9 Best Breakfasts In Kyoto: Traditional Sets, Medicinal Eats + Machiya Cafes

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Japan’s ancient capital may be famous for its temples and tea ceremonies, but breakfast in Kyoto is the best I’ve experienced. I mean, the breakfast scene is a small circle, but the sheer range of options is enough to win over the most committed breakfast skipper.

There are heritage kissaten (old-school Japanese coffeehouses) doing thick toast and flannel-drip coffee, century-old machiya townhouses serving obanzai spreads, Australian-inspired brunch cafes with excellent specialty coffee, and – I kid you not – a breakfast restaurant run by an herbal medicine company that’s been around for close to 100 years. Yup. That’s Kyoto for you!

Most breakfast spots follow the ichiju-sansai principle. This basically means soup, rice (yes, the Japanese commitment to rice extends to breakfast as well), grilled fish with crispy, salty skin, and creamy rolled omelets. Is your mouth watering yet?

But enough talking and let’s dive right into my nine picks for the best breakfast in Kyoto.

1. Choshoku Kishin: The Classic Breakfast Ritual

Let me just start with the big one. Choshoku Kishin in Gion has become the name people drop when you ask about breakfast in Kyoto. And honestly? The hype is deserved.

You sit at a counter facing the open kitchen and the staff serves you plate by plate while explaining what the dishes are about. The signature breakfast’s got creamy tofu and fresh wasabi. Of course, there’s plenty of steamed rice cooked in a traditional clay pot. You’ll also have seasonal side dishes (mine was a flaky herring) and a choice of seafood, pork, or vegetable soup.

And the pickles. I really need to talk about the pickles. They’re usually made from crunchy daikon radish, cabbage, and sometimes even eggplants. They’ve got this umami thing going on that just makes all other pickles you’ve ever eaten feel a bit meh. Yes, I realize that’s a bold statement. You’ll understand after you try it.

At around ¥3,600, it’s not a budget brekkie. But for this level of care? Worth every yen, if you ask me. Plus, I should also mention it’s listed in the Michelin guide.

P.S. The founders are twin sisters from Kamakura who also run a kissaten spin-off called Kissa Kishin. More on that one below.

Local Tip: the restaurant only has about 15 to 20 seats, so book ahead. Breakfast’s served in four slots from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm.

2. Inoda Coffee Main Store: Heritage Kissaten Vibes

If you visit just one kissaten in Kyoto make it Inoda Coffee. Just a quick note before we dive into that one though. Inoda’s got plenty of branches over the city, but I visited the main branch in Nakagyo Ward.

This place has been around since 1947. Inside, it’s all warm wood with a circular counter that makes the ground floor feel almost like a little theater.

Now, about the food. Their “Kyoto Breakfast” totally has my vote. It’s got scrambled eggs, thick slices of ham, croissant, salad, and seasonal fruit. All served along with their signature house blend Arabian Pearl coffee that’s brewed using the old-fashioned Japanese flannel drip.

Local Tip: They open at 7 AM with no regular days off (huge plus), but it does get busy. By 8:30 there’s usually a queue. If the main store is packed, Inoda has five other branches across Kyoto, including one inside the Porta underground mall connected to Kyoto Station.

3. Roji Usagi: Breakfast In Kyoto Housed In A Classic Machiya

You know when a restaurant feels more like you’ve been invited into someone’s home? That’s Roji Usagi for you! It’s found in a machiya, which is a classic wooden townhouse.

Tucked down a narrow alley in Miyagawa-cho (one of Kyoto’s five historic geisha districts), this is a 100-plus-year-old institution with tatami seating, a courtyard garden, and bookshelves lined with Kyoto guides. The owner is a native Kyotoite, and everything about it feels unapologetically local.

The Kyo no Asagohan breakfast set is pretty amazing: grilled fish (salmon or mackerel), rolled omelet, a choice of three soups, rice, and pickles. The mackerel here has the most gorgeous crispy skin and a buttery soft interior. If you’ve ever been served a sad, overcooked breakfast fish (I have, more times than I’d like), you’ll know exactly why this one stands out.

The second breakfast option is the Soymilk Yuba Porridge Set, which is what my local friend had. This one comes with a super thick soymilk porridge topped with tofu skin. Sounds weird, I know, but I tried a bit and trust me when I say it’s surprisingly moreish.

Brekkie runs 8:00 to 10:30 am. They only accepted cash when I was there.

4. Vermillion Cafe: Post-Shrine Brunch

 So, you’ve just hiked through the seemingly never-ending tunnel of vermilion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha, your legs are done, and you want coffee. Well, Vermillion Cafe is right there at the foot of the shrine.

I do have to admit Vermillion Cafe’s got a completely different vibe than the other places on this list, though. This is more of an Australian-inspired café than a traditional Japanese place, but if you ask me, it’s definitely worth a stop.

The Western brunch menu offers smashed avo on toast (the real deal, not the sad thin-spread version), hummus plates with seasonal vegetables. Still, nothing beats their ultra-popular Vermillion Breakfast plate with creamy poached eggs, thick-cut bacon, toast, Fushimi Senseki sausage, and crispy roast potatoes.

If you get there early enough, you can even snag yourself a seat on the terrace. Surrounded by trees, this scenic area overlooks a pond and is completely hidden from the street.

Ps: Fushimi Inari Taisha is notoriously crowded. Most travelers don’t know there’s a hidden shrine tucked away just a 10 minute walk from Fushimi. Known as the Akari Shrine, this spot’s even got a miniature set of Torii Gates. This is a fiercely-guarded secret, so you won’t find a lot of tourists there. Keep your eyes peeled for the omikuji (fox-shaped origami) that locals leave behind for luck!

5. Kissa Kishin Kyoto: The Dreamiest Japanese Omelette

Owned by the same family as Choshoku Kishin, but with a totally different concept.

Kissa Kishin is their take on a traditional kissaten. It’s housed inside a renovated machiya that used to be a doll shop. The building is now part of a boutique complex called Maana Kiyomizu in Higashiyama. Oh, and it’s found right behind the Kyoto National Museum, so you might as well go for a museum tour after brekkie.

The thing that put this place on my list of best breakfasts in Kyoto is the omelet. And look, I don’t throw this word around lightly, but it’s dreamy. Barely set. Almost trembling.  It comes with thick-cut toast (crispy outside, cloud-soft inside), well-seasoned potatoes, and a drink. How yum does that sound?

For me, the French toast is another winner. It’s super creamy on the inside, served with ham, ricotta, and grilled pineapple. I know that combo sounds odd. Just trust me. And while you’re at it, don’t sleep on the koji bread with homemade jam.

6. Kyoto Ogawa Syouyaku: Breakfast in Kyoto Meets Herbal Medicine

This is where things get properly Kyoto-quirky, and I am HERE for it.

Kyoto Ogawa Syouyaku is a breakfast restaurant run by a herbal medicine company that’s been around for nearly a century. Tea salon on the first floor, restaurant on the second, private villa on the third. The whole complex sits near Nijo Castle.

You start off with yudofu (hot tofu simmered in broth) before moving on to 10 small dishes. These include Kyoto vegetables, herbal salt and organic mulberry leaf tea. You’ll also have seasonal sides, rice, and even herbal gelato for dessert. Plus, unlimited tea pairings throughout. It’s different blends for different courses and the staff will help you find the best pairings. Honestly, it felt less like breakfast and more like a wellness ritual you can eat.

I got to admit it’s another expensive breakfast in Kyoto though, with the price tag hovering close to the ¥4,000 mark for the medicinal breakfast set. Still worth it in my opinion. After all, you’re getting 10 dishes and a hefty dose of traditional Japanese medicine rolled in one!

Local Tip: They also have an upgraded version with duck hot pot and dried mullet roe. If you’re splurging on one breakfast in Kyoto, this is a contender.

7. Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki: Early Bird Breakfast in Kyoto

Not to be confused with Ogawa Syouyaku above.

Ogawa Coffee is a 70-plus-year-old Kyoto coffee institution, and this particular branch is one of the best breakfast spots in central Kyoto for an early start.

The space itself is stunning. It’s even got a Japanese garden in the center that you can look out onto while you eat. Morning calm at its finest, if you ask me!

I’d recommend the Smoked Salmon and Homemade Hummus Salad Plate with charcoal-grilled toast. The whole thing comes with organic chickpea hummus, smoked salmon, boiled egg, tomato, and mixed greens. I’d go back just for the charcoal toast!

Local Tip: Hit this spot before heading into the famous Nishiki Market which opens right around the corner.

8. % Arabica: Kyoto’s Coffee Icon

I know, I know. % Arabica is not a restaurant, so technically, it shouldn’t be on a breakfast list. But leaving it off would be like writing about, say, breakfast in Singapore and not mentioning kopi. It’s just too woven into the Kyoto morning experience to skip.

This brand was born right here in Kyoto, and the two locations worth visiting are Higashiyama (steps from Yasaka Pagoda) and Arashiyama. The café’s as straightforward as it gets, but the coffee’s the best I had in Kyoto. Not surprising since the co-founder is a former Latte Art World Champion. So yeah, they know what they’re doing.

Grab a latte (my favorite is their matcha), walk to the riverbank before the crowds arrive. Mountains right there, cool air, high-quality coffee. My kind of Kyoto morning.

9. Kamado Doi: Pickles And Fresh Rice For The Best Breakfast In Kyoto

My wildcard. Kamado Takitate Gohan Doi is in the Asty Road dining area at the Hachijo exit of JR Kyoto Station. It’s run by the same family behind Doi Shibazuke, one of Kyoto’s best-known pickle producers.

You pick a set meal (grilled salmon, mackerel, tempura, or pork), and it comes with rice cooked in a traditional wood-fired stove. Sides include miso soup, tamagoyaki, and house-made tsukemono pickles. They’re self-serve so you can pick and mix between sweet, salty, or even those fermented with less sake. I also love their yuzu pickles which have an almost kimchi-like tang. Paired with that steaming-hot kamado rice, it’s one of those combos that is just weirdly addictive.

Good to know: Unfortunately, this place only opens at 9:00 am, which isn’t the best breakfast option for early risers.

There you have it – a roundup of my fav breakfast spots in Kyoto! Now, if your Asia trip is extending beyond Japan, don’t miss our picks for the best cafes in Singapore or the best restaurants in Ella, Sri Lanka.

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