Kaiten zushi, Kyoto

This place just rocks! If you're looking for fresh, quickly served sushi & cold Kirin beer this is the place to come. It's always crowded but there are two floors to accomdate patrons of this budget sushi restaurant. Here you won't have to worry about messing your Japanese language skills up while ordering sushi from a chef.....you just look at what looks good and pick a plate right off the conveyor belt. The plates are color coded which idicates the price of the sushi you choose (averages about 100 yen per plate). The beer is cold and the atmosphere is festive.

Favorite Dish: There is so much good stuff to choose from I'd hate to only list my favorites.

If you don't feel like spending big bucks in a more traditional style Sushi restaurant look for a restaurant which displays a mini conveyor belt with plastic sushi in the front window. These places are called Kaiten Zushi and are much cheaper than a formal sushi restaurant. After your seated just sit back and enjoy the view of the sushi chefs preparing plates to be placed on the automated conveyor belt which makes its round through the restaurant.

This is a very popular rotating sushi restaurant with both locals and tourists. All plates are 120Yen and I suggest ordering freshly whenever possible, as it always tastes better than what's on the conveyor belt. When your are done eating, ask them to give you a "kaikei" (bill) and go and pay at the front. At Musashi, they round DOWN the price to the next whole number, eg. 859 yen will be 850yen etc. Nice!

Favorite Dish: 1) "yaki harasu": ginger and deliciously fatty salmon
2) "onion salmon": salmon with raw onion and mayonnaise
3) "maguro no yuke": pieces of raw tuna marinated in soy sauce and sesame seeds, topped with chopped green onions AND a raw quail egg, all wrapped in toasted seaweed!!)

(not pictured: "negi toro": similar to "maguro no yuke" except the tuna is pureed and there is no raw egg)

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Nishiki market is a great place to grab your lunch and snacks.

You can choose from:

- Yakitori - barbeque chicken skewers
Sushi and Sashimi
Ramen - chinese noodles soup
Donburi - mainly rice topped with cooked meat or fish
Tonkatsu - Fried chicken
Yaki Soba - Stir fry noodles

and many more.

Favorite Dish: Check out delicious Bento!!! Looks Delicious and taste even greater.

You can get any selection of Bento price are between JPY400-800.

My Grilled Unagi with Glutinous Rice and Red Bean Bento box I bought is price JPY550

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This is one of my absolute favourite places to eat in Kyoto. First of all it's relaxed because you don't have to worry about not knowing japanese or not being able to read menus. Here the sushi comes on a conveyor belt and you just choose what you wanna have, grab it and eat. It's simple as that. Plus for someone never tried sushi before one plate might be enough and then the experience only cost about 100yen. For those who likes sushi it's a great way to try different kinds!

So how exactly does it work?
1. Enter and have a seat at any free barstool.
2. Make yourself some green tea. Pour soy in a wee dish and help yourself to some pickled ginger. If you want extra wasabi you will have to ask for it. Just say: 'Wasabi o kudasai' to the chef. The waitress will get you beer or water if you'd like some. (Beer:Biru o kudasai. Water:Mizu o kudasai).
3. Anything you want on the belt just grab it and eat. Dishes got different prices. It says how much on the wall where they have hung up plates and put prices next to them.
4. When finished just get up and the waitress will count your plates. Pay by the exit and that's that!

ENJOY!! :)

Favorite Dish: Tuna.
Eel.
Salmon.
Sweet egg.
YUM!

Musashi was my first real Sushi experience ever! It was like in the movies. You have a table for 6 people and the belt with all kind of Sushi right next to you. You can pick whatever you want. Each plate is 100 Yen.

Favorite Dish: Sushi,.... what else?

Kaitensushi for those that don`t know is sushi that is on small plates & they are placed on a conveyor like belt in front of you. The sushi goes around and around & you choose what you want to eat & you can order sushi as well if you don`t see it going around.
Everything at this kaitensushi restaurant is 100 yen/per plate. The sushi at this place stays fresh as the seat turnover rate is high.
You can`t see the sushi chefs from your seat but you can speak to them through an intercom if you want to order something that you don`t see on the belt.

Favorite Dish: I love the unagi (eel) and sake (salmon). The unagi at this kaitensushi place is not dry like some places.

Kaiten zushi are all over Japan. At these places conveyor belts travel around the restaurant with plates of sushi and sashimi on them. The diner sits on a stool facing the conveyor belt and simply picks up the plates that look most appealing. You can get a beer to drink with your sushi or enjoy green tea. You are charged JPY110 per plate, though for some dishes, it can be a little more.

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There is a Kurazushi conveniently located between Ryoanji and Kinkakuji Temple. It features a variety of sushi, drinks, and desserts all rolling by on the conveyer belt for you to grab. If you want something specific, you can order if directly from the screen at your table.

When you finish a plate, put it down the chute below the screen. For every 5 plates you get to play a game on the screen, usually involving choosing one of 3 things and seeing if your choice wins. If you win, a small prize from the machine above will descend for you to keep! It's filling and entertaining!

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At one of the evening on Kyoto we decided to try the local sushi restaurant at the railway station. It was looking as typical place with the dishes pass by you where you can chose the ones you like. However, they also offer you a menu where you can order additional and different items that are not on the line. (see images) The food was good and the service was very friendly.

Favorite Dish: Sushi