Inside Kyoto

A Kyoto Travel Guide

Best Child-Friendly Restaurants in Kyoto

Food tends to be the biggest issue for families traveling to Japan. Sure, the food and drinks are hygienic and safe, but you’ll probably find that children are “challenged” by some of the unfamiliar items of the menu. I mean, have your children ever begged for sea urchin or sea cucumber?

Otoya Gohan Dokoro in Kyoto
Otoya Gohan Dokoro in Kyoto © Nelo Hotsuma

Luckily, there are plenty of restaurants in Kyoto that serve familiar items that kids will eat, and there are even some where you can indulge your own desire for great Japanese cuisine while keeping the kids happy as well. And, of course, if all else fails, there are the usual fast-food chains, both international ones and some excellent domestic ones.

  • Ganko Sushi (Downtown Kyoto; budget to midrange)
    This popular downtown sushi restaurant is spacious and has comfortable booths for families. Ganko Sushi serves not only the eponymous sushi, but just about every other Japanese dish as well. There’s a children’s menu and there are big tables and booths where families will feel at home. The only drawback is the occasional smoker, so try to snag one of the non-smoking tables.
  • Ootoya
    The Ootoya chain is a casual restaurant that serves all the Japanese standards. It’s healthy, cheap and fast.
  • The Cube Food Court
    Also on the 11th floor of the Kyoto Station building, this food court has several restaurants where families will feel right at home.
  • Porta Food Court
    For a quick bite before catching a train, this huge collection of restaurants under Kyoto Station is a great choice.

Best Kyoto Restaurant Recommendations

Where Are These Places Located?

See these places on our Kyoto Google map:
  • Open the Kyoto map
  • You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
  • Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
  • Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
  • If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

Kyoto Vacation Checklist


Kyoto District Map

Click a Kyoto District for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation


Chris Rowthorn

About InsideKyoto.com and Chris Rowthorn

  • Chris Rowthorn is the co-founder of InsideKyoto.com and has an unparalleled travel knowledge of Kyoto spanning three decades. Chris has written or commissioned and edited every page on the Inside Kyoto website.
  • A former author of Lonely Planet Kyoto and Lonely Planet Japan guidebooks, Chris is also the director of the Kyoto walking tour company Chris Rowthorn Tours, and Japan Travel Consulting, where you can get bespoke travel advice for your Japan trip.
  • InsideKyoto.com has been cited by the New York Times and The Times of London, among many other publications and websites.


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