Location: Arayashiyama near the bamboo grove. The restaurant is not exactly near a train station but it is not hard to find. If you are in the area, you are probably heading to the bamboo grove. Stroll thru the bamboo grove and there is only 1 split junction, 1 carries on thru the bamboo grove while the other leads to a public park. Head towards the park. Cut across the park diagonally and you will reach Shoraian which is near the Katsura river.
Environment: The whole restaurant is traditional Japanese house with multiple rooms. It feels like you are in somebody's home instead of a restaurant. It makes you feel comfortable.
Service: The ladies from Shoraian can speak basic English. They are polite and explain each dish to you while serving.
Food: I have the Tofu Kaiseki menu. I am not a big tofu fan but I am amazed by how well the dishes were presented. The tofu dishes are lightly seasoned to bring out the natural taste of the tofu. It is like a simple country girl smiling at you in flower meadow, simple yet elegant. From the appetizer to the dessert, the whole course is well planned.
If you already make your way to Arashiyama, you should really visit Shoraian. I asked my hotel reception to help me make a reservation. I think it is tough to make a booking via English, as you might encounter some issues. Or they might have issues contacting you when they need to make any changes to your reservation.
The courses are not expensive and the environment is really great. I went on a February late afternoon at 5pm. While waiting for my reservation time, I was waiting beside the Katsura River where the restaurant is. The sky turn dark and it started snowing lightly (lucky). The atmosphere is really good as I look at Arashiyama across the river. This is also the view from my room when I had my meal.