Greetings
Greeting from the Proprietor
Greeting from the Proprietor
After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at Hosei University, I spent four years living overseas.
During nearly eight years away from Kyoto, I came to understand firsthand what this ancient capital means
to people throughout Japan and around the world.
As the number of international visitors continues to grow, I reflect daily on how best to apply the
experience and skills I have gained.
For more than 200 years, Kinmata has evolved little by little with the times, while steadfastly preserving
its essence. I hope to continue passing on—to guests both from Japan and abroad—the authentic beauty of
this historic Kyoto machiya and the distinctive flavors of Kyoto kaiseki, which draw out the full natural
umami of carefully selected ingredients handed down through generations.
Proprietor, 8th Generation Matahachi Hideyuki Ukai
Greeting from the Former Proprietor
Greeting from the Former Proprietor
At Kinmata, our staff—including those in the kitchen—work with dedication each day.
Though we are organized as a company, Kinmata has always been approached as a family business.
In such an environment, each individual naturally develops a strong sense of purpose and pride in their work.
By maintaining both healthy ambition and cooperation, we will continue to cherish the spirit of hospitality
in everything we do, striving always to bring joy to our guests.
The eighth-generation proprietor has returned to Kyoto after eight years away—four years in Tokyo and four
years in New York. Having fully appreciated Kyoto’s excellence from an outside perspective, he has already
begun actively considering both “visible hospitality” and “invisible hospitality” for our guests.
Without haste, I hope he will continue to contribute steadily to Kinmata’s future.
Our head chef, Toshio Yamaguchi, has also devoted himself to mastering Kinmata’s cuisine.
Through daily effort and deepening knowledge, he is now able to present traditional Japanese cuisine that
honors our heritage.
I, too, hope to continue my work in food education—encouraging younger generations to appreciate the
importance and joy of dining, and to strengthen bonds with family and friends around the table.
Former Proprietor, 7th Generation Matahachi Haruji Ukai
Greeting from the Okami
Greeting from the Okami
Cherry blossoms… Kerria… Hydrangeas… Sunflowers… Dianthus… Bellflowers… Camellias…
………… Narcissus …………
As the seasons quietly change…
just as always,
we will be here, waiting to welcome you.
Okami Masumi Ukai
From our cuisine to every detail of service, our entire team looks forward to welcoming you with heartfelt hospitality.
