Tomisen is the epitome of the neighborhood sushi bar: a place where salarymen can crash after work for drinks and food and where locals can have their sushi fix. It was run by an old couple that I am sure has been keeping the place running for a long time.
The visit
I came across the place by accident as it was close to my hotel and Kyoto Station.
The classic storefront opened in a small restaurant with a counter and a few tables. It was pretty crowded, but it was the end of the evening and people were starting to leave.
They had a place for me at the counter.
Luckily they had a bilingual menu.
I started to order sushi like there was no tomorrow: prawns, tuna, scallops, crab, kanpachi (amberjack).
More kanpachi.
Sea bream (tai), tuna, kanpachi again, egg omelet.
The check
I spent 3,670 yen for 20 nigiri sushi, around 200 yent per nigiri. You can get cheaper sushi in a converyor-belt sushi restaurant for sure, but the price was good enough, except the tuna that was really expensive as compared to the rest. It was good “normal” sushi in an authentic joint. Open only at night after 5pm.
Where in Kyoto:
576-4-2 Kizuyabashi Dori Aburakoji Higashiiru Minamimachi, Shimogyo.
In Japanese: 木津屋橋通油小路東入南町576−4−2.