The century-old machiya façade — the KO lantern and a white noren curtain

Ayabe · Kyoto · Japan

Come home to Japan.

日本に、ただいま。

Concept

A hundred-year-old house.
Time made by hand.

KO is an experience café set in a 100-year-old machiya townhouse in Ayabe, Kyoto.
This is not sightseeing — it is everyday Japan, felt through your own hands: shaping sushi, whisking tea, taking your time.

In Japanese, tadaima is what you say when you come home.
Even on your very first visit, we hope this place lets you say it.

Beams and washi lamps over the open ceiling, the single-slab table by the garden
Fish seared over blazing rice straw
Everyday Japan,
felt through your own hands —
shaping sushi, whisking tea.

Experiences

Shape it. Whisk it. Taste it.

Every experience takes place inside our century-old machiya. Groups of 2 to 20.

A chef’s hands brushing soy glaze onto a piece of nigiri
A last stroke of glaze on the nigiri
A grilled course in jade sauce, finished with slivered leek
A grilled course in jade-green sauce

Sushi Experience

Your first nigiri.

The warmth of the rice, the pressure of a palm. One motion at a time, the craft from behind the counter becomes your own.

  • Sushi-Making Standard¥6,000/ person, tax incl.

    Learn to shape nigiri the way it's done behind the counter.

    90 min

  • Sushi-Making Premium¥12,000/ person, tax incl.

    The standard experience, elevated with finer seasonal ingredients.

    90 min

  • Vegetable Sushi Vegetarian / Vegan¥6,000/ person, tax incl.

    Sushi reimagined with vegetables — fully vegetarian and vegan-friendly.

    90 min

Reserve this experienceCommon questions
Hot water poured from a bamboo ladle, the chasen standing ready beside it
Pouring the water, the whisk waiting alongside
Drawing hot water from the iron kettle with a bamboo ladle
One ladle of hot water from the kettle

Table-style Tea Ceremony

Tea, at the table.

The sound of the whisk, the rising steam. Formality can wait — begin with the simple pleasure of a good bowl. Sixty minutes with the spirit of tea, from the comfort of a chair.

  • Table-Style Tea Ceremony¥3,800/ person, tax incl.

    The spirit of the tea ceremony, at a table — no kneeling required.

    60 min

Reserve this experienceCommon questions

The KO Sets

Sushi first, then tea.

The KO Set

Sushi Standard + Tea Ceremony

One afternoon, two traditions. Our recommended combination.

160 min

¥9,000/ person, tax incl.

Reserve this set

The KO Premium Set

Sushi Premium + Tea Ceremony

Premium sushi and tea ceremony, unhurried.

160 min

¥14,500/ person, tax incl.

Reserve this set
Reserve this set

Groups of 2–20 · Book by 6:00 PM the day before (3 days before for groups of 10+)

The Machiya

A hundred years, still lit.

Quiet is part of the meal.
Garden light, ceramics, the sound of tatami.

The machiya at dusk — washi lamps lit above the single-slab table
Lamps lit, the room at dusk.
Washi lamps lit at dusk, the single-slab table beneath the dark beams
A single slab of wood, under an evening light.
Dark beams crossing the open ceiling, washi lamps suspended between
Beams that have crossed the room for a hundred years.
The tea shelf — iron kettle, bamboo whisk and ceramics in warm light
The kettle laid out, and the shelf of tea bowls.

Matcha Store

Take the tea home with you.

The matcha we whisk at KO comes from Uji, Kyoto.Two of our blends — Subaru and Akatsuki — are available in our online store.

A tin of KO Uji matcha, Akatsuki, resting on moss
Uji matcha, Akatsuki, on the moss

  • Subaru昴

    Uji matcha · 30g

    ¥2,900

  • Akatsuki暁

    Uji matcha · 30g

    ¥4,500

Visit the online store

Instagram

KO, day by day

Today’s machiya, today’s table. Follow along on Instagram.

  • Eel grilling slowly over charcoal
  • Straw-seared bonito on a wooden board, with chopped scallion
  • The KO lantern, lit under the eaves at night
  • The single-slab table, and the counter seats by the windows
  • KO’s grilled eel over rice
  • Tins of KO Uji matcha, Subaru, lined up on bare wood

Reserve

Tell us when
you’re coming.

Send us your preferred experience, date, and group size using the form below. We’ll reply by email within two business days to confirm availability. Payment is settled at the café on the day of your visit.

Please book by 6:00 PM the day before your visit — or 3 days ahead for groups of 10 or more.

How it works

  1. Send your preferred experience, date and group size from the form.
  2. We reply by email within two business days to confirm availability.
  3. You settle payment at the café on the day of your visit.

Cancellation is free until 6:00 PM the day before your visit. After that, 100% of the experience fee applies.

guests (2–20)

If your email app does not open, use “Copy the details” instead.

In a hurry, or booking for today?

Access

Getting Here

虎 KO caféHirokoji 1-2, Ayabe,Kyoto 623-0063, Japan

By train

A 10-minute walk from JR Ayabe Station, which is served by the JR Sanin Main Line and the Maizuru Line.

Free pick-up

Or let us pick you up, free of charge. Just mention it when you book.

Open
10:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Closed
Thursdays
Open in Google Maps
The red-walled corridor leading to the tatami room
The red-walled corridor to the tatami room
The seats along the garden windows, a bonsai on the table
The seats along the garden windows, a bonsai on the table

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I book?

By 6:00 PM the day before your visit. Groups of 10 or more: 3 days in advance.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free until 6:00 PM the day before. After that, 100% of the fee applies.

What group sizes do you accept?

Each experience welcomes 2 to 20 guests.

Do you have vegetarian or vegan options?

Yes. Our Vegetable Sushi experience (90 min, ¥6,000) is fully vegetarian and vegan-friendly.

How do I get there?

A 10-minute walk from JR Ayabe Station, or free pick-up on request.

When are you open?

10:30 AM to 10:00 PM, closed Thursdays.

The machiya at dusk — under the tiled eaves, the lantern and the eave lamp lit, the white noren glowing

Reservations

We reply by email within two business days.

Reserve your visit