The story
Wagokoro Izumi is a Japanese restaurant at 634-3 Nioitenjincho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, awarded one Michelin Star in 2026 for high quality cooking. It sits a five-minute walk from both Karasuma and Shijo stations.
Owner-chef Masaki Izumi cooks Kyoto cuisine in the spirit of the esteemed restaurant Sakurada, adding his own touches to tradition. He visits producers himself and chooses ingredients such as Rishiri kelp and honkarebushi (hard-cured bonito), which go into a broth that runs soft and deep through the menu. Gault&Millau scored the kitchen 16.5 in 2026.
Both services are omakase. Lunch is a lighter seasonal course. Dinner runs to 12 courses, from seasonal hassun and sashimi to grilled dishes, premium sushi, soup and dessert, with seafood gathered from across Japan. Two dishes are singled out: the gently sweet tamago castella and ayu grilled with salt. Plates arrive on Kyoto tableware, and the house sake is made with a Kyoto brewery.
Behind the noren curtain, the busy Shijo streets give way to the quiet of a Kyoto machiya. The dining room seats 25, and the restaurant can be reserved for private parties. The dress code is smart casual.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
Location