Restaurant · Kaiseki · ¥¥¥¥
How to bookMizai
未在
Three-star tea-kaiseki above Maruyama Park — 15 seats, one seating at 18:00, cash only, phone only in Japanese.
- Phone
- +81-75-551-3310 · Japanese only
This place only accepts phone bookings in Japanese. If you don’t speak keigo, Moshi Moshi can call for you.
What you're trying to book
Mizai sits above Maruyama Park in a traditional building that feels closer to a tea house than a restaurant. Fifteen counter seats, one seating per evening, all guests arriving at 18:00 for a three-hour meal.
Chef Hitoshi Ishihara cooks a chakaiseki (tea-kaiseki) menu inspired by the wabi-sabi spirit of the tea ceremony. It is deeply traditional — cash only, photography discouraged, silence between courses welcomed. Three Michelin stars since 2011, and repeatedly named one of the hardest reservations in Japan. Expect ¥40,000 per person or more. Many travelers come to Kyoto specifically for this one meal.
How reservations actually work
Mizai is phone-only at +81-75-551-3310, in Japanese. There is no website, no online form, no email. The restaurant is closed Sundays and holidays, and reservations open approximately two months before the desired date.
Because the counter is small and demand is international, seats are typically gone within hours of the booking window opening. Even Japanese speakers with concierge help sometimes fail to get through. The most reliable paths are a Kyoto luxury hotel concierge who has a standing relationship with the restaurant, or a Japanese friend who can call the moment bookings open.
If you want Moshi Moshi to book it for you
Mizai is one of the reservations we put the most effort into. We call at the moment the booking window opens for your date, in polite Japanese, with your preferences ready. If we get through, we send you the English confirmation and payment instructions immediately.
We're honest about the odds: Mizai is genuinely difficult. If we can't get the booking, there's no charge, and we'll suggest two or three three-star kaiseki counters of comparable quality with better availability.
Early access
We’ll place the call for you.
Leave your email and the booking you want. We call Mizai in polite Japanese — you get the confirmation in English. No charge unless the reservation is made.
- Address
- Maruyama Park, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
- Phone
- +81-75-551-3310
- City
- Kyoto · Gion
- Price
- ¥¥¥¥
- Does Mizai accept reservations in English?
- No — Mizai takes reservations only by phone, in Japanese. Travelers without Japanese typically book via a Tokyo or Kyoto hotel concierge, or use an AI-assisted reservation service such as Moshi Moshi to call on their behalf in polite keigo and confirm in English.
- How do I book Mizai from outside Japan?
- Mizai doesn't list any English booking channels. Reservations are taken by phone (+81-75-551-3310) in Japanese. From outside Japan, travelers either ask their Japan-based hotel concierge to call on their behalf, or use an AI-assisted reservation service such as Moshi Moshi.
- Where is Mizai located?
- Mizai is at Maruyama Park, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, in the Gion area of Kyoto, Japan.
- How far in advance should I book Mizai?
- 1–3 months in advance is the standard window for top sushi and kaiseki counters. Smaller counters (under ten seats) and chef's-counter spots fill faster — try as soon as your travel dates are fixed. Some platforms (Pocket Concierge, TABLEALL) open allocations 60 days out.
- Will I receive the booking confirmation in English?
- Mizai typically confirms reservations in Japanese, by phone. If you book through Moshi Moshi, the call is placed in polite Japanese on your behalf and you receive a written confirmation in English with the date, time, party size, address, and any specific instructions from the venue (deposit, cancellation policy, dress code, dietary notes).
Last verified 2026-04-24 · booking methods reviewed monthly by the Moshi Moshi editors