Kurashiki’s most iconic tourist destination is the Bikan Historical Area.
It is a beautiful place, with traditional streetscapes and rows of willow trees.
White-walled buildings line the streets, some dating back to the Edo period.
The buildings have been renovated and now house souvenir shops, restaurants, and more.
At first glance, all the restaurants in traditional houses seem to serve Japanese food, but some serve Western cuisine.
One of them, Restaurant Kiyuutei, looks like a Japanese restaurant from the outside, but serves Western cuisine.
Here, we introduce Restaurant Kiyuutei, a Western-style restaurant on the main street of the Bikan Historical Area.
The information presented here is current as of the article’s publication in May 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Where Restaurant Kiyuutei is located
Restaurant Kiyuutei (hereafter, Kiyuutei) is located by the Kurashiki River, near the entrance to the Bikan Historical Area.
The main street of the Bikan Historical Area runs along the Kurashiki River, making this a very convenient location.
Right next to Kiyuutei, two swans glide through the water, making it a popular spot for photos.
Yume and Sora are the beloved swans of the Bikan Historical Area.
Across from Yume and Sora stands the Ohara Museum of Art, Japan’s first private museum of Western art.
Kiyuutei is located in an area packed with attractions.
The Restaurant Kiyuutei building
Let’s take a look at the Kiyuutei building.
It is surrounded by a well-maintained white wall, and its gate is impressive too.
You might not guess from its traditional Japanese exterior, but Kiyuutei is a Western-style restaurant.
The building itself was constructed in 1911, but it was not originally a restaurant.
It was once the church hall of Kurashiki Church, which is now located in Tsurugata, Kurashiki City, near JR Kurashiki Station.
It opened as a restaurant in 1978.
The restaurant’s brochure shows that the exterior has hardly changed at all since the building served as a church hall.
As soon as you enter the building, you’ll find an open kitchen straight ahead.
An open kitchen—something you’d never expect from the traditional Japanese exterior!
The interior blends Japanese and Western styles.
The building is long and narrow, with seating extending all the way to the back.
The partitions between the tables are made of Kurashiki canvas, giving the space a stylish touch.
The second floor has a private room available by reservation only, named Kawasemi (kingfisher).
Through the window, you can catch a glimpse of the Kurashiki River and the Ohara Museum of Art.
I’ve visited the Bikan Historical Area many times, but this was my first time seeing this view!
You can only see it if you go into Kawasemi.
A long table that seats four to eight people stands in the middle of the room.
It is made from a single slab of solid wood.
Since it’s a private room, you can enjoy a relaxing, elegant meal.
Restaurant Kiyuutei’s menu
Kiyuutei serves Western dishes loved by diners of all ages.
The menu includes Bisei pork steak, large fried shrimp, and hamburg steak.
Information as of April 2023. Prices include consumption tax.
| Lunch menu | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Kurashiki Riverboat Steak Set (limited to 15 servings) | ¥2,400 |
| Special Lunch | ¥1,750 |
| Kurashiki-style Omu Hayashi | ¥1,750 |
| Wagyu Lean Steak | ¥3,800 |
| Imported Beef Steak | ¥2,800 |
| Bisei Pork Steak | ¥2,500 |
| Set menu | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Kiyuutei Fried Shrimp | ¥2,300 |
| Bisei Pork Cutlet with Demi-Glace Sauce | ¥2,300 |
| Beef Stew | ¥2,300 |
| Hamburg Steak with Demi-Glace Sauce | ¥1,800 |
Kiyuutei’s signature dish: Kurashiki-style omu hayashi
It’s hard to choose, but I decided to start with Kiyuutei’s signature dish, Kurashiki-style omu hayashi.
It is said to be especially popular with younger diners.
The soft-boiled egg, gently draped over the chicken rice, is wonderfully runny.
The generous serving of hayashi sauce has been passed down for 40 years, since the restaurant opened.
This dish combines old-fashioned flavors with a modern, fluffy omurice.
I coat a bite with the soft-boiled egg and dig in.
The hayashi sauce has a sweet tomato flavor, and it’s easy to see why it has been loved for 40 years.
Western dishes made with local ingredients
I also tried the limited-time “Special Lunch.”
The main dish changes depending on the season.
When I dined there in December 2021, the main dish was grilled Bisei pork.
The main dish comes with today’s soup, salad, and bread or rice.
It is topped with a mushroom sauce made with mushrooms from Ushimado, Okayama Prefecture.
As its name suggests, Bisei pork comes from Bisei Town, Okayama Prefecture.
It has just the right amount of fat, and you can really taste the savory flavor of the meat.
It is thoroughly grilled, yet so tender that a knife glides right through it!
It was a lunch made with plenty of local ingredients.
Kiyuutei faces the main street of the tourist destination, the Bikan Historical Area.
We spoke with Kiyuutei manager Tetsuya Umakoshi, whose restaurant is visited by both tourists and locals.
Restaurant Kiyuutei Information
| Name | Restaurant Kiyuutei |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-2-20 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-5140 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Lunch: 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Wednesday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Available Private room “Kawasemi” on the second floor is reservation-only |
| Seating | 34 seats on the first floor; 10 tables 8 seats on the second floor; 1 table |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilets |
| Children | Child chairs available |
| Website | Restaurant Kiyuutei |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a word to search articles on this site
