I was treated to the dining experience of a lifetime at the Kyoto branch of Tanrakuya Toriume.

This intimate little restaurant specialises in sushi and sashimi, and I was lucky enough to be
sharing the table with a Japanese food fanatic. As one can expect from the Japanese, the level
of service was absolutely impeccable. Despite the fact we dined in a private room, the waiter
and waitress continually looked in on us throughout the meal, ready to bring through another
plate of soy sauce or refill our sake. Upon asking where the restrooms were, I was shown, not
just told. And while the staff were ever-present, they were never intrusive.

The cuisine was excellent - among the finest I experienced during my time in Japan. The eel
was lightly battered and fried to absolute perfection, with a melt-on-the-mouth texture that
absolutely blew my mind. Also of note was the sashimi, which arrived beautifully arranged on a
long plate.

Everything was reasonably priced, although the drinks were a tad on the expensive side, as one
can expect from a restaurant. However, the sake was crisp and served at the correct
temperature - well worth paying the extra for.