Mi Zai

Kyoto's traditional chakaiseki cuisine is served with a modern sensibility. All dishes utilize seasonal ingredients and express the natural beauty of the moment. The meal is characterized by a long progression of approximately three hours, allowing guests to savor each dish at their leisure and feel the change of the seasons.

The restaurant offers a comfortable Japanese atmosphere in a space where Kyoto tradition and modern design are in harmony. The restaurant is located in a quiet area surrounded by nature, allowing diners to enjoy the beautiful scenery of each season. Surrounded by the lush greenery of Maruyama Park, the restaurant is an elegant space with soothing colors and lighting. The restaurant offers a view of the natural landscape, allowing diners to experience the changing seasons.

The restaurant opened in 2004 in Maruyama Park in Higashiyama, Kyoto. The founder of the restaurant has a background as an executive chef at renowned ryotei restaurants in Osaka and Kyoto, and has established a unique style of traditional chakaiseki cuisine with a modern twist. Known for its seasonal cuisine, the restaurant offers creative dishes that evoke the four seasons of Japan and the chef's philosophy of pursuing the art of food.

Ishihara began his culinary career in 1968 at the main Koraibashi Kitcho restaurant in Osaka, then worked as head chef at Kitcho in Kyoto before honing his skills as executive chef in 1992. 2004 saw the opening of Mizai in Maruyama Park in Higashiyama, Kyoto, where he reinterprets Japanese culinary tradition with a modern sensibility. Ishihara focuses on reflecting the changing seasons in his cuisine, and has his own philosophy on how to select ingredients and prepare them.