Miyamaso earns three Michelin stars

Chef Hisato Nakahigashi’s Miyamaso in Kyoto received three Michelin stars on April 23 at the Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka 2026 ceremony in Osaka, according to Michelin and The Asahi Shimbun. The promotion made Miyamaso the first new three-star restaurant in the Kyoto-Osaka area since the 2020 edition, Michelin said. Miyamaso had held two stars since 2011 and a Green Star since the 2021 edition, according to Michelin. Nakahigashi told reporters he had long wanted the restaurant to reach three stars. ### Why is Miyamaso’s promotion getting attention now? The Michelin Guide published the Kyoto Osaka 2026 selection on April 23 and released the article announcing the results the same day. Michelin said Kyoto “welcomed a new Three-MICHELIN-Star restaurant for the first time in six years,” referring to Miyamaso. The guide’s book and e-book editions went on sale on April 28, according to Michelin’s Japan announcement. (guide.michelin.com) May 15 coverage by The Asahi Shimbun put the result back in view by detailing Nakahigashi’s remarks after the ceremony and listing the current three-star restaurants in Kyoto and Osaka. Asahi said there are now six three-star restaurants in Kyoto and three in Osaka. ### What is Miyamaso, and where is it? Miyamaso is a dining inn in Kyoto’s Hanase district, in Sakyo Ward, according to Michelin and Asahi. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin describes it as a former pilgrims’ lodging for Bujoji Temple set among trees and a river, and lists the address as 375 Hanase Harachicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. Hisato Nakahigashi’s cooking at Miyamaso centers on ingredients from nearby mountains and streams, Michelin said. (asahi.com) The guide said the restaurant is known for wild mountain vegetables foraged by the chef, along with river fish, mushrooms and game, and that its menu reflects the seasons. Nakahigashi is quoted on Michelin’s restaurant page saying the restaurant uses nearby herbs, river fish and mushrooms and seeks to coexist with the mountain ecosystem. ### How long did it take Miyamaso to reach three stars? Michelin said Miyamaso received one star in the inaugural Kyoto-Osaka guide in 2010 and two stars the following year. The 2026 edition is the first time it has been listed with three stars. Michelin also said Miyamaso has kept a Green Star since the 2021 edition. (guide.michelin.com) Hisato Nakahigashi told reporters after the ceremony that he had “always wanted to win three stars someday,” according to Asahi. He said he would make “a more concerted effort” on dishes and service. ### What else changed in the Kyoto-Osaka 2026 guide? Michelin said the 2026 Kyoto-Osaka selection added five new two-star restaurants and 19 new one-star restaurants across the two cities. (guide.michelin.com) Twelve restaurants were newly added to the Bib Gourmand selection, bringing the total number of restaurants in the guide to 479, Michelin said. (asahi.com) The April 23 Michelin announcement also introduced the first Sommelier Award for the Kyoto Osaka area. Michelin said the award went to Miki Tanaka, owner-sommelier of LOUISE in Osaka, while the Mentor Chef Award went to Hideaki Matsuo of Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama and the Service Award to Yuko Kuwamura of Kodaiji Wakuden in Kyoto. (guide.michelin.com) ### Who joins Miyamaso in the three-star group? Asahi listed nine three-star restaurants in the Kyoto-Osaka 2026 guide. The Kyoto restaurants are Hyotei, Miyamaso, Isshisoden Nakamura, Gion Sasaki, Kikunoi Honten and Mizai. The Osaka listings are Taian, Hajime and Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama, according to Asahi. The Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka 2026 selection remains available on Michelin’s website, where Miyamaso’s restaurant page now shows “Three Stars: Exceptional cuisine.” Michelin said the 2026 guide’s book and e-book editions were released on April 28. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) (asahi.com)