Local Guide
6 Recommended Lunch Options Where You Can Savor Aso and Kuju Cuisine

The Aso-Kuju area boasts one of the world's largest calderas, is blessed with abundant nature and spring water, and is also a thriving agricultural region. As a result, it is also a gourmet region with an abundance of ingredients that are the product of the bounty of the land. Here are six lunch spots in Aso-Kuju that you should definitely visit to enjoy the local flavors.

A hearty kaiseki lunch where you can experience the flavors of Aso

"Ichinokawa Course" (2,530 yen). The photo shows the spring menu. You will be very satisfied with the variety of dishes and the deliciousness of the handmade dishes made by our artisans.
"Ichinokawa Course" (2,530 yen). The photo shows the spring menu. You will be very satisfied with the variety of dishes and the deliciousness of the handmade dishes made by our artisans.

An old house can be seen in the forest a little way off National Route 57. This is a popular Dining Area where you can enjoy kaiseki course meals made with wild vegetables and seasonal ingredients blessed by the Aso land.
The chef, who trained in Gion, Kyoto, creates creative dishes that are all handmade, starting with the dashi stock, without using pre-made products. Each dish is made with the utmost skill of a craftsman, bringing out the best in Aso's ingredients. From three appetizers to a gorgeous plate of dishes, hotpots and desserts, the wide variety of unique dishes will leave you impressed every time they are served. The dishes change depending on the season and what is available.

Enjoy the nature of Aso in a traditional house built over 100 years ago

A space where you can enjoy the view of the natural garden from the window
A space where you can enjoy the view of the natural garden from the window

The menu includes the "Ichinokawa Course," the "Fukurou Course" which includes seasonal sashimi and lava-plated grilled Akagyu beef, and other courses to suit your budget. There is also a "Children's Lunch Plate" (reservations required) which features original dishes for children.
The Ichinokawa restaurant is housed in a relocated traditional Japanese house that was built over 100 years ago. The 26,000m2 site is filled with lush nature, and you can enjoy your meal in a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere that makes it hard to believe it's located so close to a national highway.

Comments Local Guide
Especially on weekends, seats fill up quickly, so it's best to make a reservation before visiting. A stream flows through the garden, and the scenery changes with the seasons, from the fresh greenery of spring and summer to the autumn leaves.
Creative Cuisine Ichinokawa
  • 住所1983-1 Tsutsumi, Nagakusa, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 5 minutes walk from JR Ichinokawa Station
  • 営業時間Lunch: 11:30-15:00 (ends when ingredients run out)
    Dinner from 17:30 (by reservation)
  • 定休日Wednesday
  • TEL0967-35-6811
  • 駐車場free

A famous restaurant serving Aso's local cuisine, Takana rice and Dagojiru

"Dagojiru set meal" (1,375 yen). Takana rice can be changed to "Sanzokumeshi" (rice mixed with bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, etc.)
"Dagojiru set meal" (1,375 yen). Takana rice can be changed to "Sanzokumeshi" (rice mixed with bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, etc.)

If you want to eat Aso's local dishes "Dagojiru" and "Takana Meshi," Dining Area is located along National Route 57. The "Dagojiru Set" allows you to enjoy both at once.
Dagojiru is made with hand-kneaded domestic wheat flour and has a superb chewy texture. The soup is filled with plenty of vegetables and is made with miso paste, the proportions of which vary depending on the day, from rice, barley, and a combination of other ingredients, and is so delicious you'll want to drink it all up. In addition, the rich flavor of the takana rice, made with homemade takana pickles that are thoroughly fermented without any preservatives, is also popular.

Enjoy warm country cuisine in a restaurant decorated with warding off evil spirits.

There are raised tatami seating areas and table seating, and people of all kinds visit here, from individuals to couples and groups.
There are raised tatami seating areas and table seating, and people of all kinds visit here, from individuals to couples and groups.

Other hidden popular dishes include "Hormone Stew," raw horumon stewed in miso, and "Freshly Grilled Stamina Hormone," served on a piping hot iron plate. Dining Area has been serving Aso's unique country cuisine for about 50 years. With unchanging flavors and warm service, it has long been a beloved restaurant by tourists and locals alike.
Inside the restaurant, there are about 1,000 clay bells hanging from the ceiling, which the owner has collected from all over Japan during his travels. Enjoy Aso country cuisine in Dining Area that retains an old-fashioned atmosphere.

Comments Local Guide
Parking can accommodate about 50 cars, and is spacious and easy to park in. It is located right next to the animal theme park "Aso Cuddly Dominion"!
Sanzoku Dining Area on the way
  • 住所2127 Kurokawa, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 15 minutes walk from JR Aso Station
  • 営業時間11:00-15:00 (L.O.)
  • 定休日Wednesday
  • TEL0967-34-2011
  • 駐車場free

A tempting Akagyudon beef bowl seasoned with a secret recipe of dashi soy sauce

The "Akagyudon Set" (1,720 yen) comes with miso soup and pickles. A large serving (2,100 yen) is also available.
The "Akagyudon Set" (1,720 yen) comes with miso soup and pickles. A large serving (2,100 yen) is also available.

This Akagyu beef restaurant is located in the Monzenmachi shopping arcade, which connects to the approach to Aso Shrine. The signature dish is the Akagyu beef bowl, made by grilling the surface of the tender inner thigh. The dish is seasoned with dashi soy sauce from Yamauchi Honten, a miso and soy sauce brewery that has been in business since the Edo period. The rich flavor of bonito and dried sardine dashi brings out the umami of the Akagyu beef, creating a unique taste that goes well with rice.
We recommend mixing it with a soft-hot spring egg, or changing the flavor with "Aka Beef Miso" made with Yamauchi Honten's magical miso, or with wasabi, yuzu pepper, and "Tasty Spicy Miso."

A wide variety of Akagyu dishes are available, from udon and curry to dumpling soup

"Red beef broth udon" (rice ball set 900 yen, single item 700 yen)
"Red beef broth udon" (rice ball set 900 yen, single item 700 yen)

In addition to Akagyu bowls, the restaurant also serves a variety of other carefully selected Akagyu dishes. The Akagyu Dashi Udon, topped with Akagyu tendons that have been simmered for three hours until they are tender, uses Shimabara udon noodles, which are thinner than regular noodles. The thin noodles mix well with the meat and broth, making for a delicious dish that lets you enjoy the flavor and aroma (soba is also available). In addition, there is a wide selection of Akagyu dishes that make use of the umami of Akagyu and the flavor of the broth, such as Akagyu Dagojiru (miso soup with red beef dumplings), Akagyu curry, and Akagyu rice.
There is also a sister restaurant across from "Aso Cuddly Dominion" along National Route 57, which is a convenient spot to enjoy exquisite Akagyu beef dishes.

Comments Local Guide
If you want to enjoy the flavors of Aso all at once, we recommend the "Akagyudon and Akagyu Dagojiru Set" (2,100 yen). The rice in the bowl is takana rice, so you can eat akagyu beef, takana rice, and dagojiru all at once!
Akagyudon Specialty Restaurant Gotoya Main Branch
  • 住所3075-1 Miyaji, Ichinomiya-cho, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture (Monzen-cho, next to Aso Shrine) MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 15 minutes walk from JR Miyaji Station
  • 営業時間11:00〜16:00（L.O.15:30）
  • 定休日Tuesdays and the third Monday of every month
  • TEL0967-22-5080
  • 駐車場Please use the tourist Parking (charged)
  • メモIf you use a paid tourist Parking, you will receive a cash back of one hour, so please apply.

Enjoy fresh, high-quality horse meat sashimi for lunch, only available at a butcher shop

"Higo Horse Sashimi Set" (2,200 yen). The set of small dishes served as an appetizer is said to be highly praised.
"Higo Horse Sashimi Set" (2,200 yen). The set of small dishes served as an appetizer is said to be highly praised.

Dining Area is attached to "Yaomano Butcher Shop Fujimoto," a butcher shop with about 100 years of history in Oguni Town in the northern Aso area. You can enjoy dishes made with fresh meat and Aso vegetables that you can only get at a butcher shop.
Horse meat dishes are especially popular with tourists. The "Higo Basashi Zen" features beautifully marbled, melt-in-your-mouth horse meat. The owner cuts the meat after receiving an order, so you can be sure it's fresh. In addition, the small side dishes made by his wife using seasonal vegetables are also popular as main dishes, and the rice purchased from a local contract farmer is shiny and sweetly delicious.

After your meal, we recommend buying some horse meat as a souvenir at the butcher shop next door.

Dining Area in a traditional Japanese building. Outdoor seating is available for barbecues and meals with pets.
Dining Area in a traditional Japanese building. Outdoor seating is available for barbecues and meals with pets.

In addition, there are also donburi dishes that can only be found at a butcher shop that handles horse meat, such as the "Sakura Donburi" which is topped with chopped horse meat sashimi with natto, eggs, and spring onions, and the "Kesashi Donburi" which is topped with pickled horse meat. There are also a variety of other meat dishes on the menu, from horse meat dishes such as the "Horse Sukiyaki Zen" to black pork, local chicken, and hamburger steaks.
After your meal, we recommend heading over to the store next door to purchase some horse meat sashimi as a souvenir. For those who live far away, they will ship it fresh all over the country, which is great. It's nice to bring home some delicious memories from your trip.

Comments Local Guide
This is a stylish butcher shop where retro jazz music plays inside. It is located along the national highway heading from Oguni-machi towards Tsuetate hot spring, and has a large Parking, so it is easily Direction.
Fujimoto Dining Area
  • 住所218 Shimoshiro, Oguni-machi, Aso-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 40 minutes by car from JR Aso Station
  • 営業時間11:00-15:00 (L.O. 14:30)
    *Butcher shop is open from 9:00 to 17:00
  • 定休日Wednesdays (open on public holidays)
  • TEL0967-46-2194
  • 駐車場free
  • メモNo reservations accepted

Wait for the dengaku to cook by the hearth and enjoy it slowly

"Takamori Dengaku Set Meal" (1,980 yen). Homemade potato tanpo, country tofu, konjac, and other nutritious ingredients are grilled over charcoal.
"Takamori Dengaku Set Meal" (1,980 yen). Homemade potato tanpo, country tofu, konjac, and other nutritious ingredients are grilled over charcoal.

"Takamori Dengaku" is a local dish from Takamori Town, Okuaso. In the past, "Tsurunoko Imo" was a staple food in this area that replaced rice, and it started out as a way to make it more delicious by skewering it, smearing it with miso paste, and grilling it over a hearth. This restaurant serves "Takamori Dengaku" grilled over charcoal over a traditional hearth.
The "Takamori Dengaku Set Meal" includes dengaku with tofu, konnyaku, and taro tanpo, as well as dago soup and takana rice. The secret dengaku miso, a mixture of spices, is addictively delicious. The yamame trout is brought out of the fish tank directly onto the hearth, so it has a fluffy texture with no odor.

Some people even take a nap under the magnificent view of Mt. Nekodake.

A spacious, comfortable seating area. From the back window you can see Mt. Nekodake right in front of you.
A spacious, comfortable seating area. From the back window you can see Mt. Nekodake right in front of you.

If you want to enjoy the flavors of Aso to the fullest, you can also try the "Aso Akagyu Loin Set Meal," where the beef is grilled over charcoal on a wire rack. Both menus can be enjoyed by sitting by the hearth while you wait patiently for the food to be grilled over the charcoal.
Many people relax in the tranquil space overlooking Mt. Nekodake, one of the five peaks of Aso, and end up lying down after their meal. You can spend some slow time surrounded by the nature of Aso. Even if you're on a trip that tends to be hectic, this is a restaurant that you should definitely set aside some time to visit.

Comments Local Guide
The "Tsurunoko potato", which resembles the profile of a crane, is a potato that can only be grown in Takamori Town. It has a fluffy texture similar to taro.
Takamori Dengaku Village
  • 住所814-2 Kamiiromi, Takamori-machi, Aso-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 60 minutes by car from the Kumamoto Interchange on the Kyushu Expressway
  • 営業時間11:00-23:00 *Reservation required after 17:00
  • 定休日Varies
  • TEL0967-62-1327
  • 駐車場free

Pizza and pasta are available to enjoy with wine.

There are always six types of pizza and two to three types of pasta available.
There are always six types of pizza and two to three types of pasta available.

Kuju Winery has a vast vineyard on a plateau overlooking the Kuju mountain range. At Restaurant on the premises, you can enjoy pizza, pasta and other dishes that are made with plenty of vegetables from the winery's own fields and the highlands, making them the perfect pairing with wine.
The pizza, baked in a handmade stone oven, is popular for its crispy yet chewy texture. In addition to regular menu items such as "Margherita," there is also a daily pizza made with seasonal vegetables. Authentic Italian cuisine, including pasta and a la carte dishes, is also popular.

Buy wine and grape juice as souvenirs at the attached winery shop.

In summer, you can enjoy the view of the vineyards outside your window.
In summer, you can enjoy the view of the vineyards outside your window.

Of course, we recommend enjoying your meal with wine from Kuju Winery. If you can't drink alcohol, the winery also offers original grape juice and non-alcoholic wine.
From inside the restaurant you can see the vast vineyards, and in the summer the terrace seats are covered in grapes. There are also private rooms that allow pets, so it is popular with tourists who bring their dogs. After your meal, you can take a walk through the vineyards or buy some Kuju Winery wine as a souvenir at the shop next door.

Comments Local Guide
Kuju Winery has a selection of highly acclaimed wines, including the 2019 Kuju Chardonnay Catwalk, which won a gold medal at the 2021 Bordeaux Wine Challenge. It's a great place to check out, not just as a dining spot, but also as a souvenir spot.
Kuju Winery Stone Oven Workshop
  • 住所3990-1 Hiraki, Kusumi-cho, Taketa City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 50 minutes by car from the Kokonoe IC on the Oita Expressway
  • 営業時間Spring 11:00-17:00 (LO 16:40)
    Winter 11:00-16:40 (LO16:20)
  • 定休日Open daily
  • TEL0974-76-1002
  • 駐車場free
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