Onigiri (rice balls) in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture! 10 popular picks with a focus on rice and fillings

Photograph:mu_i_ka

Ao Onigiri is an onigiri shop in a quiet residential neighborhood near Ginkakuji and the Philosopher's Path, two popular spots in Kyoto.

With a nostalgic atmosphere that brings back the Showa era, it mainly operates as Takeout, though it also opens for eat-in service from time to time.

Photograph:kadutanet

Their Homemade onigiri (rice balls) use rice cooked in an iron hagama (traditional iron rice pot), and they start shaping them only after an order comes in.

People love the irresistibly soft and chewy texture of the rice. There is a wide variety of fillings, but starting with a simple "shio-nigiri (salted rice ball)" is also recommended so you can really enjoy how good the rice tastes.

Photograph:500(チンクエチェント)

In addition to classic fillings like okaka (bonito flakes) and sake (salmon), they also offer unique options such as the mildly spicy jaco (small dried sardines) and green pepper filling “Ao Oni no Tsume” and the curry scented “Keema Curry.”

The photo shows “Aka Oni no Mi,” made with dried squid dressed in a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce. The dried squid gets more flavorful the more you chew, making it a dish you can enjoy for its texture too.

Photograph:zuppifood

Okome Tsukasa Fumiya is a Japanese restaurant located on the approach to Kyoto’s famous temple Ginkakuji. It serves Japanese dishes including onigiri (rice balls), as well as Japanese sweets.

Inside, you’ll find a calm space with the feel of a machiya (traditional Kyoto townhouse), where you can enjoy Kyoto’s quiet atmosphere. It’s just the right kind of place to relax and enjoy onigiri.

Photograph:naruminana

The onigiri (rice balls) are made with carefully selected rice and natural water, and since they are shaped only after you order, one of the best things is getting to enjoy them freshly made.

You can order onigiri from just 1 piece. The rice has a nice texture, and because they are so simple, you can really tell they are made with care from how good they taste.

Photograph:ゆいぴーぐるめ

According to reviews, many people order the “Ginkaku Set,” which comes with onigiri (rice balls), side dishes, and miso soup. For an additional charge, you can change the miso soup to tonjiru (pork miso soup).

You can choose two onigiri from several kinds, including “Tuna Mayo Onigiri” and “Oba Miso Onigiri.” The shiro miso soup (white miso soup) is also said to be rich and tasty.

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Right in front of Demachiyanagi Station in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, is a shop called Onigiriya-san. This Takeout specialty shop for onigiri (rice balls) has been in business for more than 30 years. They make each one fresh to order.

You can also enjoy watching them shape the onigiri right in front of you. It is said to have the warm, comforting taste that only handmade food can offer.

Photograph:いちにさんぽ

The onigiri (rice balls) here are known for their large, elongated shape, making them just right for a meal or for when you want a quick bite.

Reviews also say that the softly shaped rice is packed with plenty of filling, concentrating all the good flavor inside. They are also popular for picnics by the Kamo River.

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They seem to offer a wide variety of onigiri (rice balls), from classic fillings like ume (pickled plum) and wakame (seaweed) to original ones like gyuniku sutamina (beef stamina) and sake wasabi (salmon with wasabi).

Besides onigiri, they also have a full selection of bento (boxed meals) and sozai (prepared side dishes), which are popular for their home style and simple flavors.

Photograph:マッハのオススメごはん

Kombei-an is a Japanese restaurant where you can enjoy a wide variety of small plates and onigiri (rice balls) along with an extensive selection of drinks. It is located near Gion-Shijo Station in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City.

Inside, the restaurant has an L-shaped counter, and the lively space stays busy with lots of people even late at night.

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The onigiri (rice balls) are served on a wooden stand in a style almost like sushi. They are bite sized and easy to eat, with about 30 kinds of fillings.

They use rice cooked with natural water from the same area and Koshihikari rice from Uonuma, Niigata, then fill and shape each one on the spot.

Photograph:毎日チートでぃ！

The à la carte dishes are also popular, with an appealing lineup that ranges from fried dishes and salads to stews.

You can of course enjoy them as side dishes with onigiri (rice balls), but it is also recommended to snack on the dishes with a drink and finish with onigiri.

Photograph:千本桜はんひち

Gochiso Yaki Musubi Onimaru Sanjo Kawaramachi Ten is a Takeout specialty shop for onigiri (rice balls) near Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station.

It is also easy to reach from the Kamo-gawa (Kamo River) and the downtown area, so it is popular as a casual stop-in spot. They offer more than 20 kinds of onigiri, which you can enjoy at a picnic or at home.

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For the rice in its onigiri (rice balls) cooked in a large kama (cauldron), they use large grain Koshihikari rice, "Eppodama," and "Oborozuki" from Hokkaido.

Their omusubi (rice balls) with classic fillings and chewy okowa omusubi (sticky rice balls) are all said to be very good.

Photograph:くくさんぽ

The richly varied gochisou-yaki musubi (loaded grilled rice balls) come with a sandwich-like concept. The lineup of rich fillings lets you enjoy both Japanese and Western flavors. The one on the right in the photo uses unagi (freshwater eel) seared over binchotan (high-grade white charcoal).

They look great and feel satisfying to eat, making them a good choice as a treat-yourself onigiri as well.

Photograph:千本桜はんひち

Omusubi Kakinoki is a popular shop near Kitano Tenmangu (Kitano Tenmangu Shrine), known for its wide variety of Homemade onigiri (rice balls). It is a community based Takeout specialty shop where customers keep coming one after another.

It opens early in the morning, and closes as soon as all the rice is gone.

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The onigiri (rice balls) here are said to be on the smaller side, with rice cooked to just the right texture so each grain stands out.

Some say you can enjoy the soft, airy texture that only freshly made onigiri can offer. These onigiri seem to let you fully savor how good the rice is.

Photograph:千本桜はんひち

It is well known not only for the rice, but also for the generous amount of fillings used.

Between the layers of rice, chunky pieces of meat and fish are packed in, making it very satisfying to eat. They also offer filling options that feel like full-fledged dishes, such as "Buta Kakuni (braised pork belly)" and "Tori Niku no Ama-ni (sweet simmered chicken)".

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Kyoto Tontama Rakusaiguchi Ten is a shop specializing in freshly made onigiri (rice balls) and tonjiru (pork miso soup), located right by Rakusaiguchi Station, so it is easy to drop by.

There are also a few eat-in seats, and people say popular options like the "Onigiri Set" and "Tonjiru set meal" can be enjoyed inside the shop. Many customers also use the Takeout service.

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There are more than 15 kinds of fillings for the onigiri (rice balls), including unique options like "sake cream cheese (salmon cream cheese)" and "negi mayo okaka (green onion mayo with dried bonito flakes)".

The rice is said to be shaped lightly and softly, with plenty of filling both on top and inside. The onigiri are on the larger side, and the portion size is satisfying as well.

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It looks like they also offer good value set menus. This is the "Tontama Set," which comes with onigiri (rice balls), tonjiru (pork miso soup), and tsukemono (pickles). The tonjiru is packed with ingredients like gobo (burdock root), carrots, and satoimo (taro), and you can choose how much green onion you want and whether to add heat.

You can also order the onigiri A la carte.

Photograph:かや乃⌇京さんぽ帖

Waon is a cafe centered around onigiri (rice balls), about a 5-minute walk from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station.

During the morning and daytime hours, current university students run the cafe as a shared-space pop-up. There is table seating, so you can sit back and spend your time at a relaxed pace.

Photograph:ナチュラルミネラルウォーター

This is the lunch menu.

They offer an onigiri (rice ball) set meal where you can choose 2 fillings from 10 kinds of ingredients. It comes with dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet), tonjiru (pork miso soup), and pickles, and is said to be quite filling.

Photograph:Bi-chan

In the morning, they offer sake yaki onigiri chazuke (grilled salmon rice ball in ochazuke style), so you can enjoy a rice ball served ochazuke-style soaked in dashi broth.

You can choose 3 kinds from several toppings such as tororo kombu kelp and wasabi. It is perfect when you want a stomach-friendly breakfast.

Photograph:Miki@京都・大阪メイン

Kominka Cafe Komusubi is an onigiri cafe located near Fushimi Inari Taisha (Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine) in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto. It closes once the rice runs out.　

The cafe uses a renovated kominka (traditional old house) that is about 70 years old, and it is said to feel as comfortable as being at home.

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Onigiri (rice balls) can be ordered A la carte, and they are said to be on the larger side.

In addition to standard fillings like "takana (pickled mustard greens)" and "shiso-konbu (shiso kelp)," they also seem to offer slightly more indulgent onigiri options with fillings such as "buta kimchi (pork kimchi)" and "ran-o cream cheese (egg yolk cream cheese)."

Photograph:Miki@京都・大阪メイン

The "onigiri (rice ball) plate," said to be the most popular item on the menu, is a colorful plate that is nice to look at too.

For the two onigiri, you can choose either Koshihikari rice or jurokkokumai (16-grain rice). It also comes with a variety of side dishes, and people say it is gentle on the body and healthy.

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Shiroshiro, about a 2-minute walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station, is a popular shop where you can enjoy freshly cooked delicious onigiri (rice balls) made with a real focus on the rice.

Takeout is the main option, but there are also 4 counter seats for eating in. The interior has a bright and clean atmosphere, with white as the main color.

Photograph:さくらいまさゆき（masa）

The onigiri (rice balls), shaped after the order is placed, stand out for their tawara-style (straw bale shape) form and are said to have a light, soft texture.

Reviews praise the simple onigiri made with just salt. The freshly cooked warm rice is said to let you enjoy the natural sweetness of the rice straight on.

Photograph:ぶーめい

If you want to order soup or a drink along with your onigiri (rice balls), the "Paku Paku Set" is a good choice for enjoying a wide variety of onigiri at a good price.

You can choose from three kinds of miso soup, and they seem to be packed with ingredients. For drinks, it looks like you can pick from several tea options.