A must-try in-house cuisine at Kyoto lodgings: yuzu aroma lingers on the palate for a remarkably long time

Reported and photographed by reporter You t
ru / in Kyoto

This is a Kyoto essential you must try when visiting the city. Yuzu is one of Kyoto’s famed specialties, with its sweet-tangy flavor that can be savored in restaurants across various districts. In central Kyoto, if you’re looking for a place that incorporates yuzu into its dishes, the renowned“Yuzu-ya Ryokan Ichininkei”


is absolutely worth a visit. The flavors are delicate and layered, and the lingering sweet-sour yuzu aroma on your palate is exceptionally memorable.



▲ Lunch set of yuzu hot pot.


“Yuzu-ya Ryokan” lives up to its name as an inn where lodging is its main source of revenue. Since its opening in 2005, it has presented itself as a modern-style ryokan dedicated to preserving the authentic flavors of Kyoto. Among its offerings, the yuzu bath and yuzu hot pot—experiences available to overnight guests—are particularly famous. However, due to the relatively high cost of accommodation, many travelers choose to visit specifically to savor the yuzu hot pot as a brief but memorable Kyoto stopover.





Built right next to Yasaka Shrine, Yuzu-ya Ryokan has a narrow entrance that requires ascending a flight of stairs. Once inside, a refreshing yuzu scent greets you, wafting through the interior. The ryokan’s interior is exquisitely serene, and the dining space feels almost like a room within a room. The proprietress recommends that visitors try the more affordable sea bream yuzu hot pot during lunch as a great introduction.

▲ Interior space.▲ Waitresses serve and cook the meal right at your table.

▲ Yuzu ozoni (rice porridge).


The highlight of the yuzu hot pot experience isn’t just the hot pot itself. The multi-compartment cold appetizer served beforehand is also worth savoring, featuring seasonal mountain vegetables, pickles, and other elements of traditional Kyoto cuisine arranged artfully on the plate. As for the star of the show—the hot pot—it arrives with an aromatic burst of yuzu fragrance. The broth includes tofu,


The head chef explains that both yuzu and tofu used here are locally sourced. The broth for the yuzu hot pot is not only flavored with yuzu juice, but also requires yuzu peels to be simmered in the pot for several minutes before serving—a notably labor-intensive process.