Den Shichi – Central Kyoto

One of the best and most approachable sushi bars in Kyoto, Den Shichi serves mouth-watering sushi in a classic sushi-bar atmosphere.

Saiin, a rather non-descript neighborhood on the west side of Kyoto, is the last place you’d expect to find a great sushi restaurant. But Den Shichi, located in the heart of Saiin, is one of the best and most accessible sushi restaurants in the city. Sure, there are better sushi bars in Kyoto, but many of these are almost off-limits to foreigners (not because of discrimination – simply because you need an introduction to a regular client to get in).

I love this place because it has all the elements of a classic sushi bar: a long counter, masterful itamae-san (sushi chefs) who bellow “irrashaimasse” (Welcome!) when you enter, and reliably tasty sushi and sashimi, along with a few other dishes to round out the menu. And, best of all, it’s a lot cheaper than comparable places in cities like Tokyo. The only problem is this: The locals are well aware of what a great value Den Shichi is and there’s often a wait to get in. We get around this by going early. Even if you have to wait on line, it’s well worth the wait.

For more Kyoto affordable sushi restaurant choices, see our Best Affordable Sushi in Kyoto page.

Check Hotel Availability

Destination

Check-in date

Check-out date

English address:
4-1 Tatsumi-cho, Saiin, Ukyo-ku

Japanese address:
右京区西院巽町4-1

Opening hours:
11:30am-2:00pm
5:00pm-10:00pm
Closed Monday

Price:
Moderate

Non-smoking area: No

Nearest Transport:
3min walk from Saiin Station, Hankyu line

Telephone: 323-0700

Website:
None

Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Den Shichi on TripAdvisor

More Restaurant Suggestions: See my list of Kyoto’s Best Restaurants for more eating inspiration. The list covers all cuisines and price ranges.

Near To Here:
Den Shichi is located in Central Kyoto. See our complete list of things to do in Central Kyoto, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

Where Is This Place 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 District Map

• Arashiyama
• Central Kyoto
• Northwest Kyoto
• Nishijin
• Northern Higashiyama
• Southern Higashiyama
• Downtown Kyoto
• Kyoto Station Area
• South East Kyoto

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.