Must Go Restaurant for Food Lover in Kyoto
Torisei main branch is a restaurant renovated from a traditional sake brewery building. That origin is the famous Yamamoto Honke Sake Brewery. It is known for its sake brand ‘Shinsei’. You will love the elegant yet relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant. Once you are inside, you’ll notice the structure of the building is totally different from other new buildings in Japan. They keep building’s original structure as much as possible and it would definitely remind you that they used to make sake here.
What Makes Them Special?
It is, of course, sake they offer. When you are seated, you’ll notice a big tank in the middle of the restaurant. That is where their original unpasteurized sake (namagenshu) comes out. It’s poured straight from the tank into cups and offered to customers. Don’t miss this namagenshu especially because it’s the one never exported. Because it always has to be kept in the fridge and its freshness does not last long.
As you see it in their restaurant name ‘Torisei’, this place offers a great selection of chicken ( tori in Japanese ) dishes. The most popular one is definitely yakitori – grilled chicken on bamboo skewers. When you go to yakitori place in Japan, normally you choose and order which part of chicken you like to have. That is literally every part of the chicken from gizzards, neck meat, heart meat and more. Don’t hesitate to ask for their recommendation or just get ‘moriawase’ a selection of some yakitori that are commonly ordered.
There is certainly no doubt why this place is always busy with people who want to enjoy great pairing of sake and freshly cooked chicken.
Torisei is open from lunch time to dinner time. Location is only 5 min walk from the meeting point of our tour KYOTO INSIDER SAKE EXPERIENCE. Why not trying this place loved by locals?
【INFORMATION】
Torisei – Main Store
・Address:186 Kamiaburakake-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 612-8047.
・Tel: +81-75-622-5533
・English menu available
・Closed Mondays
Your Japan Trip Gets Better Once You Understand Sake
Start with Kyoto Insider Sake Experience in Fushimi.
Fushimi is Kyoto’s sake district — but simply visiting a bar or shop won’t help you understand which sake to choose or why it tastes the way it does.
At Kyoto Insider Sake Experience, you’ll join an expert-led sake tasting and food pairing session designed to help you taste with confidence. By comparing different styles side by side, you’ll clearly understand the differences in aroma, flavour, and structure — and discover what you truly enjoy.
This experience is the perfect introduction to sake at the beginning of your trip in Japan. Not just tasting sake, but learning how to choose it — anywhere, anytime.
Discover Japan’s real sake & food culture in Fushimi.
Written by Mio
Co Founder of KYOTO INSIDER SAKE EXPERIENCE / Travel Specialist / Airbnb Host since 2015.
About me：I have travelled to nearly 50 countries, and since 2015, I have been hosting travellers from all over the world—and loving it. Drawing on my experience of visiting many different countries, I help tourists visiting Japan have a richer, more meaningful experience.