Kid-Friendly Michelin Restaurants in Japan (Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo)
Last Updated on November 22, 2024 by Kay
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My husband and I are huge foodies; however, sometimes very high-end or fancy places in Japan don’t allow young children, which is a problem since we’re parents.
However, we’ve been surprised to find a number of Michelin restaurants in Japan that allow kids! (And some that don’t — those will not be shared in this article.)
This article shares Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants that we’ve visited, which offer excellent food for great value, so they’re usually more low-key and won’t break the bank. But I’ve also included Michelin-star restaurants in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo that allow children as well.
So for those of you looking for some delicious eats that are kid-friendly in Japan, you’ll want to read this. I haven’t tried all the restaurants in this article (it’s expansive) but I’m sharing for others who might have the opportunity, and so that I can also keep a list of the restaurants I want to try in the future.
Note that restaurants change their policies, so there’s a chance that a restaurant listed here may no longer accept children. There are also minimum ages for diners for some establishments, which I’ll share throughout this article. If it isn’t clearly specified on the restaurant’s reservation page whether they allow kids, please contact them to find out.
Also keep in mind that some of these restaurants, especially higher Michelin star ones, charge a cancellation fee.
Lastly, Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants are more casual, but if you’re dining at a Michelin star restaurant, please make sure your children are on their best behavior. This means sitting in one place, absolutely no running around, and no watching shows on tablets or smartphones. Keep in mind that course dinners can be around 2 hours long. If you don’t think your kids can adhere to this, I unfortunately don’t recommend dining at a Michelin restaurant.
Table of Contents
Michelin Restaurants in Osaka That Allow Kids
Teppanyaki Okonomiyaki Oribe
Michelin Bib Gourmand (2023, 2024)
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: No age restriction
We visited here for our 9th wedding anniversary when our daughter was a few months shy of four years old.
The owners are incredibly friendly and the food was nothing short of fantastic.
Their menu has lots of variety but we got the okonomiyaki, wagyu steak, cabbage steak with gorgonzola sauce (one of their signature dishes), and shrimp. Everything was so good and we can’t wait to go again.
I recommend making a reservation in advance since this place is very popular!
Location: Shinmachi (near Shinsaibashi)
Kitatake Udon
Michelin Bib Gourmand (2023)
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: No age restriction
I absolutely love Kitatake Udon — it’s honestly one of the best udon restaurants I’ve ever been to and 110% deserving of their Michelin Bib Gourmand designation.
Their thin noodles are handmade and unbelievably delicious. It’s easy for kids to eat, but keep in mind that these noodles are LONG (but they provide you with scissors to cut the noodles if you need them, which we certainly did).
This restaurant is best known for their ちく玉天ぷっかけ (chiku tamaten pukkake), which is hot udon topped with chikuwa (a type of fried fish cake) and egg tempura. My husband shared this with our daughter and they both loved it.
I got the すだち和牛つけ麺 (sudachi wagyu tsukemen), which consists of cold udon noodles that you dip into a hot wagyu broth. Since the noodles are topped with slices of sudachi, there’s a nice tang of citrus, which balances nicely with the savory broth.
Keep in mind that they don’t provide high chairs or kid-friendly utensils, but I did see a family with a baby who managed just fine—the little one sat on their dad’s lap. This restaurant also does not have menus for kids, but it’s completely fine to share your meal with your child (and I encourage it as the portions are quite generous).
To avoid long waits, I recommend arriving before the restaurant opens since they do not take reservations. I got there about five minutes early, and it made a big difference! We only had to wait for about 25 minutes and the food was brought out soon after we were seated.
Location: Namba
Pizzeria da Tigre
Michelin Bib Gourmand (2023)
Genre: Italian
Minimum Age: No age restriction
We visited this pizza restaurant when we were busy going to showrooms in Osaka to build our house.
Unsurprisingly, their pizza is simple yet delicious. We decided to splurge a bit and got the Pizza Attilio, which has a uniquely shaped crust that’s stuffed with ricotta cheese.
Personally, I think the pizza is on par with many other wood-fired pizza restaurants I’ve visited in Japan. But if you’re in the area, it’s usually not busy so it’s worth a visit.
Note that they have counter seating and no utensils or high chairs for kids.
Location: Shinmachi (near Shinsaibashi)
Ogimachi Udon-ya Asuroh
Michelin Bib Gourmand (2023, 2024)
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: No age restriction
Another udon restaurant, Ogimachi Udon-ya Asuroh offers large bowls of hot or cold udon. They’re most known for their chicken tempura (toriten・とり天), which you can get on top of your noodles, which is exactly what I got (とり天ぶっかけセット). If your kid is like mine, they will love the chicken tempura, which is like a chicken strip.
These portions are massive and the noodles filled me up quickly, which is why I was more than happy to share with my daughter. Personally, I found it a little heavy but it was absolutely perfect for my husband.
This restaurant does not take reservations but I found that the line moved quite quickly. We arrived a little before noon and were seated and received our food within twenty minutes.
Location: Tenjinbashi
Kushiage 010
Michelin Bib Gourmand (2023, 2024)
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: No age restriction
If you’re looking to experience kushikatsu, one of Osaka’s most famous foods, at its finest, this is a great restaurant to visit.
Note that this restaurant is more upscale than the other Bib Gourmand restaurants in this article and they only have course menus, so if your child is picky, this might not be the best place to bring them.
Nishishinsaibashi Yuno
Michelin One-Star Restaurant
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: elementary school age and up (age 7); no children’s menu available and must order the same course as adults.
This restaurant highlights Osaka food using seasonal vegetables and kombu.
Ajikitcho Horieten
Michelin One-Star Restaurant
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: No age restriction and they provide high chairs.
This is a great place to try multiple beautiful Japanese dishes that celebrate the season in a traditional Japanese room with tatami flooring.
Masuda
Michelin One-Star Restaurant
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: No age restriction but children need to order the same course as adults.
Uses seasonal ingredients to create traditional Japanese dishes.
Alarde
Michelin One-Star Restaurant
Genre: Spanish
Minimum Age: No age restriction but children can only sit at table seats (not the counter).
Features beef rib roast and other dishes cooked on kindling and charcoal.
Taian
Michelin Three-Star Restaurant
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: Ages 12 and up; no children’s menu available and must order the same course as adults.
Features grilled Japanese dishes, in particular spareribs. Omakase style but diners can choose what they want from a menu.
Ajikitcho Bumbuan
Michelin One-Star Restaurant
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: No age restriction.
Features traditional Japanese cuisine in which dishes are decorated with seasonal foliage.
Tonkatsu KATSU Hana
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: No age restriction but children must order a meal. No children’s meal is available.
agnel d’or
Minimum Age: No age restriction but children must order a course. No children’s course is available.
Utsubohonmachi Gaku
Minimum Age: No age restriction but children must order a course. No children’s course is available. If you have a child aged six or under, you need to contact the restaurant directly before making a reservation.
Ramen Kuon
Minimum Age: Ages 12 and up. No children’s meal is available.
Bistro des Chenapans
Minimum Age: Ages 6 and up. No children’s meal is available.
Restaurant La Cime
Minimum Age: Junior high school age and up. Children must order a course. No children’s course is available.
Nishino
Minimum Age: No age restriction but children must order a course. No children’s course is available. Courses last for 2.5 hours and children must stay seated (unless going to the washroom).
HAJIME
Minimum Age: Ages 10 and up and children must order a course. No children’s course is available.
il Centrino
Minimum Age: Elementary school age and up.
Fujiya 1935
Minimum Age: Age 13 and up.
Michelin Restaurants in Kyoto That Allow Kids
Tenjaku
Minimum Age: No age restriction.
NOODLE SHOP RENNOSUKE
Minimum Age: No age restriction.
Funaokayama Shimizu
Minimum Age: Age 13 and up. Must order same course meal as adults.
Yusokuryouri Mankamero
Minimum Age: Age 12 and up. Must order same course meal as adults.
La Biographie···
Minimum Age: Junior high school age and up. Must order same course meal as adults.
Tokuha Motonari
Minimum Age: Age 10 and up. Must order same course meal as adults.
Tozentei
Minimum Age: No age restriction but children must order the same course meal as adults.
Kitaoji Yuyu
Minimum Age: No age restriction but children must order the same course meal as adults.
Michelin Restaurants in Tokyo That Allow Kids
Yama
Michelin One-Star Restaurant
Genre: French
Minimum Age: High school (16 years old)
Offers creative seasonal food featuring fruits and nuts. Only courses are available and all diners need to order one.
Higashiyama Muku
Michelin One-Star Restaurant
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: Junior High School (13 years old)
This restaurant features seafood from Shimane Prefecture. Courses are determined by the chef (omakase) and all diners must order one.
Fry-ya
Michelin Bib Gourmand 2025
Genre: Japanese
Minimum Age: No age restriction. Children must be able to order the same meal as adults if dining during dinner.
This is a tonkatsu restaurant that allows customers to customize their own dishes using ingredients provided by the restaurant.
Pierre Gagnaire
Michelin Two-Star Restaurant
Genre: French, Contemporary
Minimum Age: 7 years old
This restaurant blends Japanese cuisine with French, offering dishes that celebrate Japan’s seasons. Located in ANA InterContinental Tokyo, the restaurant also has beautiful views of the city.
Tour d’Argent Tokyo
Michelin One-Star Restaurant
Genre: French
Minimum Age: 16 years old
This restaurant is the Tokyo branch of Tour d’Argent, which originated in Paris. They serve classic dishes with a modern twist and are most known for duck.
le bistrot des bleus
Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024)
Genre: French
Minimum Age: No age restriction
Features French cuisine such as choucroute and bouillabaisse.
Kanda
Genre: Japanese
Age restriction: Children (under age 18) can only dine in the private room, which requires a 30,000 yen fee to book.
Japanese Ramen Gokan
Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024)
Genre: Japanese
Age restriction: None but everyone must order a dish.
This ramen restaurant has a unique broth featuring pork, chicken, mussels, and clams, which is cooked over charcoal.
Myojaku
Michelin Two-Star Restaurant
Genre: Japanese
Age restriction: None but you must use a private room and everyone must order a course (no course for children).
Focuses on food that highlights land, mountains, oceans, and rivers.
Koushikiryori Kouki
Michelin One-Star Restaurant 2025
Genre: Chinese
Age restriction: None but everyone must order a course (no course for children).
If you want a taste of authentic Hong Kong food using Japanese ingredients, this is the place to go.
TROIS VISAGES
Michelin One-Star Restaurant
Genre: French
Age restriction: Junior high school and up (age 13); everyone must order a course (no course for children).
Highlights regional food in Japan.
Piaoxiang Hiroo
Michelin One-Star Restaurant 2025
Genre: Chinese
Age restriction: Ages 12 and up; everyone must order a course (no course for children).
This restaurant features Sichuan cuisine; however, it’s not spicy.
Sharikimon Onozawa
Genre: Japanese
Age restriction: None but everyone must order a course (no course for children).
Azabu Kadowaki
Genre: Japanese
Age restriction: Ages 13 and up; everyone must order a course (no course for children).
l’élan
Genre: French
Age restriction: Junior high school age and up; everyone must order a course (no course for children). Pre-schoolers (age 6 and under) are only allowed in the private room, which costs 11,000 yen plus a 10% service charge.
est
Genre: French
Age restriction: Ages 12 and up; everyone must order a course (no course for children).
Japanese ingredients sourced from across the country are used to create contemporary French cuisine. The restaurant also has beautiful city views.
Joël Robuchon
Genre: French
Contemporary French cuisine in a fashionable restaurant.
La Paix
Genre: French
Age restriction: Ages 12 and up; everyone must order a course (no course for children).
An environmentally friendly restaurant that focuses on sustainability when sourcing ingredients from throughout Japan.
PRISMA
Genre: Italian
Age restriction: High school age and up; everyone must order a course (no course for children).
Features pasta dishes made with homemade caviar.
Waketokuyama
Genre: Japanese
The menu, featuring seasonal ingredients, is changed about every ten days, meaning a unique dining experience each time you visit.
BEIGE ALAIN DUCASSE TOKYO
Genre: French
Age restriction: Ages 12 and up; everyone must order a course (no course for children).
If you’re looking for healthy yet delicious dining, this restaurant has scaled back on sugars and fats, instead highlighting vegetables. The interior is also fashionable, inspired by Chanel.
FARO
Genre: Italian
Age restriction: Ages 10 and up; everyone must order a course (no course for children).
Highlights vegan cuisine and Japanese ingredients.
Yakitori Omino
If you want to enjoy all parts of a chicken yakitori-style, this is the restaurant for you.
📍How to Get There
Jushu
Genre: Japanese