Flânons

Kyoto · Japan · To eat

Taka-An

Location & practical

Kyoto, Served in 24 Seasons

  • Kaiseki cuisine guided by Japan's 24 seasonal divisions.
  • Ten front-row seats to the chefs at work.
  • Contemporary Japanese design surrounded by Aman's wooded gardens.
  • €113–679 / person
  • Takagamine, Kita Ward (northern Kyoto)
  • Japanese and Kaiseki

Four seasons? A rather imprecise way to organise dinner, according to chef Shinichirō Takagi. At Taka-An, he follows Japan’s traditional calendar of 24 seasonal divisions, changing his kaiseki menu daily to catch ingredients at exactly the right moment.

The restaurant occupies a beautiful spot within Aman Kyoto’s wooded gardens. Inside, black ribbed walls, amber lighting and a long timber counter set the scene. Ten lucky diners get front-row seats to the chefs at work, turning a succession of exquisitely presented dishes into something of a performance. The atmosphere is intimate, the concentration palpable, and the ceramics almost too beautiful to eat from. Almost.

There’s history behind all this artistry. In 1615, Hon’ami Kōetsu, one of Japan’s great artistic figures, established a community of craftsmen in this very neighbourhood. Four centuries later, Taka-An carries on the local fascination with making beautiful things, although its creations have a considerably shorter shelf life.

The garden-facing tables are lovely, particularly at lunch. But we’d take the counter. When this much thought goes into dinner, it seems a shame to miss the preparations.

  • Urban setting Takagamine, Kita Ward (northern Kyoto)
  • Restaurant Reservation required

Good to know.

Location
1 Okitayama Washimine-Cho, 大北山鷲峯町 北区 京都市 京都府 603-8458, Japan
Open map & directions
Parking
The restaurant accepts guests arriving by private car and asks them to indicate their transport at booking. Confirm drop-off, parking and any charges directly; dedicated restaurant parking arrangements are not clearly published.
Getting around
In northern Takagamine, away from central Kyoto’s rail network. Public transport involves onward local travel; a taxi or arranged car is the simpler option. Aman Kyoto quotes approximately 30 minutes by car from Kyoto Station.
Arriving
Find Taka-An at Aman Kyoto, 1 Okitayama Washimine-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8458. The restaurant is outside the hotel’s main stone gate. Arrive close to your reservation time: non-resident diners do not have access to the hotel gardens or a general waiting lounge. Lunch 12:00–15:00 (last entry 13:00); dinner 18:00–22:00 (last entry 20:00).
Accessibility
The official restaurant information does not specify step-free access, wheelchair-accessible toilets or suitable counter seating. Contact the reservations team before booking for individual mobility requirements.
Travelling with children
Non-residents must be aged 13 or over at both lunch and dinner, and order the adult menu; no children’s menu is offered. The restaurant’s current reservation page separately states that hotel guests aged 6 and over may attend dinner. Confirm any other age/meal combination with the restaurant before booking.

Worth knowing

  • Advance booking is required. The official TableCheck page requests reservations at least one day ahead; winter snow-crab dining requires at least three days’ notice and a minimum of two guests.
  • Listed meal hours: lunch 12:00–15:00 (last entry 13:00) and dinner 18:00–22:00 (last entry 20:00).
  • Smart-casual dress. Avoid shorts, sandals and sleeveless vests.
  • Non-resident diners must be aged 13 or over; hotel guests may bring children aged 6 or over to dinner. No children’s menu is offered to non-resident families.
  • The restaurant welcomes non-residents subject to availability, although it may prioritise hotel guests at busy times. The Aman gardens and hotel facilities beyond the restaurant are for resident guests only.
  • The booking page asks for a credit card as a guarantee. Cancellation charges: 50% within 72 hours, 80% within 48 hours, 100% within 24 hours; changes in party size also count.
  • Tell the kitchen about allergies, dietary or religious restrictions in advance, including ingredients in dashi or other stocks; suitability is subject to confirmation.
  • Standard kaiseki is ¥20,000 at lunch and ¥50,000 at dinner (roughly €113–€283 per person). The special winter snow-crab menu is ¥120,000 (about €679 per person). Prices include Japanese consumption tax and service charge; drinks are extra. EUR equivalents use 9 November 2026 ECB reference rate, €1 = ¥176.79, and will move with exchange rates.
  • The winter snow-crab menu runs 8 November 2026 through the end of February 2027, excluding 31 December 2026 to 6 January 2027; reserve at least three days ahead for two or more guests.
  • Parties of seven or more should contact the restaurant directly. Contact the venue if running late: reservations may be cancelled when guests are more than 60 minutes late without notice.

A few places to make it your own.

Aman Kyoto

To stay · Kyoto

Aman Kyoto

In the woods of northwestern Kyoto, Aman Kyoto’s timber pavilions follow the contours of a moss garden once intended for a textile museum. Come evening, there’s a deep cypress bath and dinner at Taka-An, where the kitchen takes its cues from 24 solar terms.

Discover this place
Yuuhisai Koudoukan

To discover · Kyoto

Yuuhisai Koudoukan

A bamboo-lined path leads to a Kyoto tearoom where the scroll, bowl and sweet are chosen for the season. Saved from demolition in 2009, Yuuhisai Koudoukan carries on the spirit of the Edo-period academy that once stood here.

Discover this place
The Hiramatsu Kyoto

To stay · Kyoto

The Hiramatsu Kyoto

The Hiramatsu Kyoto occupies a former kimono merchant’s townhouse in central Kyoto. Book a Deluxe for its miniature garden, then linger over Japanese breakfast served on red lacquer.

Discover this place
About this edit · 6 sources