Kaiseki, the multi-course Japanese meal

Kaiseki is a multi-course Japanese meal, served in small dishes one after another. It is often the dinner at a ryokan, the traditional Japanese inn, and it follows the season and the local ingredients.

What does a kaiseki meal look like?

The meal arrives in order: small starters, a soup, raw or grilled dishes, a simmered dish, rice and a sweet. Each course is small, and the whole dinner is paced slowly, often at a set time as in ryokan dinner time.

How does it matter to a Malaysian traveller?

Kaiseki is a highlight of a ryokan night, but it is set by the kitchen. It is very common for a ryokan to include both dinner and breakfast in the room fee, and the Japan Tourism Agency advises making food requests at least a few days ahead, since not all ryokan can meet every request ¹.

Cooking sake and mirin appear in many Japanese dishes ², so Muslim guests should ask about the stock and seasoning of each course. Vegetarian guests can ask about shojin ryori, the temple-style meal, as an alternative.

Read ryokan meal plans explained and halal-aware meal requests at ryokan before you book.