Chakaiseki Akiyoshi

Chakaiseki Akiyoshi: Kyoto Kaiseki Cuisine in Paris

Chakaiseki Akiyoshi is a restaurant specializing in traditional Kyoto-style Japanese cuisine, particularly chakaiseki, a culinary art inspired by Japanese aesthetics and by the idea that dishes should bring out the character of a cup of tea. The restaurant aims to help guests appreciate Japanese culture as well as the food, with authentic ingredients, distinctive flavors, and careful attention to the artistic appeal of the tableware and space.

Chef Yuichiro Akiyoshi

The kitchen is led by chef Yuichiro Akiyoshi, who trained for 10 years at Hyôtei, one of Japan’s leading three-Michelin-star restaurants, with a long history in Kyoto. He later became head chef at the OECD embassy in Paris, where he served Japanese cuisine for three years.

Seasonal Cooking Without Excess

The restaurant describes chakaiseki as a complete art that brings together beauty and Japanese craftsmanship. Its cooking seeks a balance between ostentation and excessive restraint while preserving a strong sense of seasonality. Japanese cuisine, as the restaurant explains it, pays attention to making a meal flavorful from beginning to end; heavy seasoning is avoided to preserve the ingredients’ natural taste.

The Space and Experience

The restaurant transports guests into a world distinct from Paris. Japanese sukiya carpenters, who specialize in tea houses, built the space and its architecture. Guests can sit at the counter or at a table: at the counter, they can watch the chef work in the open kitchen; the tables offer a place to enjoy the meal as if in Japan and spend relaxed time with family or friends.

The Tradition of Kaiseki

Kaiseki cooking was formalized during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573–1603) by Japanese tea master Sen-no-Rikyu. It makes the most of seasonal ingredients, and its essence lies in the hosts’ sincere hospitality.

Recognition and Recent Activity

The restaurant has said that Chakaiseki Akiyoshi was selected among La Liste’s 1,000 best restaurants in the world. Its website also listed the opening of reservations for the Christmas Oséchi Akiyoshi, limited to 50 sets; the restaurant’s reopening for lunch on Wednesday, September 25; a September vacation closure; and the option to order sabazushi (mackerel sushi) to go or purchase gift certificates. It also announced an event in Reims on Monday, July 20, an exhibition and sale, and a closure from July 25 through August 5, 2026.

Location and Contact

59 Rue Letellier, 75015 Paris, France · Email: wabijaponparis@gmail.com · Hours: Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesday at lunch.