On May 21, 2025, Kaburaya Matsui, a kaiseki restaurant located on Bukkoji-dori in Kyoto, celebrated its first anniversary since opening. We are deeply grateful for the many customers who have supported us throughout this year.

During the first two months, under the pressure of Kyoto’s traditional kaiseki cuisine, our menu was very traditional. However, around the third month, we paused and reflected.
—Something was different. It didn’t feel like us.
That was the feeling we had.

We have been involved in introducing Japanese cuisine for about 30 years across 10 countries.
Throughout that time, we have always been mindful not to make excuses such as “It can’t be helped because ingredients are hard to find” or “Traditional Japanese flavors can be difficult to accept overseas.”
No matter how far from Japan we were, our challenge was how to faithfully reproduce the authentic taste of Japanese cuisine,
and how to present it so that those unfamiliar with it could enjoy it deliciously and with interest.
Facing these challenges, we have continually refined and expanded our repertoire through trial and error and creative effort.

If we do not make use of these experiences, we cannot create cuisine that is truly our own.
With this realization, we began to subtly weave in essences from the various countries where we have lived into our dishes.

This is by no means “fusion” cuisine, nor does it rely on flashy presentation.
We hold fast to the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine, bringing out the fullest flavor of the ingredients, crafting dishes that are as simple as possible, gentle, and deeply comforting.
This is the flavor we strive for.

We did not train at famous Kyoto establishments nor do we use high-end brand ingredients.
However, the diverse techniques and sensibilities cultivated through years of overseas experience are our greatest assets.
Using this experience, we offer at Kaburaya Matsui a simple and gentle kaiseki cuisine that highlights the natural taste of the ingredients and can only be experienced here.

Over the past year, our style has gradually taken shape, and we take pride in cherishing seasonal dishes as a Japanese restaurant in the fiercely competitive culinary scene of Kyoto.
We will continue to hold this commitment close to our hearts and strive to provide approachable Japanese cuisine for all to enjoy.

We sincerely ask for your continued support of Kaburaya Matsui.

June 18, 2025
Kaburaya Matsui
Riichiro & Mika Matsui