Walking Map

This Walking Map highlights cafes, bars, shops, restaurants and landmarks within 15 minutes walk from Genji Kyoto. Please feel free to download or print to use as your walking companion. We hope it can elevate your interest in our Gojo Kawaramachi neighborhood and help you plan your itinerary.

Points of interest:

This small pub is hidden behind the charismatic owner’s garage. You will find an eclectic vinyl collection, rock memorabilia and moderately priced drinks.  Enjoy free atmosphere and communication by the universal language of music!

https://www.facebook.com/people/Pub-Rock-Stock-Cycle-base/100064918830850/

Century-old bathhouse and events space revived by creative young entrepreneur.  Enjoy traditional sento with different bath pools for a refreshing and culturally enriching experience.

https://1010.kyoto/spot/umeyu1/?lang=en

One of its kind chocolate shop and cafe 1 minute walk from Genji Kyoto.  The cakes, brownies, donuts and bars made with premium chocolate, cultured butter, fruits and nuts will bring a smile to your face.  Enjoy together with Kyoto roastery Bear's Brew's coffee.

https://www.instagram.com/the_smile_chocolate_kyoto/

Savor "drinkable perfume" in this next-generation distillery and bar that makes innovative non-alcoholic drinks from natural plant extracts, as well as traditional cocktails. Housed in a 140-year Machiya townhouse 2 minutes walk from Genji Kyoto.

https://ixey.jp/

Popular Lebanese restaurant with vegan and meat dishes by Japanese chef. Cool, casual, sophisticated. Breakfast and lunch only.

https://www.instagram.com/ki.kyoto/

A teahouse that only serves 1 group (up to 4 guests) per day. Owners Mantaro and Kei Kojima will brew and serve their selected teas for guests to enjoy in their own tranquil space overlooking Kamo River. This is also an events and exhibition space. Reservations are by email only. Their website is in Japanese only but you can find their email address on the below link.

https://ikehan.jp/ikehan/

Cafe with good coffee and lovely river front location for experiencing atmosphere of the changing seasons. Try their rice burgers wrapped with seaweed, seasonal sandwiches or parfait.

https://kawama-cafe.owst.jp/en/

Enjoy music from vinyl records, craft beers and sakes with projected images in cool space where "craft liquor and analog records connect brewers/performers to you". 

https://sakahachi.jp/hachi/

Soba restaurant in former tea house typical in our Gojo area, where Geiko performed for banquet guests. Enjoy the interior and atmosphere of a bygone era.

https://soba-teuchi-takahashi.studio.site/

Chef owner creates Kaiseki course with a difference in a traditional Machiya just 2 minutes from Genji Kyoto.

https://www.instagram.com/washoku_san/

Kaikado has been making tea caddies by hand since 1875. The caddies, in tin, brass or copper, are still crafted following the original 130 steps. Perfectly airtight for tea leaves or coffee beans, with color tones that age beautifully.

https://www.kaikado.jp

They take their coffee seriously here - you can order by strength from "relax" to "super very strong". Wash down with creative pastries that are stunning in looks and tastes.

https://www.instagram.com/effectcoffee2022

The reputation of this soba-cum-pottery shop is spreading fast. The food, the studio-made ceramics, the design of the space are all top-notch. Enjoy homemade buckwheat noodles, sake and the day’s specials, all in served in their homemade bowls, cups and plates!

https://www.instagram.com/sonobanosoba/

Creative owner designed this cafe with "open and comfortable space in clean atmosphere" for relaxing with one of the best coffees in town.  You're encouraged to "own your freedom" while there!

http://www.walden-woods.com

The tempura course offered by this friendly family-run restaurant includes small plates of sashmi and meat and ends with homemade buckwheat noodles.

https://www.instagram.com/tempurayano

It's back to basics at Lorimer Kyoto, which recently changed its name to M&Maison Kyoto - fish, vegetables, rice and soup - the core of Japanese cuisine. Housed in a renovated Machiya, this unique restaurant with roots in Brooklyn serves breakfast and lunch by day and teaches cooking at night.

https://www.instagram.com/m.maison.kyoto/

In addition to original design Japanese paper, this century-old shop sells collections from Italy, England, Germany, Finland, India and Nepal.  Their craftsmen make exquisite boxes with natural glue on site.  You too can learn to make original boxes and notebooks in their workshop.

https://www.instagram.com/boxandneedle_kyoto

Smooth, chewy udon served hot or cold with Shigure beef, duck, tempura or curry by chef owner Aoki.

https://www.instagram.com/oudon_hajime

Relax and watch the world go by in this happy cafe opening onto a green park.  Be soothed by the tranquil scene and laughter of children wafting across the lawn.  This Rokujoin Park was named after the garden residence built 1,000 years ago and used as a model in the Tale of Genji.

https://peraichi.com/landing_pages/view/sonouchicafesnc

Spot the frogs in this fun cafe named after our amphibian friend!  There are at least 40 of them in different sizes and makes.  Let them keep you company as you enjoy the home roasted coffee, light meals and mouth-watering pound cakes and desserts.

https://www.instagram.com/kaeru.coffee/

This sophisticated restaurant makes their soba on-site, serves noodles and buckwheat desserts in the day, and turn into an Izakaya by evening with a broader menu of courses and a la carte dishes.

https://www.yoshimura-gr.com/sobanomi/

A cosy place with excellent charcoal grilled and other small dishes all designed for going with sakes and wines.

https://www.instagram.com/standingovation_kyoto

Chef owner selects premium Kyoto ingredients for his kaiseki fine dining courses and serves them in his own collection of antique tableware.  Enjoy gentle hospitality in beautiful sukiya style interior updated from a traditional home that used to sell Japanese sensu fans.

https://kyoto-sen.com/en/

Popular izakaya with wide selection of sake and authentic local dishes, including Japanese delicacies, sashimi, grilled and tempura seasonal items. Warm hospitality from chef owners makes for lively atmosphere.

https://nishikawa-kawaramachigojo.owst.jp/en/

Café and flower shop by day and bar at night, 2ème Maison has French-style decor, atmospheric lighting and heart-warming dishes. 

https://www.instagram.com/2eme_maison/

A vibrant bar with a nostalgic feel and frequent DJ events. Behind the counter is a large work by pioneering Mt Fuji photographeer Okada Kōyō, left by the previous owner who ran a hair salon on the premises for 80 years. Have fun spotting elements of a barbershop in this retro venue!

https://www.instagram.com/record_bar_yamada

Popular pit stop on route to Kiyomizudera temple with homemade udon noodles and English menu.

https://www.leafkyoto.net/en/newstore/231020-kyoro-sanshiki/

Founded in 1659, Harise can be proud of its heritage and long relations with local vendors and clients. Enjoy authentic Kyoto cuisine in a traditional setting with views of a zen garden.

https://harise-kyoto.com/

Order sushi in assortments or piece by piece in this highly popular restaurant favored by locals. No English menu but high quality at reasonable prices.

https://gurunavi.com/en/kbuv400/rst/

Be transported back in time as you enjoy exquisite kaiseki courses at Douraku, founded 380 years ago and one of Kyoto's top restaurants (not to be confused with the Douraku crab chain restaurant).  Courses available for lunch and dinner in beautiful setting with garden and serene atmosphere.

http://www.dourakurou.jp

Enjoy stunning views and organic vegetables at this vegan cafe by Shichijō Bridge on Kamo River.  It promotes a vegetarian lifestyle with healthy food and yoga to achieve simple pleasures in mind, body and spirit.   

https://tamisa-yoga.com/cafe/

Set in a creatively restored century-old machiya, this magnet for locals and foreigners serves craft beer, craft coffee and cosmopolitan dishes of organic produce with a view to providing "an elevated craft beer bar experience that you won't forget in a hurry."  

https://crafthousekyoto.com

This offshoot of Kakaido tea caddy shop is housed in a an old tram warehouse converted into a bright and airy space with partially exposed concrete walls and copper lamps made by Kaikado themselves.  Bask in the Nordic design and enjoy Kaikado's own tea, coffee and cheesecake, or their selected Japanese sweets supplied by famous dessert houses in Kyoto.  

http://www.kaikado-cafe.jp

The specialty in this new shop (opened Nov 2023) is curry udon, served with beef, tempura or vegertables. Menu is helpfully bilingual.

https://www.instagram.com/echigoya_curry_udon/

A truly serene setting in a century-old machiya for focusing on tea-drinking. 

https://www.instagram.com/kyoto_aotake

This offshoot of Kakaido tea caddy shop is housed in a an old tram warehouse converted into a bright and airy space with partially exposed concrete walls and copper lamps made by Kaikado themselves.  Bask in the Nordic design and enjoy Kaikado's own tea, coffee and cheesecake, or their selected Japanese sweets supplied by famous dessert houses in Kyoto.  

http://www.kaikado-cafe.jp 

Cosy brew pub along the Takase River with 8 taps of new world craft beers served in a contemporary Kyoto setting.  For something truly different, try "cha-beer", or beer infused tea.  Not just any tea - but tea known as "the espresso of tea" found only in the 800-year tea town of Wazuka.  Traditional culture meets modern brewing?

http://kyotobeerlab.jp

A cafe and shop for vintage clothing and ceramics from Europe, run by a couple who used to live in Paris. Afficionados swear by their coffee, and their homemade pineapple cake is becoming a big hit. 

https://www.instagram.com/cite_kyoto/

Cafe by the Takase River with home roasted coffee, and commitment to make seasonal soups and juices with the best farm produce that they source from Kyoto and Hokkaido. 

http://www.murmur-coffee.com 

Tempura kaiseki course is served in this new restaurant (opened in Oct 2025) housed in a corner of the former Nintendo HQ that has become Marufukurō Hotel. It is less than one minute walk from Genji Machiya! Please ask us to book for you.

https://marufukuro.com/en/restaurant/