Dinner on wooden platforms over the Kibune river in summer; a unique experience, usual price 8.000-12.000 ¥.
The kawadoko dinner in Kibune is one of the most unusual gastronomic experiences in Japan. In this small mountain village 30 minutes from Kyoto, around 20 restaurants set up, from May to September, wooden platforms directly over the icy waters of the Kibune river. Dining on those platforms, with the sound of the river beneath your feet and the coolness of the water in the height of summer, is one of the most pleasant antidotes to Kyoto's stifling heat. The menus are usually multi-course kaiseki —river fish, tofu, seasonal vegetables— and prices range between 8.000 and 12.000 ¥ per person. Booking is essential, especially at weekends and during Obon (August). To get there, take the Eizan train from Demachiyanagi station (30 minutes, 420 ¥) to Kibuneguchi and then the bus or taxi to the village. This experience is usually combined with hiking from Mount Kurama, descending through the valley to Kibune.
