In Kyoto's Higashiyama: After 18.5 Years in Gion, Michelin-Starred Chef Opens 'MUTA CHIMERA' Near Heian Shrine

Chimera Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; CEO: Tetsuhiko Tsutsui) has opened the Italian restaurant 'MUTA CHIMERA (Muta Chimera)' in Kyoto's Sakyo Ward near Heian Shrine in April 2026.

'MUTA CHIMERA' marks a new chapter for Chef Tetsuhiko Tsutsui, who spent 18.5 years expressing his unique cuisine through 'RISTORANTE CHIMERA' in Kyoto's Gion district.

During its time in Gion, 'RISTORANTE CHIMERA' earned a Michelin Guide one-star rating and was selected for the 'Tabelog Italian WEST Top 100,' receiving high acclaim.

While inheriting the technical skill and aesthetic sensibility of the past, the restaurant now moves to a new location near Heian Shrine in April 2026 to express Kyoto's food culture with even greater creative freedom.

The restaurant has been renamed 'MUTA CHIMERA,' marking the beginning of a new journey.

Delivering Kyoto's Food Culture Through Italian Cuisine

Chef Tetsuhiko Tsutsui does not simply incorporate Kyoto ingredients into Italian dishes. Instead, he carefully observes the changing aromas, temperatures, textures, and aftertastes of each season, aiming to reflect the atmosphere and culture of Kyoto within each plate.

The ingredients used are primarily seasonal, reflecting Kyoto's four seasons—bounties carefully cultivated and passed down by local producers.

By respecting the inherent qualities of these ingredients and layering them with Italian culinary techniques and sensibilities, the restaurant creates dishes that can only be experienced here.

Kyoto's culture, shaped over centuries, meets the free-spirited creativity of Italian cuisine.

MUTA CHIMERA will continue to express the new possibilities born from this fusion.

Brand Concept | Delivering the 'Time' Beyond the Dish

While cuisine is a reason to welcome guests, it is not the sole purpose.

What we value most is the kind of time our guests spend with us and the lasting impression they carry home.

Kyoto's seasons and culture, along with the bounties carefully cultivated by producers over long periods—

we translate these into a single plate through Italian cuisine, delivering them as a holistic experience encompassing wine, service, and space.

We deeply appreciate that guests choose to spend their limited time visiting our restaurant.

That is why we aspire to be a restaurant where, upon departure, not only the memory of the meal but the time spent here quietly lingers in the heart.

Features of MUTA CHIMERA: Courses Reflecting Kyoto's Seasons and Seasons

Our cuisine centers on Kyoto ingredients that change with the seasons.

Beyond just flavor, we meticulously design aroma, temperature, texture, and aftertaste.

We offer courses where each dish allows guests to feel the season of Kyoto.

We engage deeply with ingredients cultivated with care, reflecting the terroir and culture behind them within our dishes.

Harmony Between Wine and Cuisine

Overseeing wine and service is Chef Sommelier Kazuyuki Kanda, who brings experience from Kyoto Hotel Okura and Gion's 'RISTORANTE CHIMERA'.

He proposes wines that complement each dish's flavor and aroma, deepening the overall impression of the meal.

Rather than simply pairing food and wine, we offer pairings that enrich the entire dining experience and the passage of time.

A Single Story That Continues to Dessert

The dessert, which concludes the course, is crafted by a pastry chef with experience at renowned establishments in France and Japan.

Respecting the flow and aftertaste from the savory courses, we offer a final dish that quietly concludes the day's experience.

A Hidden, Tranquil Space Away from the Hustle and Bustle

The restaurant is located in Awataguchi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto—close to Heian Shrine.

We have created a space where guests can feel Kyoto's culture while being removed from the city's noise, allowing for a relaxed and unhurried experience.

We aim to be a restaurant where cuisine, wine, service, and space naturally connect, offering new discoveries with every visit.

Chef Profile | Tetsuhiko Tsutsui

In 1995, he joined 'PONTE VECCHIO,' a renowned restaurant representing Kansai-style Italian cuisine.

He trained under Masusuke Yamane, a leading Japanese chef, refining his Italian culinary techniques and sensibilities.

At age 24, he became head chef at the main branch of 'PONTE VECCHIO'.

He left the restaurant in 2006 and opened 'RISTORANTE CHIMERA' in Kyoto's Gion district in June 2007.

His unique approach of fusing Kyoto's ingredients and culture with Italian cuisine earned acclaim, and during its time in Gion, 'RISTORANTE CHIMERA' received a Michelin Guide one-star rating.

It was also selected for the 'Tabelog Italian WEST Top 100,' establishing itself as one of Kyoto's leading Italian restaurants.

After nurturing the restaurant in Gion for 18.5 years, he opened 'MUTA CHIMERA' near Heian Shrine in Kyoto in April 2026.

He continues to convey the food culture unique to Kyoto to audiences both in Japan and abroad through the medium of Italian cuisine.

Chef Tetsuhiko Tsutsui's Comment

'The 18.5 years I spent in Gion were an irreplaceable time that shaped me as a chef.

I am deeply grateful to our many customers, producers, and partners who supported me in continuing to cook in Kyoto.

At this new restaurant, I aim not only to preserve what I have built but also to engage even more deeply with Kyoto's ingredients and culture, challenging myself to express what only I can do now.

I would be delighted if guests could enjoy not just the food, but the time spent here—including wine, service, and space—as a complete experience.'

Restaurant Overview

Name: MUTA CHIMERA (Muta Chimera)

Address: 51-3 Toriimotocho, Awataguchi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 606-8436

Access: 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Higashiyama Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line

15-minute walk from Exit 9 of Sanjo Station on the Keihan Main Line

11-minute walk from Exit 1B of Kyoto Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line

Opening Date: April 18, 2026

Hours: Lunch 12:00– (simultaneous start)

Dinner 18:30– (simultaneous start)

Closed: Mondays

Reservation: [070-6548-1174]

Official Website: https://gion-chimera.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muta.chimera

Chef: Tetsuhiko Tsutsui

Sommelier: Kazuyuki Kanda