Enjoy amazing pizza in Kyoto with a Japanese feel! 20 popular spots in the prefecture

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RIGOLETTO SMOKE GRILL & BAR, about a 5-minute walk from Keihan Railway Gion-Shijo Station, is a dining spot based on Italian and Spanish cuisine. It is said to have a casual atmosphere.

The restaurant was named after the title of an Italian opera.

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They bake the (assorted varieties available) pizzas in a stone oven only after each order comes in. The piping hot and juicy pizzas use dough with a nice chewy bite.

The photo shows the "Quattro Formaggi," topped with four kinds of cheese including mozzarella. You eat it with honey drizzled on top.

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As the name suggests, the "Marugoto Burrata Cheese and Prosciutto" comes topped with a whole burrata cheese. You can choose either a 6inch or 10inch size for the pizza.

They seem to specialize in smoked dishes, and also offer the pizza "Affumicata," which makes the most of smoked ingredients.

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The Kitchen Salvatore Cuomo Kyoto is an Italian restaurant with sweeping views over the Kyoto cityscape from a high floor.

The kitchen features an authentic pizza oven in a lively open style. The restaurant is on the 10th floor of JR Kyoto Isetan, directly connected to JR Kyoto Station.

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The pizza in the photo is a popular one called "D.O.C~Dock~," topped with cherry tomatoes.

Other options include the "Kyo Aka jidori (Kyoto red chicken) and Spanish salami with nduja diavola," which makes use of ingredients unique to Kyoto, and a marinara topped with Kyoto Kujo negi (Kyoto Kujo green onions).

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Not just the nighttime view at dinner, but the bright daytime scenery is also excellent. Enjoying pizza while looking out at Kyoto Tower, one of Kyoto’s landmark spots, is a moment that is hard to beat.

At lunch, they offer a buffet style with Appetizers, salad, and dessert included.

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Trattoria Sette Hyatt Regency Kyoto, located on the 2nd floor of Hyatt Regency Kyoto and a 7-minute walk from Keihan Railway Shichijo Station, is an authentic Italian restaurant inside the hotel.

The night view through the large windows feels magical, and the space has an open and airy atmosphere.

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Pizza baked in a custom pizza oven. The photo shows the tomato sauce based "Diavola," topped with spicy salami.

By baking it all at once in an ishigama (stone oven), they bring out the flavor of the ingredients. The pizza dough follows an original recipe created by a hotel bakery chef.

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This is the pizza topped with prosciutto and arugula. They stretch each piece of dough by hand after the order comes in and finish it one by one.

Takeout is available, so it may be a good idea to order a pizza to go as a souvenir while you eat. Enjoy the hotel's flavors at home.

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Saredo Cafe & DINING Kyoto Ten, about a 5-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station, serves plate dishes loaded with vegetables as well as pizza with a unique look.

The elegant and calm interior becomes a stylish space at night, with the lights turned slightly down.

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Chicago pizza, said to be popular in Chicago, America, stands out for its thick crust. The center is packed with plenty of rich and creamy cheese.

The photo shows the “Pumpkin Yellow Chicago Pizza,” which is also made with a rich pumpkin sauce.

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The so-called Niku Chicago Pizza wraps Chicago pizza in roast beef. When you cut through the pizza dough together with the meat, the cheese seems to spill out.

They also offer a white sauce-based version topped with shrimp and corn, as well as a tomato and basil Chicago pizza.

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Trattoria La Pace, about a 4-minute walk from Hankyu Railway Karasuma Station, is an Italian restaurant that makes full use of vegetables from Kyoto and ingredients from Wakayama, the owner's home prefecture.

The stylish interior, based on white tones, is decorated with snapshot photos of scenes from Italy.

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This is the classic "Margherita," and it is one of the pizzas you can choose as part of the lunch set.

They also offer another version called "Margherita DOC," topped with buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes.

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The Quattro Formaggi with lots of cheese is also tempting. It uses four kinds of cheese, and you can also add honey for an extra charge. It’s also nice to add anchovies or olives and order a pizza just the way you like.

Why not order some cheese from Wakayama (Wakayama production region) to go with your drinks as well.

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Pizzeria Bar Le Napoli Kyoto Nishiki, about a 2-minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Railway, is a casual Italian restaurant that works well for many occasions, including Welcome and Farewell Party gatherings.

In addition to sofa seats where you can sit back and relax on your own, the restaurant also has spacious table seating.

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They hand stretch the special dough, which is aged and fermented in advance, for each order and carefully bake each pizza one by one in the oven.

As a result, the outside has a nice texture while the inside stays pleasantly soft. Takeout is available, and they also offer an All you can eat pizza plan.

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One nice thing is that you can order a half-and-half pizza. When you cannot decide which pizza to get, it is great to have this option.

Recommended choices include combinations of tomato-based and cheese-based pizzas, as well as meat and seafood sets like kalbi (Korean-style beef short ribs) & shrimp.

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Ikariya365, located on the first floor of Keio Prelia Hotel and about a 3-minute walk from Gojo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway, is an Italian restaurant inside the hotel with an upscale atmosphere.

In addition to the regular table seating, there is a brick hideaway-like space toward the back of the restaurant.

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This restaurant uses wheat from Kyoto in its pizza dough. Being able to enjoy pizza that feels uniquely Kyoto is a nice plus.

They offer several glasses and bottles of wine Special selected by a sommelier, so it would be a good idea to enjoy the pairing with the pizza.

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It seems you can try a pizza topped with unusual Japanese style ingredients for a pizza, including Kintoki ninjin (Japanese Kintoki carrot), aka-kabu (red turnip), daikon radish, and shiro-negi (Japanese long green onion).

They also offer a wide range of courses, including All you can drink plans, plans featuring popular dishes, and large plate sharing courses designed for groups.

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BONSAI1877, about a 5-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway, is a trattoria with a pizza oven.

Set in a two-story wooden kyo-machiya (traditional Kyoto townhouse) built in 1877, it is also well regarded for its tasteful atmosphere that makes the most of the building’s architectural beauty. It also reportedly has a tsuboniwa (small inner garden), a feature unique to kyo-machiya.

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The clearly loaded "Verdure" is a Japanese style pizza topped with Kujo negi (Kyoto brand green onions), along with fried eggplant and even roasted sweet potato. It also comes topped with homemade semi-dried tomatoes.

The pizzas here are all unusual, such as ones made with celeriac sauce or topped with octopus stewed in tomato sauce.

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This is the "Porcini," topped with five kinds of mushrooms. It’s a pizza where you can enjoy mushrooms with a range of textures and flavors.

The trattoria menu, which makes the most of seasonal local vegetables and seafood delivered directly from production regions like Tango and Maizuru in Kyoto, is also not to be missed. Try ordering it along with your pizza.

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While most pizzas are generally made with wheat flour dough, shibaF uses fu (wheat gluten) in its pizza crust to explore the possibilities of Kyo-namafu (Kyoto-style wheat gluten).

The stylish interior is set in a renovated kyo-machiya (traditional Kyoto townhouse), and they also sell goods on the first floor. The shop is about a 7-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway.

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This is the “Saba no Herb Oil-ni to Kizami Shibazuke o,” made with basil-fu (wheat gluten) for the pizza dough. The color of the shibazuke (pickled vegetables) is very vivid.

Since it uses fu, which is high in protein and low in calories, it’s a nice pizza for health-conscious diners. It comes with a special soup, and there are also set options with salad or a drink.

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There are several kinds of namafu (wheat gluten) pizza available, and the fu changes depending on the toppings. In addition to the basil fu mentioned above, they also offer yomogi fu, black sesame fu, and something called pepper fu.

The toppings are homemade, and they also serve options beyond Japanese style, including a spicy keema curry.

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ITALIAN QUATRO Shijo Karasuma Ten is an Italian restaurant you can use for everyday dining, whether for lunch, dinner, or just stopping by for a drink.

In addition to the spacious table seating, you can also enjoy the live feel of the cooking from the counter seats. The restaurant is about a 4-minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Railway.

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The pizza dough is made with 100% Yumekikara (a Hokkaido wheat variety) flour from Hokkaido. Skilled chefs carefully stretch each one by hand, judge the state of fermentation, and bake it in a dedicated oven.

The photo shows the tomato-based "Margherita," topped with mozzarella said to be made in Naples, Italy.

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They offer not only pizza, but also tapas made with Kyoto ingredients, along with Special seafood and meat dishes.

At lunchtime, they serve Great Value Lunches, with (assorted varieties available) pizzas that come with salad. According to the menu, they also seem to offer a weekly recommended pizza.

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Il Pozzo is a restaurant renovated from a Kyoto machiya (traditional Kyoto townhouse) that is more than 100 years old, making the most of the building’s original charm. It also has a tsuboniwa (small inner garden).

In addition to counter and table seating, it offers a tatami room with Sunken kotatsu seating. The restaurant is about a 6-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway.

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At lunchtime, pasta seems to be the main focus, and pizza is available at dinnertime.

They serve pizzas made with basil and tomato, as well as pizzas topped with anchovies and olives. You can also choose a pizza topped with house made bacon.

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They offer (assorted varieties available) courses, including options for special occasions and courses that come with cake for birthdays.

They also have sparkling, white, and red wine, so it is also a great place to enjoy your meal with drinks. There is also an All you can drink plan.

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The concept of TRATTORIA M KYOTO is based on an old pastime called Kyokusui no En (a courtly waterside poetry game), and it is said to feature elegant touches.

The interior has a spatial design with a modern feel. It is a 7-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station, inside the hotel Mercure Kyoto Station.

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They serve authentic pizza baked in a pizza oven, with dough that has a nicely balanced texture.

A highlight is their East-meets-West pizza made with Saikyo miso (Kyoto-style sweet white miso), which gives it a distinctly Kyoto feel. You can also choose pizzas topped with Kujo negi (Kyoto green onions), a Kyoto brand, or shirasu (whitebait).

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Classic pizzas like Margherita are also recommended, and it would be a good idea to order them together with (assorted varieties available) pasta or risotto made with noodles imported from Italy.

They offer a seasonal course that changes monthly, and you can also choose limited-time plans or party plans.

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PIZZERIA Brown Blossom is a popular restaurant known for its pizza baked in a wood fired oven.

The machiya (traditional Kyoto townhouse) creates a calm atmosphere unique to Kyoto. The table seating feels full of the warmth of wood. The restaurant is about a 10-minute walk from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Railway.

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The pizza dough, made to bring out the best in Special wheat, is said to have a rich aroma. If you want to fully enjoy the natural taste of the flour, the simple-ingredient "Marinara" is a good choice.

You can also choose the "Suigyu Margherita (water buffalo Margherita)" made with water buffalo cheese, or a pizza topped with house-made salsiccia.

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One of the dessert menu items is "Pizza Tiramisu." It makes you want to try a pizza-filled lunch or dinner.

For alcoholic drinks to order with it, they will make cocktails to your taste, with options like gin-based or wine-based drinks.

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SCHOLE Umekoji Ten is known for its customizable pizza.

There are 19 seats in total, including table and sofa seating. The space is said to have a stylish feel with a modern Italian theme. The restaurant is about an 8-minute walk from JR Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station.

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To customize your pizza, first choose the crust. In addition to the classic standard pizza dough, you can also choose rice paper or puff pastry.

Next, you can pick from four kinds of sauce, including wafu shoyu (Japanese-style soy sauce) and the standard tomato sauce, and you can add extra cheese.

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You might want to order a dessert pizza made with pie crust after your meal.

If you want volume, the two-tier set menu called "JUNKIE ROCK MOUNTAIN" comes recommended. It combines pizza with meat and onion rings.

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Pizzeria Osteria e.o.e, about a 5-minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Railway, is a restaurant known for kiln-baked pizza made by a chef who trained in Naples.

The interior is modern and stylish. It has table seating where you can relax and enjoy your time.

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The pizza is made not only with flour but also with ingredients imported directly from Italy, including the tomato sauce and even the salt. After you order, they stretch each piece of dough by hand one at a time.

The photo shows the "Margherita," said to capture the essence of Neapolitan pizza. You can also choose the "D.O.C," made with buffalo mozzarella.

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They offer more than 20 kinds of pizza in total, from tomato-based to cheese-based. Many of the pizzas are topped with house-made ingredients such as salsiccia.

They also use unusual ingredients such as bitter leafy greens from Naples and prosciutto from Parma aged for 24 months.

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Spaghetteria Primavera, located right near Randen Kitano-Hakubaicho Station, is a popular restaurant known for not only its pasta but also its great pizza.

The warm interior, said to be inspired by an Italian home, offers a cozy and relaxing space.

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Napoli pizza inspired by freshly baked bread. The dough is made by kneading flour with a unique blend and then letting it mature.

Baked at a high temperature of 400 degrees, the pizza is said to have a great texture. Options include "Achiuge," topped with anchovies.

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The “Genovese,” with its fragrant basil and tomatoes that go perfectly together, is one good option, and the “Salsiccia,” topped with sausage scented with rosemary, is another.

If you go with the casual “Napoli Course,” which comes with one drink, it seems you can choose your favorite pizza or pasta.

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Peace Pizza, about a 1-minute walk from Imadegawa Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway, is an authentic pizza shop that makes the most of traditional Neapolitan techniques.

It mainly focuses on delivery, and they offer various ways to place an order. There is also an eat-in space, though it has only 4 seats.

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(Each) pizza is sized for 1 to 2 people. Since they serve Naples-style pizza, the crust is made thin, which makes it easy to eat.

The classic "Margherita" is made with a sauce using 100% Italian tomatoes, and the "Shiko Margherita" is another good option, with a special sauce made by slowly cooking onions from Awajishima (Awaji Island).

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It seems you can order a good value pizza that comes with one drink for eat-in service.

In addition to Chicago pizza, an arranged take on American deep dish pizza, they also serve original pizzas topped with bulgogi. The dessert pizza called Honey Apple is also recommended.

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Pizzeria OTTO, about a 5-minute walk from Utano Station on the Keifuku Dentetsu (Keifuku Electric Railroad), is a restaurant that keeps food additives to a minimum and serves pizza in a form close to its original ingredients.

The cozy interior has 8 seats in total, and it is said to be filled with the nice aroma of firewood when the pizzas are baked in the wood-fired oven.

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The photo shows the pistachio pizza topped with prosciutto. The prosciutto topping uses no additives and is made with only Special pork and salt.

The pizza dough is made with Italian flour and finished with a sauce made from organic tomatoes. Some of the vegetables are grown in house.

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The "Mushroom Pizza" is topped with several kinds of mushrooms, including eringi (king trumpet mushroom), shimeji (beech mushroom), and shiitake (shiitake mushroom). If you order a set menu, you can add a salad and drink for a small extra charge.

It is open only three days a week, so be sure to check ahead. It may be a good idea to make a reservation.

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Antica Pizzeria L'Asinello, about a 6-minute walk from JR Uji Station, is a popular spot where you can enjoy high-level Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza in Uji.

To bring authentic Napoli (Naples) pizza itself to Uji City, they invited local craftsmen from the area to build the oven. The interior is also said to be designed to reflect the atmosphere of Napoli.

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Not only Italian strong flour and oil, but also cheese and prosciutto seem to be delivered from Italy to Kyoto three times a week.

The pizzas are divided into tomato-based and cheese-based types, with lots of variety. The photo shows the Bismarck, made with plenty of cheese and topped with an egg.

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One standout here is the "Pizza Contemporanea," made with a pizza dough limited to just 10 pies a day. This carefully crafted pizza takes about 3 to 5 days to finish the dough.

The rim is distinctive and looks great, and they say it feels light in the mouth. It definitely makes you want to try it at least once.

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Il Fico is an Italian restaurant about an 8-minute walk from Kintetsu Terada Station, known for its tasty wood-fired dishes and meals made with plenty of fresh local vegetables.

This calm, hideaway-style Italian restaurant is said to have a different feel during the day and at night.

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The "Pizza Diavola" is one pie with a bold spicy kick. It uses tomato sauce, salami, and takanotsume (Japanese red chili pepper).

They also offer choices like the "Ortonara," made with plenty of seasonal local vegetables, and pizza topped with Kujo negi (Kyoto-brand green onion). Their homemade sausage also sounds tempting.

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A full lineup of cheese- or cream-based pizzas is available. For pizzas made with mozzarella cheese, you can change it to suigyuu no mozzarella cheese (water buffalo mozzarella) for an additional charge.

The cheese shipped directly from Napoli (Naples) is quite rare, with a creamy texture and a rich aroma and flavor.