Taste Seasonal Kaiseki Cuisine at a Storied Asakusa Restaurant, with Optional Geisha Entertainment

Asakusa Saryo Ichimatsu Restaurant, a Longstanding Area Fixture Embodying the Japanese Spirit

Founded in 1952 in Asakusa, an area of Tokyo where traditional Japan continues to flourish, has garnered acclaim from both VIP visitors and tourists, domestic and international. It is known for its exceptional fugu blowfish dishes, rich seasonal kaiseki fare, and a surprisingly reasonable lunch menu.

This structure, built with traditional artisanal techniques top to bottom and inside out, was registered as a tangible cultural property in 2021. It is a must-see for its various room designs and the seasonal beauty of the garden. Enjoy the gorgeous serenity and rich cultural tradition of the space alongside the gustatory delights of a kaiseki course.

Just one example of the restaurant’s tatami rooms, where guests can enjoy a traditional atmosphere and seasonal decorations

Third Generation Proprietress Kiyoko Miyashiro Teaches the Basic Manners Valued in Japan

Asakusa Saryo Ichimatsu’s third-generation proprietress Kiyoko Miyashiro is also an associate master of the Ogasawara-ryu school of etiquette, and she will be your hostess during the experience. Miyashiro regularly holds etiquette classes for Japanese people to learn all about traditional manners and the uniquely Japanese values underlying them.

Kiyoko Miyashiro, third-generation proprietress, whose graceful bearing exudes an aura of elegance

Learn Graceful Chopstick Technique and Enjoy Exquisite Japanese Cuisine

Before your meal, enjoy a basic lesson in the fine-dining etiquette of such traditional spaces – avoiding stepping on the edges of the tatami panels, always setting chopsticks down horizontally, and so on – as well as the reasoning for each manner. Then comes the experience’s main event: a kaiseki course meal served in the tranquil setting of a traditional Japanese room.

Tatami room dining has its own characteristic manners and etiquette

Give it a try mirroring the masterful movements of the proprietress

Enjoy a Seasonal Kaiseki Meal with Your Newly-Acquired Manners in Mind

The best way to remember the basics of traditional etiquette you have learned is to apply them. Savor the superb Kaiseki cuisine on which Saryo Ichimatsu has built its name.

A high grade kaiseki dinner: just one example of the kinds of spreads provided in this plan

Geisha Can Liven Up Your Meal with Dance and Music 

As an option (additional fees apply), you can invite a geisha or two to join your dining party and have a lecture on shamisen and Japanese dance from a geisha, and enjoy ozashiki games. Two specializations of geisha are available: dancers called tachikata and musicians called jikata, who perform song and play shamisen. This plan offers the opportunity to hire both from professional geisha in the area – for the full experience of dance accompanied by music, both are recommended.

Elegant geisha dance will enrich your dinner experience (additional fees apply)

Enjoy chatting with the geisha, playing ozashiki party games, or taking photos. The accompaniment of elegant traditional Japanese music and dance will turn your delicious meal into an unforgettable memory.

A Rare Chance to Understand the Traditional Value of Thoughtfulness in Japanese culture

Finish your meal with the restaurant’s famous “Ichimatsu Yuzu Juice.” For those interested, a mini tour of the Saryo Ichimatsu premises is also available, where you can learn all about the various design elements of traditional Japanese architecture and how and why they came about. Guests are sure to gain a deeper appreciation for the history and vigor of the craftsmanship living within the building.

Yuzu juice served in an elegant openwork cup

A Western-style drawing room in the restaurant where guests can see a different application of traditional building techniques

Learn about Japan’s long-cherished traditional etiquette and values, while delighting in delicious fine dining bursting with seasonal goodness accompanied by glamorous geisha entertainment. “Etiquette is not an obligation, so there’s no need to overthink it,” says Miyashiro. Still, the insights you glean from this experience can provide a gateway into deeper understanding of Japan’s culture.