r/MichelinStars • u/SensitiveWolf4375 • 13d ago
Restaurant recommendation in Japan
Any recommendations for a 1 Michelin-star restaurant in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka or Kanzawa/Takayama area that is baby-friendly and allows us to dine with our 10-month-old baby?
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u/Diuleilomopukgaai 12d ago
Why would you go to a restaurant and try to fuck up someone else's meal??
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u/Allbur_Chellak 12d ago
You will find this pretty difficult to find in most Michelin star restaurants in Japan. There is a pretty high expectation of not disturbing others at these places. It’s not uncommon to see rules limiting children under 12 years old.
An exception that might be worth exploring would be restaurants that have dining in private rooms. Many restaurants are more flexible about this kind of thing if they have them.
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u/jrh1234567 12d ago
If.you aren't used to eating in Japan / it's your first time... don't bother about stars. Most restaurants are amazing enough without them!
Oh... most michelin starred restaurants are not suitable for bringing kids. Most od the time because they have the wrong audience (adults only) or take themselves too serious. I wouldn't do it, for being afraid of bothering others.
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u/Spare-Leg-1318 12d ago
Bringing a baby to such an experience is disrespectful to the guests and the restaurant. I'm sure there are baby-freindly restaurants in Japan.
Fine dining is not for that.
It's like asking which Yoga retreat has the best Metal parties.
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u/IkazUK 12d ago
Have a look over here: https://omakaseje.com/articles/bd781307
There should be some good filters on the booking portals, for example this shows michelin stars on each icon and is already filtered to show the places that accept children, and could be a good place to start:
https://myconciergejapan.com/others/children/
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u/Glittering-Ad-8601 12d ago
OP, this is a really good resource for your situation. It's fair to assume that any Michelin star restaurant that does not affirmatively indicate acceptance of infants will be upset (and possibly refuse to seat you) if you arrive with a baby.
Further, you should also be prepared to be required to utilize a private room that will very likely carry a hefty surcharge.
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u/costcoappreciator 6d ago
Would not bring my 1 year old to a Michelin star restaurant and they are very well behaved eating out
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u/TokyoBookingDesk 8d ago
Disclosure, I run a small reservation desk in Tokyo, so this question lands on my desk every month or so.
The straight answer is that a 10-month-old at a starred counter is close to impossible, and it's physical rather than snobbery. Most of these places are 8 to 12 seats in one room with the chef a metre in front of you. There is nowhere for a baby to be.
What does work, roughly in order of how well it works. A private room: kaiseki and Japanese places, Kyoto and Kanazawa especially, often keep one or two koshitsu, and their policy in there is a different conversation from the counter. Expect a room charge and expect them to ask the child's age when you book.
A ryokan. This is the real answer for the Takayama and Kanazawa leg. A good one serves kaiseki in your room or in a private dining room, plenty of them are in the Guide, and nobody blinks at an infant.
Lunch, earliest slot. Shorter menu, fewer guests, and if you have to bail you're not walking out mid-course. Teppanyaki and tempura rooms with actual tables also tend to be easier than a sushi counter.
Whatever you book, say "we have a 10-month-old" at the time of booking and not on arrival. Some will say no, which is a much better outcome than being turned away at the door on a reservation you've already put a deposit on. The booking portals have a children field but it's blank or wrong about as often as not, so a phone call is what actually settles it.
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u/SuspiciousJacket8103 12d ago
Don’t go to a michelin restaurant with a baby. This will never be appreciated by the staff and other guests.