The Most Legendary 3-Michelin Star Restaurant in Japan

Hidden amidst the tranquil green setting of Kyoto, lies Kikunoi Honten, a world-renowned 3-Michelin Star kaiseki restaurant that has served guests traditional Japanese cuisine for over 100 years.

Housed in a mansion that resembles a samurai residence and teahouse, Kikunoi's dining atmosphere is like something I've never seen. From traditional tatami mat rooms with unique flower arrangements and hanging scrolls, to the views of beautiful gardens that surround the estate, I was in awe the second I stepped inside.

The food served at Kikunoi is on a level I couldn't imagine. Each course is prepared with ingredients that can only be harvested 10 days of out of the year, and the menu changes constantly to reflect the ebb and flow of nature and its seasons. 35 cooks fill the kitchen, each focused on a single task.

It was a sight to behold.

I am beyond honored to have been able to spend time in such close quarters with the team inside their establishment - every second was a dream to film.

Yoshihiro Murata is at the helm, leading his brigade of chefs and cooks to something exquisite and beautiful. I met and talked with many of the staff - they were all so kind, inviting, warm, and fiercely talented in the kitchen.

I also want to thank the talented composers and artists whose music I used in this video. Creating scenes with their soundtrack was pure magic.
@periwinklepopo
@Seycara
@BigRicePiano

After almost a year of editing, I'm proud to share this story with you all.

Thank you.

___________________________________

Kikunoi Honten
459 Shimokawarmachi, Higashiyama-Ku, Kyoto 605-0825 Kyoto Prefecture

___________________________________

Music Credits:

Periwinkle
Songs: Blush, Kyoungmi In Bloom, Watch Your Step

Seycara
Songs: Skipping Thru Puddles

BigRicePiano
Songs: Breathe

[alvinzhoufilms]

Fun fact: this video file was 130 GB and took 38 hours to upload

Fun fact #2: My translator and I were hungry during the shoot so we went to a nearby 7/11 and got some packaged fried chicken bites to snack on during some down time. Okami-san (the proprietress) saw us eating outside through the window and immediately insisted that we come up inside to sit down in one of their private, beautiful dining rooms to eat. We were trying to finish quickly (this was also finger food), so we said that wouldn't be necessary, as we wanted to just down something quick before getting back to shooting. Nevertheless, she basically ushered us into a wonderful room upstairs, where her staff had already laid out 2 cups of green tea, warm hand towels, placemats, chopsticks, and an entire table setting for two people - with our tiny plastic 7-11 fried chicken packets in the middle. It was one of the funniest, yet most impactful memories from our time at Kikunoi.

If that doesn't speak volumes about their hospitality, well...

[Aus__]

I had the privilege of doing a culinary internship here. All of these chefs are the real deal. They work so hard. Long hours and dedication. Glad they got some recognition. Shout out to Tsuji San, Yosuke San, Tomohiro chan, Sakura San, and Katsuya San for their kindness while I was there. Miss you guys. 頑張ってください

[littleknight]

i love how this is not only a restaurant but also a school. that is such as good way to go round keeping chefs trained and helping more people get into this sector

[AnUumi]

Wake up babe our favorite culinary documentarian is back with another stunning film and artistically crafted deep-dive into the heart of the industry! 💗

[Flazius]

Everything about this video made me happy. The respect from everyone, the respect for the craft, the respect for the customers, the respect for nature and seasons, the respect for Alvin and the translator, the respect for us as a viewer. Sublime effort all around. What an experience.

[henlolneh]

not going to lie this was better than 90% of the chefs table episodes that have been released thus far. i love how you let the chef/owner narrate throughout this and tell his story.

[huntakilla]

The production value of Alvin's video is always freakin mind blowing. This place is so beautiful. I can see why they won 3 Michelin stars.

[Charleswonder]

saying "that's hella good" in a 3-Michelin star restaurant is diabolical 🤣🤣💀

[mm-sppr]

theres a reason why shorts have become so popular, people's attention spans are short. You just have a few seconds to snag their attention, and then another few seconds to keep them invested enough to sit through the video. I think the reason why ur vids are so popular is that we get to see all the players involved, not just the head honcho. You try to showcase all the qualities, all the minor details that makes a place special. The cinematography, the music is just something that resonates deeply with me. I dont even know whens the last time i sat through a youtube video without skipping it, be it adverts or boring parts. But I honestly watched through this entire video and I didnt feel irritated, in fact it soothed me. its really magic what you guys do.

[basvanheun]

I got literal chills down my body from the production quality of this one Alvin… wow. Netflix and the broadcastworld are nothing compared to your productions. Keep up the great work!

[Smurkylling]

What a great chef. The speech about years/months learning to ride a bike, but focusing on the destination was a really inspiring

[meme_ahmed]

The frames, the cuts, the level of detail is unmatched in a Alvin Zhou production. In two words we call this, "absolute cinema".

[fakerealalbert]

I think this is your best one yet, Alvin. It's not just that you get 26 minutes of the Platonic ideal of food photography, it's that you as you get to the end, the food almost makes you want to cry for the unbelievable passion and hard work that you've shown in every fragment of each dish. You're doing amazing work, and it breaks my heart that youtube as a platform just does not reward this type of art as much as it should, but I pray it'll continue.

[kingdavid_tech]

It should be said, these films are not just films or works of art. They are love letters to people, to culture, to food, to living, to finding meaning in the little things. Alvin, you have a gift, a vision. The world is your canvas and your camera is your brush. So keep painting and writing these letters so no one ever forgets what the world holds. How cooking can give meaning and purpose all on a simple plate. ❤

[gouthamkm]

Japan is country where they respect everything they do put all they got in work. There work ethic & hospitality is off charts I love japan

[thee_certified_silly_guy]

WHEN THE WORLD NEEDED HIM MOST HE CAME BACK TO FEED OUR EYES AND HEARTS ❤

[MelancholicDays]

alvin's videos always have such high production value it's insane. productions like these require a certain level of curiousity, sensitivity and knowledge. in certain ways it exceeds productions that hundreds of people work on for movies.

take the 20:30~22:00 sequence for example. letting natural light from the garden light the food up but not blind the viewer. high angle downward shots for dipping sauces, low angles for smoke rising off the grilled dishes. timing the shot to capture the first time the cover is lifted off the soup. knowing when to add music to supplement, and when to let the ambient sounds of the background carry the shot.

a shot is not just a shot, it's a scene and every scene in the video has a focus and is meaningful, even the transmission shots. whether it's a quirky quip from the cooks, or the setup of the scrolls, or the beautiful gardens that thing gets it's moment to shine.

[FXDE]

I love that you take your time with these and do not just churn out weekly. Each one is an award worthy documentary.

[Dita_Utomo]

That end scene tho, where the lady bows the guests off, somehow it warms my heart. Alvin manages the capture the essence of this place, I feel. Great job Alvin, absolutely beautiful video 👏

[Jakerbox]

this... might be the greatest video - food-related or not - I've ever watched on YouTube. it is so clear that you care so much about showing these people's passion for their work, the beauty of their creations, and the joy they get from serving their customers. it's what hospitality is all about, and nobody showcases it quite like you, Alvin.