We were invited to an exclusive dinner party for Kyoto VIPs held at the dining room Ogawa, located in a secluded corner of Kawaramachi. When you enter the small alley in Kawaramachi, you are met with a maze of sushi bars, izakaya, Japanese restaurants, and bars. Finding the Dining Room Ogawa was a bit of as we found ourselves going in circles.

Famous among locals in Kyoto, this restaurant is one of the hardest in all of Japan to get a reservation for. Despite this the storefront is so plain and simple, and with two bicycles parked in the small entrance, that you might just walk straight past it.

As you enter, and to much surprise, instead of being greeted by a grand brightly colored interior, you only see a large v-shaped wooden counter and some stools, with a humble Japanese chef waiting to greet the evening’s lucky customers.

Carefully crafted from only the best ingredients and cooking techniques passed down from artisan ancestors, the food was packed with unique flavors and stood far above any high class kaiseki restaurant that I have experienced. An absolutely unforgettable experience.

Right from the start, everyone was surprised the grilled rice cakes with the exquisite karasumi(dried mullet roe) sandwiched between them being handed to us. The bonito was served without soy sauce, with mustard and marinated vegetables, but I could really taste the umami of the bonito. There seems to be some kind of trick to make the taste of the ingredients more pronounced, but this is due to the way the ingredients are cut, grilled, boiled, and fried.

Even the bamboo shoot rice was elevated with an unexpected touch—a delicate sprinkle of Japanese sansho pepper atop the finely shredded bamboo shoots. This subtle addition released a fragrant aroma that rose gently with each breath, enhancing the natural flavor of the bamboo in a way that felt almost magical. Even the alcoholic beverages carried a distinctive twist, each with its own unique infusion of flavor, offering a refreshing departure from the ordinary. It’s true that the food that draws in customers, and always fully booked. It’s an amazing restaurant that apparently serves about 15-16 people a day, with four rotations.

Ms. Sumii of Komaruya holds considerable influence throughout Kyoto, and it is thanks to her gracious efforts that we were able to secure a reservation at Dining Room Ogawa. Each person gathered here today is truly unique, and we are deeply honored to be part of this remarkable occasion for the very first time.

After the dinner party broke up, we went to our favorite izakaya, Daruma, near the atelier. Our close drinking buddies Natsuki-chan and Satoru-san had invited us.

Everyone was pretty drunk, and everyone laughed out loud at the impersonation of Satoru, a vocalist of funk rock, and it was a fun night.

The drunken commotion continued until 1am.