An absolutely exquisite experience. Intimate 6-seat bar where you are up close and personal with the chef. Watch as he prepares every single course with grace. I got the 16-piece omakase course and I regret not getting the accompanying side dishes. They looked delectable. Sushi was phenomenal as expected; consume with your eyes and your mouth.

Ignore recent reviews - this was a magnificent and very special experience. The chef and other two members of staff made us feel so welcome and cared for. Chef explained each piece to us and how best to enjoy it. The sushi was delicious, the fish was so fresh and of the highest quality, the drinks were refreshing. My dietary requirements were also kindly accommodated for. Gracious hosts, thank you! We hope to visit again.

I initially booked the restaurant because I found good reviews on food blogs etc. Anyway I took my mom and had a very mediocre experience. Food was at best average, sushi chef was rude, and the prices were absorbent (almost 50,000 yen). Go elsewhere. Edit: In response to your reply- You may notice that all of your recent reviews are awful. You may consider some soul searching to arrive at the truth. The experience you provide does not impress. You do not smile, do not talk, do not make guest feel welcome. You scolded my mom for sitting slightly sideways to talk with me. You scolded me for momentarily having my phone on table. Is this how you make guests feel welcome? I'm sorry you think you are not rude. It has nothing to do with the lack of English ability.

The negative reviews of this place are quite overblown. The chef is definitely particular but that isn’t unusual amongst high-end sushi chefs. We had a lovely dinner and he was perfectly friendly to us and the other four guests in the restaurant. I asked a few questions and he happily answered them, including showing photos and talking about where different menu items were sourced from. He also recommended a few sakes. The food and preparation were high quality and the rest of the service staff were also quite nice. Overall, a very nice meal and would recommend and return.

Disappointing experience. The sushi was below average and the zero interaction with dining guests was not what I had hoped for such an expensive michelin star restaurant. The chef looked miserable for the entire 2 hour period and his bare minimum descriptions for each dish (i.e. this is a clam) sadly could have been better described by my 7 year old niece. Recent reviews flaming this place are accurate. Spend your money elsewhere.

I went in with high hopes despite the recent reviews speaking poorly of their experience, unfortunately they all turned out to be true. The only interaction we had with the chef was the one word uttered as we were presented with the dish. No other explanation as to what else had gone into it or why it was prepared the way it was. The other moments were just filled with awkward silence. I cannot recommend this place at all when you can get a better all round experience for a tenth of the cost. The waitstaff were friendly and welcoming which was my only real highlight.

We had the privilege of being served by Chef Matsudaya and it was truly a memorable experience. The care and detail he puts into his craft is admirable; we will definitely be back on our next visit to Kyoto.

This was my 2nd time ever trying a Michelin starred sushi restaurant in Japan. My first time was in Tokyo. The location was a little hard to find as it's in a small alley from what I recall. The restaurant is small and only serves 6 guests at a time. I had made some reservations for the Omakase meal a few weeks in advance. The whole meal was about a two hour experience well worth it. The chef was artful and masterful in the way he cut the fish and prepped each piece of sushi for us. Sushi was amazing as well. There were two other servers there, one I believe was his wife and the other girl perhaps his daughter or just a worker but they were very attentive on service and the second my glass of beer was done they'd bring another. One of my favorite parts of Japan is the fresh sushi and this did not disappoint. The meal was expensive with drinks I would say close to $300 USD but when your in Japan I feel like you have to experience this once in your lifetime.

We were late for one minute because the taxi could not find the restaurant. The atmosphere was tense. The chef didn’t seems happy and we were not sure whether the chef was angry at us for being late. There were not much communications between the chef and us. Luckily there were two cheerful customers who tried to cheer up the chef! The sushi were not what we expected for that price. The sushi rice were not warm. The set dinner portion was not enough.

I would not recommend this place to anyone. Food was great, but very overpriced. Pictures do justice to the food (see the other reviews), but the sullen and cantankerous chef only made the experience terrible. I get that he's trying to preserve traditional omakase culture, but it is not a fun experience at all.

First time writing a review, and I can’t wait to leave comments right after. Food quality was above average and the taste is mainly light and fresh. Sadly, with this kind of price and service, I’m sure there are a lot more options. The portion is just enough for ladies, personally speaking. We do understand there are some certain rules to follow in order to respect Japanese dining culture; however, respect is a two-way communication. It is important to respect your customers before you ask people to respect you. The only feeling I had after the dinner is stressful and tired.

I’m going to start this off by saying that this is the most difficult review I’ve ever had to write. In my decades of traveling / eating, I have NEVER left a bad review. Even after the worst of situations, I still always thought, “maybe it was an off night, no need to penalize the establishment.” But tonight was too disappointing to remain silent. When I booked a reservation here months ago, I did so having read a multitude of negative reviews. But I figured that it was just a vocal minority speaking and that they were likely an overreaction. Unfortunately that is not the case. My issues are both with the menu and the atmosphere Atmosphere: The room is small and lovely, with the counter seating 6 people. I happened to be sitting next to a family traveling from my home country, and as such, was engaged in conversation with the person next to me. I’m lucky to have enjoyed an extremely large amount of omakase meals through the years, so between that and my general desire to show respect to where I’m eating, I know how to behave at such an establishment. As mentioned, I was having normal conversations with the person next to me, when after the sashimi course, I was scolded for talking to much. It was nothing abnormal, but I get it, with a need to keep on schedule, even a 2 minute delay could be too much. So all conversation were held until in between each dish. And when the teenager with his parents was scolded for daring to take a video of the chef prepping, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. But then I was scolded for having my body turned too far to my left to carry on in conversation in between plates. This was so far past the line and honestly ruined the rest of the meal (ignoring issues with the food). I was turned 45 degrees to have a normal conversation, but apparently that was too disrespectful. The chef had open disdain for everyone here, while also having minimal interaction with the guests. Food: On top of everything above, this was the most generic and disappointing omakase course I’ve ever experienced. I had just had my mind absolutely blown by piece after piece in Kanazawa, and yet this meal made standard omakase in the US look good. There was no specialty to it, unless you count the sardine-like fish from Japan. Nothing surprising. No “you can only get this here” pieces, which should be a good percentage of a meal this expensive (there were also no shellfish beyond the standards). Additionally, the tamago was horribly presented, where it was kept cold, then slightly heated just before serving, where the outside was warm and then the interior was ice cold. Finally, I should note that the courses were so minimal that when I left, I immediately walked into a yakitori spot and ate 6 skewers. Again, it truly pains me to leave a negative review, but taking into account how much money this meal costs, I’d be doing a disservice to every person that’s considering making a reservation here if I didn’t give fair warning. Despite the first six days of perfect meals in Japan, this was so disappointing that I need to remind myself not to leave the country with a negative opinion. PLEASE go elsewhere Edit to respond to owner comment: Before you tell someone that this level of sushi isn't for them, perhaps you should be aware of their vast history with this wonderful food. I feel apt to be critical because of how many omakase dinners I can compare this to. Again, there was zero specialty to the types of fish presented. I had more variation in almost every omakase eaten in the US than there was last night, in addition to the surprisingly low number of pieces. As for not appreciating customs, I spent time learning the language so I could express my true appreciation for the food of this country. We also kept our voices down when conversing You can absolutely run your restaurant as you be best see fit. But as a customer, I also have a duty to let prospective customers, who are often flying great distances and expecting the greatest meal of their life, to know what their hard earned money will be getting them

Amazing sushi experience - 2 hours omakase very well priced with a caring chef and staff who speak English and serve you in the most intimate ambiance. Rare enough in Japan to be noted: the chef knows all about kosher and will in general be very thoughtful and respectful of your dietary restrictions !

What a privilege to have been one of the 6 diners earlier this evening! I asked Chef Matsudaya if I could take photos and videos (as it can be disrespectful) but he was happy to oblige. Chef Matsudaya was friendly and extremely skilful with his craft! Watch his knife work and how he takes pride with every thing he touches. English is not his first language but he took effort in explaining and talking with us. In fact, my partner and I felt bad to be conversing instead of letting him focus and watch him at work. Please read up on omakase etiquette if you're not aware 😂 We can see why he has kept a michelin star since 14 years ago! Keep going chef! Gambatte!

It is a hidden gem in the Gion district of Kyoto. Truly a welcoming host with amazing master chef who not only respect his customers but also his craft. I recommend it to anyone who have a desire to taste and experience a delicious moment.

High quality boutique sushi made by a master. Everything was melt in your mouth tasty. Went through 18 pieces of the most fresh and meticulously prepared sushi ever made. Absolutely no complaints. Make a reservation cause the place only sits 6 per seating. 2 seatings a night.

All the haters on here leaving negative comments are probably wet rags anywhere they go. This place was maybe the best dining experience I’ve ever had. The chief was serious but kind and had plenty of laughs with us (and a couple of drinks). The atmosphere was perfect for getting to know strangers. The food was outstanding - the chiefs cuts of fish were about as good as it gets. His family runs the place with him and they were so sweet. This was a night to remember!

Having been fooled by the old reviews on google I recommend NOT to go. I don't understand how this place even has a star. Very agrresive and demanding and simply unpleasent chef (nothing on table, uncomfortable chair no explaination of the dishes being served absolute shambles) and the food is just as bad. No innovation, lack of flavour... for the rather hefty price you are paying. Do not recommend, not even to my enemies

A perfect warm and exceptional sushi experience. The chef is just formal enough that you feel the premium but when he takes breaks from his artful live time sushi making, you can have simple conversation. Every bite was perfect. Best sushi I have ever had. Do it.

Wow. I absolutely loved this place. The chef and his wife were amazingly hospitable. But the star was the sushi. Incredibly fresh and everything just tasted so excellent and unique. From torigai to Kyoto to aburi smapper. Will definitely be coming back here! Maybe tomorrow.

Absolutely exquisite omakase and experience overall. Incredible quality fish, masterful execution, lovely chef and his partner who were glad to answer questions and were extremely welcoming. Not really clear what other people experienced leaving these 1 star reviews (and to each their own), but this is an opportunity to be in the presence of a master of his craft and be hypnotized… so go and delight in it!

This was the best sushi we had in Japan! Matsuda is an amazing guy, speaks perfect English, very fun and interesting to talk to. He knows KOSHER! Seriously he knows which fish are kosher so you can have a "kosher-style" dinner. There are only 6 seats in the restaurant so it is an intimate experience. Must visit place, if you can get a spot.

This is the first review I have ever written, but I feel the need to do so to say this: please research basic Japanese etiquette and omakase etiquette before you arrive. The experience will be much more special and you will get to partake in a special custom. This is the best meal I have ever had. It was so special to watch the chef and his staff doing a job so expertly. The head chef has clearly spent so much time perfecting his craft, and it shows. Every single bite was perfect- from texture to taste. Do not arrive late, give the chef and staff your attention while you dine, and follow the menu and chef instructions and your experience will be amazing. This was a once in a lifetime experience and I’m so happy I did it!

This is the best experience we have had in Japan! Yes the sushi is expensive but we would do it over again the fish was light and fresh nothing fishy about it. The chef was extremely friendly, the couple next to us asked him a lot of questions and he happily answered, even if he struggled with English. Don’t expect a detailed explanation of each dish, we actually preferred it this way.He even came outside to take a picture with us! Great hospitality… once in a lifetime experience. Thank you.

Mostlikely the best sushi we’ve ever had! I had the pleasure to visit the restaurant with my brothers early July and we thouroughly enjoyed the experience. Thank you for having us. Once I get back to Kyoto, I’ll be definitely coming back!

It was an incredibly precious experience of seeing a master who crafts each piece of sushi with care and pride in his work. My family had a wonderful time. Thank you.

Amazing experience. Everything was so thoughtful and delicious. It was beautifully paced, relaxing (why is omakase so relaxing??), and I tried new things. Some things I never would’ve thought to try were my favourite. It’s pricy, but if you’re in the position to splurge, do it!

I ate here a year ago, but having read the recent reviews I was shocked at how different my own experience was. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and moment in time, but Chef was warm and friendly, conversing freely and joking with all six guests. The three to my right were from Taiwan, the two to my left were from Spain and we all had a fun and flowing time with Chef, who joked and shared notes about each course. This was done in English, and the language skills were more fluent than most chef interactions I have had in Japan. (I have spent considerable time there.) It did not feel stiff or formal but warm and intimate. The three to my right were also teenagers with phones, and they were never scolded; on the contrary, everyone was encouraged to take photos of dishes they liked and Chef. Nobody's behavior was ever noted or corrected. Kyoto is not really a "sushi town" but the preparation was consistently fresh and immaculate. The portions were normal for sushi omakase. Obviously, this is in an upscale neighborhood, so it is not a bargain and most customers appear to be gaijin, but no complaints. It may have not been the most wildly inventive or adventurous of fish selection for someone who has been eating sushi their whole life, but it was perfectly prepared and presented in a lovely environment with a hospitable host. I don't know if pricing has changed, but a year ago it was about $250 USD per person. That is fairly high, but not necessarily for this neighborhood in Kyoto where it is often quite hard to get reservations.