Restaurant in Kyoto, Japan
Referral-only counter, Kyoto's top tier.

A by-referral kaiseki counter in Kamigyo Ward with one of the most consistent award records in western Japan — Tabelog Silver every year since 2019 (Gold in 2020) and ranked #43 in Japan by Opinionated About Dining in 2025. Budget JPY 50,000+ per person with drinks. Getting in requires a referral or hotel concierge; the quality justifies the effort.
Book Noguchi if you want a seat at one of Kyoto's most consistently decorated kaiseki counters. Ranked #43 in Japan by Opinionated About Dining in 2025 and a Tabelog Silver winner every year from 2019 to 2026 (with a Gold in 2020), this nine-seat house restaurant in Kamigyo Ward has a track record that holds up against scrutiny. The catch: it is reservation-only and by referral, which makes it harder to access than most kaiseki at this price point. If you can get in, go.
Noguchi operates as what Tabelog classifies as a house restaurant — a small, residential-feeling space in the northern part of Kyoto, a short walk from Kitano Hakubaicho. The format is deliberately intimate: eight counter seats and a single private table room. That combination suits couples or a pair of serious diners far better than groups; the counter keeps you close to the rhythm of the kitchen, while the private room works for a party that needs more separation. The room is described as a relaxing space, and with only nine possible guests in the building at once, the energy stays quiet and contained throughout the evening. This is not a venue where the noise level climbs after 10 PM — in fact, last entry is at 9 PM, which keeps the pacing controlled from start to finish.
Chef Daisuke Noguchi has been running this kitchen since June 2011. The awards record tells the clearest story: a Tabelog Bronze in 2017 that climbed steadily to Silver by 2018 and Gold in 2020 before returning to Silver and holding that tier for five consecutive years through 2026. The restaurant has also been selected for the Tabelog Japanese Cuisine WEST "Tabelog 100" in 2021, 2023, and 2025 , a list covering only the hundred most-rated Japanese cuisine restaurants in western Japan. On Opinionated About Dining, the trajectory is similarly consistent: #75 in Japan in 2023, #49 in 2024, #43 in 2025. That is not a venue bouncing around the rankings; it is one moving in a single direction.
Dinner runs JPY 20,000–29,999 at the listed price, though reviewer-reported spend trends significantly higher , closer to JPY 50,000–59,999 per person when drinks are included. Budget accordingly. The drink list covers sake, shochu, and wine; credit cards are accepted (Visa, JCB, Amex, Diners), but electronic money and QR payments are not, so confirm your payment method before you arrive. There is no parking on site.
For first-timers, the format requires a small amount of preparation. Entry is from 5:30 PM, with the kitchen accepting guests until 9 PM. Mondays are closed, though the restaurant notes that some Mondays may be exceptions , confirm directly before planning around a specific date. Because this is a by-referral booking system, getting a reservation without a Japanese contact or a concierge relationship can be genuinely difficult. If your hotel concierge does not have a direct line, factor in extra lead time , weeks, not days. For kaiseki at a comparable price point that is easier for international visitors to book independently, Ifuki and Chihana are worth considering alongside Noguchi.
The Tabelog score of 4.39 (with a Google rating of 4.5 across 132 reviews) positions Noguchi near the leading of the Kamigyo Ward kaiseki category. For Kyoto kaiseki at the same price tier, the competitive set is strong , Ankyu, Doujin, and Gion Suetomo each occupy similar territory , but Noguchi's multi-year national ranking progression sets it apart from most of them on raw consistency. If kaiseki is your primary reason for visiting Kyoto, it warrants the effort to get a referral booking. If you are making a broader Kansai trip, note that HAJIME in Osaka and akordu in Nara operate at a different register but are worth factoring into your itinerary alongside Noguchi.
For more places to eat, drink, and stay in the city, see our full Kyoto restaurants guide, our full Kyoto bars guide, our full Kyoto hotels guide, our full Kyoto wineries guide, and our full Kyoto experiences guide. If you are planning a broader Japan itinerary, Pearl also covers Harutaka in Tokyo, Kikunoi Tokyo, Hirosaku, Goh in Fukuoka, 1000 in Yokohama, and 6 in Okinawa.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noguchi | {"Year":"2026","Award Source":"Tabelog","Award Type":"The Tabelog Award","Award Group":"silver","Award Group Rank":"67","Restaurant Name":"Kyotenjin Noguchi","Score":"4.39","Budget":"Dinner: JPY 20,000 - JPY 29,999; Lunch: -","Budget Dinner":"JPY 20,000 - JPY 29,999","Budget Lunch":"-","Price":"JPY 20,000 - JPY 29,999","Average Price":"JPY 20,000 - JPY 29,999","Average Price (Based on reviews)":"JPY 50,000 - JPY 59,999 JPY 30,000 - JPY 39,999 View spending breakdown","Featured Item":"N/A","Full Address (with ZIP)":"京都府京都市上京区天神道上ノ下立売上ル北町573-11 1F, 6020000, Japan","Address":"京都府京都市上京区天神道上ノ下立売上ル北町573-11 1F","Postal Code":"6020000","City":"Kamigyo-ku Kyoto Kyoto","State":"Kyoto","Country":"Japan","Phone":"+81752761630","Phone Raw":"+81-75-276-1630","Website":"No official website found","Description":"Check out Kyotenjin Noguchi (Kitano Hakubaicho/Japanese Cuisine) on Tabelog! A dish that reflects the beauty of the changing seasons. Indulge in a luxurious moment, captivated by the delicacy of Kyoto cuisine. [Private rooms available / No Smoking] Discover Japanese restaurants featuring detailed information such as menus and maps, along with user-posted reviews, ratings, and photos!","Categories":"Japanese Cuisine","Awards & Recognitions":"The Tabelog Award 2026 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2026 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2024 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2024 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2023 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2023 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2022 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2022 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2021 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2021 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2020 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2020 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2019 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2019 Silver winner Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \"Tabelog 100\" 2025 Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \"Tabelog 100\" 2025 Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \"Tabelog 100\" 2023 Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \"Tabelog 100\" 2023 Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \"Tabelog 100\" 2021 Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \"Tabelog 100\" 2021 受賞・選出歴 閉じる The Tabelog Award 受賞歴 2026年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2026 Silver 受賞店 2025年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2025 Silver 受賞店 2024年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2024 Silver 受賞店 2023年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2023 Silver 受賞店 2022年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2022 Silver 受賞店 2021年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2021 Silver 受賞店 2020年Gold受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2020 Gold 受賞店 2019年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2019 Silver 受賞店 2018年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2018 Silver 受賞店 2017年Bronze受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2017 Bronze 受賞店 百名店 選出歴 日本料理 百名店 2025 選出店 食べログ 日本料理 WEST 百名店 2025 選出店 日本料理 百名店 2023 選出店 食べログ 日本料理 WEST 百名店 2023 選出店 日本料理 百名店 2021 選出店 食べログ 日本料理 WEST 百名店 2021 選出店","Reservation availability":"Reservation only By referral only","Business hours":"■Business hours You can enter from 17:30 to 21:00. ■Closed on Closed on some Mondays. Hours and closed days may change, so please check with the restaurant before visiting.","Payment methods":"Credit card accepted (VISA, JCB, AMEX, Diners) Electronic money not accepted QR code payments not accepted","Private rooms":"Available","Non-smoking/smoking":"Non smoking","Number of seats":"( 8 counter seats, 1 private table room)","Private use":"Available","Parking":"Unavailable","Space/facilities":"Relaxing space","Drink":"Sake (Nihonshu), Shochu (Japanese spirits), Wine","Food":"N/A","Service":"N/A","Family friendly":"N/A","Service charge & fee":"N/A","Dress code":"N/A","Maximum party size":"N/A","Location":"Hideout, A house restaurant","Occasion":"Friends This occasion is recommended by many people.","Remarks":"N/A","The opening day":"2011.6.20","Receipt (Qualified simple invoice)":"N/A","Latitude":"35.022758347850164","Longitude":"135.7344093705596","Primary Image URL":"","Image URL Count":"20","Image URLs":"","Restaurant ID":"26018304","Source URL":"","Raw Details JSON":"{\"Restaurant name\":\"Kyotenjin Noguchi\",\"Awards & Recognitions\":\"The Tabelog Award 2026 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2026 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2024 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2024 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2023 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2023 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2022 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2022 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2021 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2021 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2020 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2020 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2019 Silver winner The Tabelog Award 2019 Silver winner Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2025 Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2025 Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2023 Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2023 Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2021 Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2021 受賞・選出歴 閉じる The Tabelog Award 受賞歴 2026年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2026 Silver 受賞店 2025年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2025 Silver 受賞店 2024年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2024 Silver 受賞店 2023年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2023 Silver 受賞店 2022年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2022 Silver 受賞店 2021年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2021 Silver 受賞店 2020年Gold受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2020 Gold 受賞店 2019年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2019 Silver 受賞店 2018年Silver受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2018 Silver 受賞店 2017年Bronze受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2017 Bronze 受賞店 百名店 選出歴 日本料理 百名店 2025 選出店 食べログ 日本料理 WEST 百名店 2025 選出店 日本料理 百名店 2023 選出店 食べログ 日本料理 WEST 百名店 2023 選出店 日本料理 百名店 2021 選出店 食べログ 日本料理 WEST 百名店 2021 選出店\",\"Categories\":\"Japanese Cuisine\",\"Phone number (for reservation and inquiry)\":\"075-276-1630\",\"Reservation availability\":\"Reservation only By referral only\",\"Address\":\"京都府京都市上京区天神道上ノ下立売上ル北町573-11 1F Show larger map Find nearby restaurants Transportation 10 minutes walk from JR Marumachi/Keifuku Kitano Hakubai Station 595 meters from Kitano Hakubaicho.\",\"Business hours\":\"■Business hours You can enter from 17:30 to 21:00. ■Closed on Closed on some Mondays. Hours and closed days may change, so please check with the restaurant before visiting.\",\"Average price\":\"JPY 20,000 - JPY 29,999\",\"Average price (Based on reviews)\":\"JPY 50,000 - JPY 59,999 JPY 30,000 - JPY 39,999 View spending breakdown\",\"Payment methods\":\"Credit card accepted (VISA, JCB, AMEX, Diners) Electronic money not accepted QR code payments not accepted\",\"Number of seats\":\"( 8 counter seats, 1 private table room)\",\"Private rooms\":\"Available\",\"Private use\":\"Available\",\"Non-smoking/smoking\":\"Non smoking\",\"Parking\":\"Unavailable\",\"Space/facilities\":\"Relaxing space\",\"Drink\":\"Sake (Nihonshu), Shochu (Japanese spirits), Wine\",\"Occasion\":\"Friends This occasion is recommended by many people.\",\"Location\":\"Hideout, A house restaurant\",\"The opening day\":\"2011.6.20\"}","Matched Location ID":"6a8bb01c-e66b-48fb-9221-3354aec26582","Match Status":"matched","Match Method":"award_page_url_exact","Match Confidence":"high","Matched On URL":"","Matched DB Name":"Noguchi","Matched DB Address":"573-11 Kitamachi, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-8368, Japan, Kyoto, Kansai, Japan","Needs Review":"no","Review Reason":"","Fallback Score":"","Fallback Name Sim":"","Fallback Addr Sim":"","Fallback Loc Sim":"","Fallback City Sim":"","Fallback Country Sim":"","Fallback Phone Match":"","Fallback Domain Match":"","Fallback Explanation":""}; Tabelog Silver Award 2025 Score: 4.41 Cuisine: Japanese Cuisine / Kyoto Phone: 075-276-1630 Hours: ■Business hoursYou can enter from 17:30 to 21:00.■Closed onClosed on some Mondays. Address: 57311 1F, 天神道上no下立売上ruKitacho, 上京 Ward, 府Kyoto City, Kyoto Tabelog:; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #43 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #49 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #75 (2023) | — | |
| Gion Sasaki | Michelin 3 Star | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| cenci | Michelin 1 Star, World's 50 Best | ¥¥¥ | — |
| Ifuki | Michelin 2 Star | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| Kyokaiseki Kichisen | Michelin 2 Star | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| Kyo Seika | Michelin 1 Star | ¥¥¥ | — |
Comparing your options in Kyoto for this tier.
Book as far in advance as you possibly can — Noguchi is reservation-only and, critically, by referral only, which means a connection to the restaurant or an established intermediary is required before you can even request a date. With only 8 counter seats and 1 private room, availability is extremely limited. If you don't have a referral channel, a concierge at a high-end Kyoto hotel is often the most practical route.
Yes — the counter is the primary format, with 8 seats facing the kitchen. This is where most guests sit and it is the intended experience. There is also one private table room available if you prefer separation, though the counter is the format that makes sense for a solo diner or a pair. Parties wanting privacy should request the private room when booking.
Noguchi operates as a house restaurant in Kyoto's Kamigyo Ward — low-profile, residential in feel, and not designed for walk-in visitors. Entry is from 17:30 and last entry is 21:00, dinner only. Prices run JPY 20,000–29,999 at the listed rate, though Tabelog review data shows actual spend often reaches JPY 30,000–59,999. The restaurant has held a Tabelog Silver Award every year since 2019 (Gold in 2020) and is ranked #43 in Japan by Opinionated About Dining — so the stakes, and expectations, are high.
Dinner only — Noguchi does not serve lunch. Service runs Tuesday through Sunday from 17:30, with entry accepted until 21:00. Plan your Kyoto day accordingly; this is a dinner-specific reservation.
Yes, with the right setup. The private room makes it viable for a couple or small group wanting a more enclosed setting, and the kaiseki format suits a long, occasion-driven evening. Tabelog specifically notes it as recommended for friends gatherings. At JPY 20,000–29,999 listed (with actual spend trending higher), it is a serious financial commitment — factor that into whether the occasion warrants it compared to alternatives at a lower price point.
Kyokaiseki Kichisen is the reference point for the highest tier of Kyoto kaiseki — more formal, more expensive, and harder to book. Gion Sasaki offers a different counter-forward approach in the Gion district and is more accessible to international visitors. Ifuki is a strong option if you want comparable seasonal kaiseki at a lower spend. cenci bridges French and Japanese technique and suits guests who find pure kaiseki too rigid in format. Kyo Seika is worth considering for a lighter, more accessible kaiseki experience.
The venue data does not specify a dietary restriction policy. Given that kaiseki is a fixed, chef-led format with no à la carte options, restrictions are harder to accommodate than in a standard restaurant. check the venue's official channels — or through whoever facilitates your referral booking — well in advance of your visit to discuss any requirements.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.