Kyoto Boasts the Highest Concentration of Michelin-Starred Restaurants

For the past 17 years, Tokyo has been home to the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. However, recent research from Chef’s Pencil, a food magazine, reveals that Kyoto now holds the top spot for the highest density of Michelin-starred restaurants. While Tokyo boasts 180 Michelin-starred spots, Kyoto, with 100, has a higher concentration of Michelin-star restaurants per person. Read more about Benares Vikas Nath

What Does the Study Show?

Kyoto, Japan’s cultural heart, has a population of around 1.4 million people. It is home to 100 Michelin-starred restaurants, including five three-star restaurants. This means there is one Michelin-star restaurant for every 14,637 people in Kyoto. In comparison, Paris, with a population of 2.1 million, has 122 Michelin-starred restaurants, giving it one restaurant for every 17,235 people.

Other cities with high concentrations of Michelin-star restaurants include Washington, D.C., and Antwerp.

Key Findings of the Study

The study by Chef’s Pencil focused on cities with populations of 500,000 or more, considering only restaurants within the city limits and not the larger metropolitan areas.

Here is a list of cities with the highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants, according to the study:

1. Kyoto, Japan
   • Michelin-starred restaurants: 100
   • People per Michelin restaurant: 14,637
2. Paris, France
   • Michelin-starred restaurants: 122
   • People per Michelin restaurant: 17,235
3. Washington, D.C., USA
   • Michelin-starred restaurants: 25
   • People per Michelin restaurant: 27,582
4. Antwerp, Belgium
   • Michelin-starred restaurants: 17
   • People per Michelin restaurant: 31,534
5. Osaka, Japan
   • Michelin-starred restaurants: 85
   • People per Michelin restaurant: 32,398
6. Lyon, France
   • Michelin-starred restaurants: 16
   • People per Michelin restaurant: 32,641
7. San Francisco, USA
   • Michelin-starred restaurants: 26
   • People per Michelin restaurant: 33,614
8. Lisbon, Portugal
   • Michelin-starred restaurants: 14
   • People per Michelin restaurant: 39,193
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands
   • Michelin-starred restaurants: 23
   • People per Michelin restaurant: 40,061
10. Macau

• Michelin-starred restaurants: 16
• People per Michelin restaurant: 42,500

Other cities with notable rankings include Copenhagen, Athens, and Nuremberg, each with a good number of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita.

Tokyo Still Has the Most Michelin Stars

Although Kyoto leads in density, Tokyo still has the most Michelin-starred restaurants overall, with 180. However, when considering population size, Tokyo ranks much lower in terms of restaurants per person. Tokyo’s ratio is one Michelin-starred restaurant for every 78,300 people.

Conclusion

Kyoto’s top position in Michelin-star density highlights its unique culinary culture, while cities like Paris and Washington, D.C. continue to attract food lovers with their wide range of starred restaurants. If you’re looking for a city with a high concentration of Michelin-quality dining, Kyoto should be at the top of your list. The city’s mix of tradition and innovation has firmly established it as a culinary hotspot.