Kyoto Suburbs: Kibune Shrine and Kawadoko Dining (2 Sep 2017)

Kibune (貴船) is the northen-most suburb in Kyoto City.  We visited the Kifune Jinja shrine and wanted to experience eating the Kawadoko Nagashi-Soumen at Kibune Hirobun restaurant. 

From June to September, restaurants along the Kibune River build covered platforms over the river where visitors can enjoy a meal as the cool water flows beneath them. Dining on these platforms known as 'Kawadoko', is a unique experience and an excellent way to escape the summer heat. Most restaurants serve kaiseki lunch set for about 8,000 yen per person. Reservations are needed.

Nagashi Somen is a unique way of serving the Japanese thin white noodles that are swept down by cold water running down a slightly- sloping sliced bamboo tube.  Diners sit in a row and use chopsticks to pick up the somen from the gushing water, dip them into cold sauce before eating, just as would the way cold soba is eaten.  This costs 1,300 yen per person.  The most popular Nagashi Somen in Kibune can be found at Hirobun restaurant, with waiting time of 2-3 hours.  Each session takes about 15 minutes and can only accomodate 8-10 diners.  This is served only in summer.

Kibune Kawadoko:

Experience eating Nagashi Somen over Kawadoko

Kawadoko dining on platforms built over the river

  

Kifune Shrine:

Kasuga lanterns lined 2 sides of the stone steps leading to the shrine

How to get to Kibune from Kyoto Station:

Take JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Tofukuji Station (140 yen, 2 minutes), and transfer to the Keihan Main Line to Demachi-Yanagi Station (270 yen, 10 minutes).

From Demachi-Yanagi Station, take Eizan Kurama Line to Kibune-guchi Station (420 yen, 30 minutes. Trains depart every 15-20 minutes.

From Kibune-guchi Station, it is a further five minute bus ride (160 yen one way, departures timed to the trains) or a 20-30 minute walk up the road to Kifune Shrine.  We walked down to Kibune-guchi station as the queue for the bus was very long and had to wait under the sun.  The walk down the slope is easy but look out for cars and buses.

Try to go early as the slope up from Kibune-guchi station will be jam with cars and buses from around noon time.