01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
There is an easy comfort in settling in with a drink alongside savory tavern fare and fresh seafood. Located in Umezu-Maedacho in Kyoto's Ukyo Ward, the izakaya Himawari welcomes diners with a broad menu spanning raw delicacies—such as fresh sashimi platters and torisashi (chicken sashimi)—to hot, freshly cooked dishes. An assorted sashimi platter is a natural starting point, joined in popularity by the house dashimaki tamago, rolled with flavorful dashi broth.
Another highlight is the kitchen's eclectic variety of small plates that transcend standard tavern boundaries. Under the "Chokotto Chinese" (bite-sized Chinese) section, punchy dishes such as shrimp in chili sauce, sea bream in chili sauce, mapo tofu, and mapo eggplant are served in approachable tasting portions. Diners can also explore cheese bakes featuring pairings like eggplant and bacon, broccoli tartar, or pork kimchi, as well as comforting simmered classics including deeply braised sea bream head (tai no ara-ni), stewed beef tendon, and tender pork kakuni.
Ordering hard clams steamed in sake or sautéed in butter offers another classic izakaya way to unwind while savoring rich shellfish flavors. Himawari is closed on Thursdays and opens from 17:00 until 0:30 the following morning on other days. From a quick solo evening drink to dinner with a group, it provides a relaxed, comfortable setting for an unhurried night out.
