"With three Michelin stars and a Green Star for its sustainable practices, Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama’s kaiseki is impeccable. Once a ryokan, the family business is now helmed by chef Hideaki Matsuo who honors his ancestors’ traditions (like tea ceremonies and seasonal cooking) while taking a forward-thinking approach to sourcing (such as by partnering with a marine institute to raise sustainable fish). The 12 elegant courses are purposeful and perfectly paced, with an emphasis on seafood and vegetables. In the fall, when chrysanthemum is in season, you might taste the flower petals with chile-marinated Ise lobster and yam, and sea bream fish cake with shiitake mushrooms and chrysanthemum. Vibe check: A picture-perfect Japanese villa in the green outskirts of Osaka. You’ll feel like the only guest on the premises as you walk through the elegant garden to a private room with tatami mats, low tables, and ink scrolls." - La Carmina