OSAKA—For the first time in six years, the Kyoto-Osaka area gained a new top-rated, three-star Michelin restaurant.
Miyamaso, located on a mountain foothill in Kyoto’s Hanase district, received the honor in Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka 2026 published by Japan Michelin Tire Co.
The restaurant, which serves Japanese cuisine made with local ingredients, received two Michelin stars in 2011.
“I have always wanted to win three stars someday. I’m happy that it came to fruition,” owner and chef Hisato Nakahigashi said during a news conference. “I will make a more concerted effort to serve dishes and provide services for customers while I open my sensitivity 100 percent and keep going.”
Currently, there are six three-star restaurants in Kyoto and three in Osaka. A total of 179 Michelin-star restaurants are located in the two prefectures.
The Mentor Chef Award, which honors chefs dedicated to nurturing the next generation, was given to Hideaki Matsuo of Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, which received three stars.
While Matsuo teaches at a culinary school, he helped to promote Osaka’s food culture in an event at last year’s Osaka Kansai Expo.
“It is good to seek deliciousness, but it must be proceeded while environmental issues are taken into consideration,” he said at the news conference. “I want to work with younger generations and convey such views and thoughts to as many people as possible.”
* * *
The three-star restaurants listed in Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka 2026 are:
Hyotei (Japanese cuisine, Kyoto’s Sakyo Ward)
Miyamaso (Japanese cuisine, Kyoto’s Sakyo Ward)
Isshisoden Nakamura (Japanese cuisine, Kyoto’s Nakagyo Ward)
Gion Sasaki (Japanese cuisine, Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward)
Kikunoi Honten (Japanese cuisine, Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward)
Mizai (Japanese cuisine, Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward)
Taian (Japanese cuisine, Osaka’s Chuo Ward)
Hajime (innovative, Osaka’s Nishi Ward)
Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama (Japanese cuisine, Suita, Osaka Prefecture)
AloJapan.com