Visited: April 15, 2026 (Wednesday) – Rainy
Looking for Dinner
I had planned to return by JR.
I thought I would simply have dinner somewhere along the way.
But when I reached Saga-Arashiyama Station, there were fewer restaurants than I expected.
The choices were either expensive places or chain restaurants you could find anywhere.
Today, I wanted something different.
So I walked back toward Togetsukyo Bridge.
By then, many restaurants had already closed for the evening.
Another disappointment.
I had become what travelers in Japan call a “dinner refugee”—wandering around with nowhere to eat.
A Stopover in Katsura
I considered heading to Shijo-Kawaramachi.
But that would have been the usual Kyoto.
Instead, I got off at Katsura Station, a transfer point along the way.
A short walk into a back street revealed several small izakayas.
One of them caught my attention.
A Kyushu-style restaurant.
Mackerel and gyoza.
An unexpected combination.
That was enough to make my decision.
In a quiet alley near Katsura Station,
I found a local Kyushu-style izakaya filled with neighborhood regulars.
Sometimes a detour is far more interesting than the original plan.
The Local Atmosphere
Most of the customers were young office workers.
The atmosphere felt completely different from Kyoto’s tourist districts.
It was the kind of place I probably wouldn’t have found in Shijo-Kawaramachi.
Ordering was done by QR code.
I chose warm sake.
It had been a long time since my last cup.
Slowly, the warmth spread through my body.
The appetizer was mozuku seaweed with spicy cod roe.
The colorful vegetable platter came with homemade moromi miso.
The chicken sukiyaki was cooked at the table.
“Haha… I left it on the heat a little too long.”
Even little mistakes become part of a solo journey.
The Signature Dish
I hesitated.
Should I order the gyoza as well?
Then I thought,
“I should eat what I feel like eating now.”
So I added another order.
The gyoza arrived.
Much bigger than I expected.
“Looks like I’m ending the day as a food fighter…”
I couldn’t help laughing.
I kept checking the time.
Yet the gyoza stayed piping hot, refusing to cool down.
Even that became part of the fun.
Warm sake. Colorful vegetables. Chicken sukiyaki.
And finally, a generous plate of gyoza.
I walked a lot, ate a lot, and laughed a lot—that was my Kyoto evening.
Ordinary Is Good
The flavors were a little stronger than I usually prefer.
The restroom showed its age.
It wasn’t a stylish restaurant.
But somehow, that made it even better.
Along the way, I had passed restaurants advertising
premium wagyu,
eel,
and elegant kaiseki dinners.
They simply weren’t what I was looking for.
What I wanted was a neighborhood izakaya where local people stop by after work.
Working.
Drinking.
Laughing.
For a while, I found comfort in that ordinary atmosphere.
Enjoy the Present
Today, I walked a lot.
I ate a lot.
I got lost a lot.
26,567 steps.
Working hard.
Enjoying a hearty meal.
Sipping warm sake.
Twenty years from now, I may not walk this much or eat this much.
That’s exactly why
I want to enjoy the present.
I’m glad I didn’t settle for the first restaurant I saw in Arashiyama.
If I hadn’t made that stop in Katsura,
I never would have found this evening.
🍵 YUMEVOJA Food Radar
Necchuya (Kyushu Dining)
Menu
- Appetizer: Mozuku Seaweed & Spicy Cod Roe
- Warm Sake: Tanba Densho
- Colorful Vegetable Platter with Homemade Moromi Miso
- Sakurajima Chicken Sukiyaki
- Gyoza
Sweetness: ★☆☆☆☆
Saltiness: ★★★★☆
Dashi Flavor: ★★☆☆☆
Oiliness: ★★★★☆
Spiciness: ☆☆☆☆☆
Aroma: ★☆☆☆☆
Portion Size: Generous
Ease of Use：★★★★☆
YUMEVOJA Rating
★★★★☆ Satisfied
Personal evaluation including the food, atmosphere, and people.
📍 For business hours and crowd conditions,
please check the latest information on Google Maps.
Details may change.
📍Google Maps Here👇
Necchuya (Kyushu Dining)
🚉 Related Article | Stopover Journey
Just a short detour from Togetsukyo Bridge, I discovered a quieter side of Kyoto, filled with the sounds of rain and temple bells.
👉☔🚉 Stopover Journey | Rainy Arashiyama: A Quiet Side of Kyoto Beyond the Famous Paths
🍵 Related Article | Beauty & Taste
The journey began with a quiet lunch and a gentle bowl of comfort.
👉🍵Beauty & Taste | Herring Set Meal | A Quiet Lunch in Rainy Arashiyama
👉 On a rainy day, taking a break is part of the journey.
🍵Beauty & Taste | Tiramisu | The Dessert That Unexpectedly Stayed in My Memory
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