Edited: November 5, 2024

Kaiseki Ryori: The Art of the Japanese Dinning

Kaiseki Ryori is a traditional Japanese multi-course meal served at ryokans and high-end Japanese restaurants. Learn more about the background, the various dishes served, and etiquette tips for your next special dinner outing.

Kaiseki Ryori is a luxurious meal reserved for special occasions. You may have heard or seen images of the elaborate ordeal. The masterful presentation of plated dishes, the nod to seasonal ingredients, the exquisite spread of tableware. The tranquil setting and the most attentive hospitality.

Described as Japanese haute cuisine, Kaiseki Ryori exemplifies the finest of Japanese values – harmony, balance, and appreciation for craftsmanship.

Background on Kaiseki Ryori

In Japanese, “Kaiseki” can be written in two ways: 懐石 and 会席. “Ryori” 料理 means cooking, cookery, or cuisine. While confusingly noted in two different ways yet pronounced the same, it has two distinct meanings.

Kaiseki, written as 懐石, or Cha-kaiseki (茶懐石) Kaiseki cuisine is actually born from the tea ceremony and refers to a meal that is served before the main tea in the tea ceremony.

It expresses the spirit and loneliness of the tea ceremony as a dish, and has three major principles: “use seasonal ingredients”, “make the most of the ingredients” and “treat hospitality with concern”. It is based on Ichiju Sanna and is closely related to the current Japanese manners. Rice and soup are served at the beginning of the meal.

The latter Kaiseki, written as 会席, refers to food served at a banquet. Like the first kaiseki cuisine, it is based on three soups, but unlike kaiseki cuisine, rice and soup are served at the end of the meal. In addition, Kaiseki cuisine (懐石) is a meal for enjoying tea, while Kaiseki cuisine (会席) is a meal for drinking sake.

Dining etiquette for Kaiseki

What should you wear? What should you avoid?

Treat a meal at a Kaiseki restaurant like dining at a 3 star Michelin restaurant. Wear clothing that’s comfortable but respectable to the place. You may be required to remove your shoes upon entry so wear shoes that are easily slipped on/off. Walking barefoot on tatami mats is a big NO, as your feet may rub the dirt and sweat into the tatami mats (and tatami mats are notoriously hard to clean!) Come wearing socks, stockings, or tights. If wearing slippers, take them off at the entrance of the room. At ryokans, you may also wear the provided yukatas to dinner.

Can I take photos?

Ask the hostess or server if it’s okay to take photos. Most places would say yes but no flash or photos of your fellow diners (to protect their privacy). Some chefs may be happy to snap a photo with you at the end of the meal, some may not.

I don’t drink alcohol, but should I drink?

There’s no need to drink sake or alcohol with your meal, so don’t feel pressured because of the occasion! The restaurant may have non-alcoholic alternatives, but sticking to water or tea is also fine.

Where to Dine for a Kaiseki Restaurant

In Japan, you’ll find many options in the big cities and the smaller towns as well. They range from world-renowned restaurants to local gems. Many of them are family-run and deeply steeped in local history.

Regardless of where you dine, you should always make a reservation, sometimes weeks or months in advance for the more popular restaurants. Keep in mind that whether or not you drink alcohol, it will be a costly meal. If you’re curious but don’t want to shell out the big bucks, you can always try the shorter and wallet-friendly lunch course.

Many Japanese inns (ryokan) offer a Kaiseki course for dinner. The cost is included in the room or added on as a surcharge. 

Ichiju-sansai

Washoku, or Japanese cuisine, has been recognized by UNESCO as an item of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The foundation of Japanese cuisine since ancient times has been meals made up of one type of soup and three other dishes (one main dish and two sides). In fact, ichi means one and ju means soup, while san is three and sai refers to dishes—so ichiju-sansai literally means, "One soup, three dishes." One reason why ichiju-sansai is so beloved by Japanese people is how healthy it is. This set menu allows people to eat rice for energy-giving carbohydrates and soup for hydration, while the nutrition of the accompanying dishes balances everything out.

How do you make Ichiju-sansai?

The key point is to ensure that there are no clashes between the ingredients and the cooking methods used. Main dishes usually consist of protein-rich foods such as fish, egg or tofu, whereas side dishes can be potatoes, vegetables, beans, mushrooms, seaweed, etc., all of which provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

With the soup (often miso soup), it's possible to incorporate every kind of nutrient in one go, and heating up the vegetables makes it easier to eat them in large amounts. This helps us take on all the fiber we need.

With ichiju sansai, all you have to do to maintain good nutrition is to combine the in-season fish, meat, and vegetables you want to eat, and cook them while being conscious of overall quantity and the number of dishes to be prepared.

Check out our tours with Kaiseki dinner experience! 

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