Japan Guide
Central Honshū
Eating
1 
AKA RENN Bldg, 2-10-42 Kata-machi 
076/231-3233 
www.enn.co.jp/aka Atelier Kitchen for Artisans (AKA) offers outstandingly good modern Japanese food served in a chic casual setting by very friendly young staff. Their short course menu for ¥3000 is brilliant value for this standard of cooking. There's some very palatable local sake to drink here, too, as well as rustic pottery for sale. Opening time: Sun & Tues– Thurs 6–11pm, Fri & Sat 6pm–1am
2 Full of Beans 41-1 Satomi-chō Cute café, just off the Tatemachi shopping street, specializing in onigiri (rice balls) in a wide variety of flavours. Their lunch sets, including several different curries, are a great deal; upstairs there's an art gallery and shop to browse. Opening time: Daily except Wed 11.30am–7pm
3 Ippudō 1-2-3 Katemachi Sometimes you just need a bowl of ramen and the noodles served in big bowls of rich pork broth at this rustic café, one in a popular nationwide chain, fit the bill perfectly. Opening time: Daily 11am–3am
4 Janome-zushi 1-12 Katamachi 076/231-0093 Set in an attractive building by a gurgling stream, this excellent sushi restaurant has reasonably priced set menus and also does some kaga-ryōri dishes. Sit at the counter to admire the chefs at work. Opening time: Daily except Wed 11am–2pm & 5–10pm
5 Kuugo 6F, Forus, 3-1 Horikawashin-machi www.forus.co.jp A broad range of nicely designed outlets can be found on the restaurant floor of the Forus mall, grandly dubbed a "dining resort". Eye-catching options range from Azabu Sabo, graced with chandeliers and gilded screens, to Chanko Dining Waka, specializing in the gut-busting sumo staple chankonabe. On the seventh floor, next to the multiplex cinema, the colourful News Deli has an outdoor deck for al-fresco snacking. Opening time: Daily 11am–11pm
6 Legian 2-31-30 Katamachi 076/262-6510 Casual Indonesian café overlooking the Sai-gawa, offering authentic dishes such as gado gado and satay. Opening time: Mon, Tues, Thurs & Sun 4pm–1am, Fri & Sat 4pm–4am
7 Miyoshian 1-11 Kenroku-machi 076/221-0127 Atmospheric 100-year-old restaurant in Kenroku-en – find it just past the row of shops at the north entrance. Specializes in kaga ryōri; try the bentō boxed lunches (from ¥1575) or come for a cup of matcha tea and sweets (¥525), overlooking the ornamental pond. Opening time: Daily except Wed 9am–4pm
8 Okonomiyaki Sizzle
Tatemachi Cheap and fun DIY Japanese pancake restaurant. A photo menu helps you choose which set of ingredients to fry up on the hotplate at your table. Opening time: Daily 11am– midnight
9 Shiki-no-Table 1-1-17 Nagamachi 076/265-6155 www.aokicooking.com Pleasant, reasonably priced restaurant serving traditional local recipies that reflect the seasons. You can try the duck dish jibuni here and, if your Japanese is up to it, take part in cookery classes at the school upstairs. Mon– Fri 11am–3pm & 5–8.30pm, Sat & Sun 11am–8.30pm.