at the chef preparing it was a plus (craftmanship skill at work!). Don't miss the sake, drink the basic hot one, you won't regret! To give an idea, the night we spend more the bill was 6.500 yen each (about € 38) for a 12 pieces sushi, another course (grilled eel in my case) and a pitcher of hot sake. In the days spent in Kyoto we had a meal in other establishments in pontocho, nothing disappointing but the quality was remarkably less. Matane!

Visited July 2025

Superlative experience! Fantastic place to taste Japanese sushi all prepared and offered in a very traditional manner.

Visited July 2025

We wanted Sushi when we arrived and found this top rated place nearby. It turned out be hard to get in at all. They had a sign ”no reservation tonight” so we asked to make reservation next day. ”No reservation, only walk in they said”. Two days later we came early. Little after opening. Again sa...me sign. We wanted to ”walk in”. ”No walk in, only reservation” was the theme now. What happened? Wanted to make reservation for the next day. Fully booked. But got one on the following day. Sceptical if we still get, in we arrived and yes. Welcome! Now service was good. Unfortunately the food was very dissapointing. Very expensive and not good quality. We paid 3 times more than in a sushi belt chain place earlier. The sushi was much better at that other place! I can’t recommend this place and really don’t understand all the fuss.

Visited April 2024

Tucked away down an alley lined with restaurants, Kappa Zushi is worth the search! The servers are friendly and efficient and the sushi and sashimi are practically still alive, they’re so fresh! We went on a Wednesday evening and the place was packed—we were lucky to have a reservation, so had no ...wait time, but diners without reservations were being told to expect a wait of up to two hours—so book in advance. This is one of the best restaurants we’ve enjoyed during our stay in Japan.

Visited October 2023

An outstanding meal. Everything I wanted when I flew to Japan... The staff was fantastic and the food was perfect. Best sushi of my life.

Visited May 2023