Higaki, a restaurant located inside Kyoto Gyoen on the north side of the Nakadachiuri Gomon gate, will begin serving a new breakfast menu from July 1, 2026. To accommodate the early-morning service, the restaurant will open two hours earlier than before, welcoming guests from 8:00 AM.
About the New Breakfast Service
Higaki opened in May 2026 under the concept of "a showcase of Japanese culture, opening onto the Imperial garden." Its menu, which lets visitors casually enjoy traditional Japanese culinary techniques and Kyoto's food culture, has been well received since opening.
From 8:00 AM, the new breakfast menu makes the most of the fresh morning air of Kyoto Gyoen and the terrace seating overlooking the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Many travelers and local residents in Kyoto begin their day early, while demand remains high for places to enjoy a relaxed, high-quality breakfast in the city. Expanding the early-morning hours also helps spread visitor activity throughout the day, easing daytime congestion.
In addition, the tea and coffee menu offered in collaboration with Hokodo — a long-established Kyoto/Uji tea purveyor that also runs Japan's oldest coffee shop — will now begin at 8:00 AM as well.
Breakfast Menu (from July 1)
The breakfast-only menu, served from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, features dishes that draw on Kyoto's food culture and Japanese culinary traditions.
Kyoto Thick-Cut Toast with Egg Dish, Salad Set
Yae no Irodori Musubi Set
Menu and prices (selection)
| Breakfast Menu | Description | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto Thick-Cut Toast | A Kyoto-style breakfast for those who enjoy bread. Carefully selected thick-cut bread is baked crisp on the outside and surprisingly chewy inside, served with lightly sweet red bean paste (anko) and melting butter, to enjoy with a drink of your choice. | ¥1,000 |
| Kyoto Thick-Cut Toast with Egg Dish, Salad Set | The crisp-outside, chewy-inside thick-cut toast with its red bean paste and butter pairing, served with an egg dish and salad for a satisfying start to the morning. | ¥1,500 |
| Yae no Irodori Musubi Set | A set of three small rice balls (musubi) paired with side dishes that suit Kyoto-style onigiri, offering a variety of flavors. Lightly prepared to accompany a morning stroll through Kyoto Gyoen. | ¥1,200 |
| Tea & Coffee Menu (Drinks) | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Hokodo Coffee 皇薫ブレンド | ¥700 |
| Hokodo Coffee Cafe au Lait | ¥800 |
| Cafe Jelly au Lait | ¥900 |
| Kyoto Craft Cola | ¥900 |
| Uji Matcha au Lait | ¥900 |
| Hokodo Wakocha (Japanese black tea) | ¥700 |
Summer-Only "Three Kinds of Shaved Ice"
Since June 15, the restaurant has offered a summer-limited "three kinds of shaved ice (kakigori)." Classic flavors of matcha, strawberry, and mango are combined with carefully selected Kyoto ingredients such as Uji matcha, Kyoto ginger, and Kyoto strawberries for a refined, grown-up take on shaved ice. Set amid the greenery of Kyoto Gyoen, it makes a cool spot to pause during a stroll or a destination for summer sightseeing in Kyoto. Shaved ice is served from 10:00 AM.
| Menu | Description | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|---|
| Kokeniwa (Moss Garden) – Premium Matcha and Shiratama | Rich Uji matcha takes the lead, joined by brown sugar syrup, classic azuki beans, and walnuts for a slightly bitter, mellow depth. The deep green is elegantly accented with shiratama (rice-flour dumplings). | ¥1,500 |
| Kogane (Gold) – Ripe Mango and Kyoto Ginger Yogurt | The dense sweetness of ripe mango takes the lead, layered with the sharpness of Kyoto ginger and the lightness of yogurt. Fruitiness, freshness, and a crunchy texture come together for a light finish. | ¥1,500 |
| Koikurenai (Deep Crimson) – Kyoto Strawberry and Condensed Milk Azuki | The juicy texture of strawberries takes the lead, finished elegantly with the classic pairing of condensed milk and azuki. Sweetness, acidity, and the soft richness of condensed milk blend for a vivid dish with a Japanese aftertaste. | ¥1,500 |
Kokeniwa (Moss Garden) – Premium Matcha and Shiratama
Kogane (Gold) – Ripe Mango and Kyoto Ginger Yogurt
Koikurenai (Deep Crimson) – Kyoto Strawberry and Condensed Milk Azuki
Restaurant Information
Under the concept of "a showcase of Japanese culture, opening onto the Imperial garden," Higaki offers food and culture that respect the dignity of the former imperial estate grounds. Since May 1, 2026, it has served Japanese lunches incorporating Kyoto's cuisine, and from July 1 it adds the new breakfast menu. To meet the needs of a diverse range of visitors, the restaurant also plans to introduce vegan and halal menu options and to strengthen its multilingual information services.
- Name: Kyoto Gyoen Nakadachiuri Gomon Higaki
- Location: 3 Kyoto Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto (north side of Nakadachiuri Gomon)
- Opened: May 1, 2026
- Hours: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (8:00 AM to 10:00 AM is breakfast service, with a different menu)
- Seats: 106 table seats, 36 terrace seats
About Kyoto Gyoen
Kyoto Gyoen is a roughly 100-hectare national garden spread around the Kyoto Imperial Palace, where emperors lived and conducted affairs of state for more than a thousand years. Created after the Meiji Restoration on the former site of court nobles' residences, the area today encompasses the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Omiya Palace, Sento Palace, and the Kyoto State Guest House, and is enjoyed by visitors from Japan and abroad as well as by local residents. The grounds are dotted with rest areas, a children's park, and sports facilities, making it a relaxing place to enjoy nature through the seasons.
