Restaurant in Akita, Japan
Membership-only kaiseki. Akita's most-awarded table.
Nihon Ryori Takamura is Akita's most decorated kaiseki counter — Tabelog Gold three years running and ranked #61 in Japan by Opinionated About Dining in 2025. At JPY 20,000–29,999 per person, it delivers nationally competitive credentials at regional prices. The catch: membership is required. If you can get in, it is the strongest case for making a deliberate trip to Akita.
Yes — if you are traveling to Akita and serious about kaiseki, this is the table to secure. Nihon Ryori Takamura has held Tabelog Silver continuously since 2021, earned Gold in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and has been named to the Tabelog Japanese Cuisine EAST Top 100 three times (2021, 2023, 2025). Its Tabelog score of 4.44 and a ranking of #61 among all Japanese restaurants on Opinionated About Dining's 2025 list put it firmly in the company of kaiseki rooms in Kyoto and Tokyo — at a price that reflects Akita rather than those cities. The catch: it is membership-only. That changes the access calculus entirely, and you need to factor that in before you plan around it.
Takamura operates out of a compact, deliberately low-profile space in Omachi, Akita's central district. The room holds 13 people: seven counter seats and a sunken kotatsu arrangement for six. That scale is a feature, not a limitation. At this size, the kitchen controls every cover, every evening, six nights a week. The venue's own framing , "Edo Cuisine that Upholds Chic in the Northern Lands" , signals an intent to maintain the discipline of traditional Japanese cuisine, not to adapt it for broader audiences. Private rooms are available, and the space can be booked exclusively for up to 20 guests.
Dinner runs JPY 20,000 to JPY 29,999 per person. That puts it well below comparable kaiseki at Ifuki in Kyoto or Kikunoi in Tokyo, where equivalent award-tier meals typically start higher and climb faster. For a return visitor who already has a relationship with the room, this price-to-credential ratio is one of the stronger arguments for coming back. The kitchen places particular emphasis on fish, and the drink program is treated with comparable seriousness , the venue is specific about its sake (nihonshu) and shochu selections, and those drinks are positioned as genuine pairings rather than an afterthought to the food.
On the drinks side, Takamura's approach to sake warrants attention if you are deciding whether this is the right room for a milestone dinner. Japan's traditional fermented rice wine has direct regional logic in Akita, one of the country's most respected sake-producing prefectures , the cold winters and clean mountain water that define the prefecture's rice agriculture also underpin its sake culture. A kaiseki kitchen that specifically flags its sake curation is inviting you to treat the pairing as part of the experience, not just an add-on order. If you went the first time and drank what was put in front of you, the return visit is the moment to engage with the sake list deliberately. Ask for guidance when you sit down.
The membership requirement is the most important practical detail on this page. Tabelog lists reservations as available, but the venue's own remarks note that it is membership-only. If you do not already have access, the path in is through an introduction from an existing member or through direct contact with the restaurant at +81-18-866-8288. Major credit cards are accepted (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners). Four parking spaces are available on site, which matters in Akita where driving is common. The restaurant is approximately 1.5 km from Akita Station. Hours are 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm Monday through Saturday; closed Sundays and public holidays.
For context on where Takamura sits nationally: its OAD ranking of #61 in 2025 (up from #48 in 2024 and #58 in 2023) places it ahead of many kaiseki rooms in larger cities with higher name recognition. That trajectory matters if you are deciding whether to prioritize this on a Japan itinerary that might also include Gion Sasaki in Kyoto or Harutaka in Tokyo. Those rooms have the advantage of being in cities built for food tourism. Takamura requires a deliberate trip to Akita, which is itself a reason to come: fewer international visitors, a quieter room, and a chef cooking with Tohoku's own seasonal logic rather than performing for a global audience.
The occasion tag on Tabelog cites both business dining and friends , an honest spread. The counter format works for solo diners or pairs; the kotatsu arrangement and private-use option make it viable for small group celebrations. This is not a casual drop-in; the price, the format, and the membership requirement all point toward intentional visits.
Quick reference: Dinner JPY 20,000–29,999 · Mon–Sat 18:00–22:00 · 13 seats · Membership-only · +81-18-866-8288 · akita-takamura.jp
Booking difficulty is rated Easy once you have membership , this is not a venue where you are competing with hundreds of tourists for the same slot. The constraint is access, not availability. Secure your membership connection first. Once you are in the system, contact the restaurant directly by phone (+81-18-866-8288) or via the website at akita-takamura.jp. Major credit cards are accepted. With only 13 seats and a loyal local following, booking a few weeks ahead is advisable, particularly for weekend evenings or if you want the private room for a group.
Among the restaurants in our full Akita restaurants guide, Takamura sits in a category of its own on awards credentials and price. If you want a full kaiseki experience with a nationally ranked track record, there is no comparable alternative in Akita at this level. The membership requirement means it is not the right call if you are visiting Akita for one night without prior connections , in that case, look at affetto akita or giueme as more accessible options.
For a lower-stakes evening with a different format entirely, Shuhai is an izakaya running JPY 8,000–9,999 per person , roughly a third of Takamura's price , and a better fit if the goal is a convivial group dinner rather than a formal multi-course experience. Kyu and f round out the local options worth considering, depending on your occasion and format preference.
Nationally, Takamura's OAD ranking places it in the same bracket as kaiseki destinations that attract dedicated food travelers. If you are building a Japan itinerary around restaurants at this level, it belongs on the same list as Goh in Fukuoka, akordu in Nara, or HAJIME in Osaka , with the added argument that Akita itself is far less traveled than those cities, making the visit more distinctive. Check our Akita hotels guide, bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide to build a full trip around the dinner.
Yes, with planning. At JPY 20,000–29,999 per person and with a Tabelog Gold and multiple Silver awards on its record, this is a dinner that justifies a milestone. The private room option (available for up to 20 guests) makes it workable for a small celebration. The counter format suits couples or pairs marking an anniversary. The membership requirement means you need to arrange access in advance , this is not a last-minute special occasion option. If you can get in, the occasion tag on Tabelog specifically calls out both business dining and friends as recommended uses.
No dress code is listed, but the combination of kaiseki format, JPY 20,000+ pricing, and Silver-level Tabelog recognition points clearly toward smart casual at minimum , clean, considered clothing rather than anything you would wear to a casual izakaya. Akita is not Tokyo, so the expectation is unlikely to be as formal as a top-tier kaiseki room in Kyoto, but this is a deliberate, intimate dinner, and dressing accordingly is basic respect for the format.
Booking difficulty is rated Easy once you have membership access, but with only 13 seats and a loyal regular base, a few weeks' notice is advisable for weekday evenings, and further ahead for weekends or if you want the private room. The more pressing timeline question is membership: if you do not already have access, start that process well before your travel dates. Contact the restaurant directly at +81-18-866-8288 or through the website.
For a different format at a lower price, Shuhai is the clearest contrast , an izakaya at JPY 8,000–9,999 per person, accessible without membership, and better suited to casual group dinners. affetto akita and giueme are worth considering if you want a quality dinner without navigating the membership requirement. Kyu and f are additional local options. None of these match Takamura's awards profile, but they are meaningfully easier to access as a first-time visitor.
Yes. The seven-seat counter is built for solo and two-person dining, and kaiseki at a counter is one of the better solo dining formats in Japanese cuisine , direct sight lines to the kitchen, a natural rhythm to the meal, and no awkwardness about table sizing. At JPY 20,000–29,999, this is a genuine solo splurge rather than an everyday dinner, but if you are in Akita alone and have membership access, the counter at Takamura is a good way to spend an evening. The same practical caveat applies: membership is required, so confirm access before you plan around it.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nihon Ryori Takamura | Easy | — | |
| affetto akita | Unknown | — | |
| f | Unknown | — | |
| giueme | Unknown | — | |
| Kyu | Unknown | — | |
| Shuhai | JPY 8,000 - JPY 9,999 View spending breakdown | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Yes — it is one of the strongest cases for a special-occasion dinner in the Tohoku region. The room is small (13 seats total), the format is kaiseki, and the price sits at JPY 20,000–29,999 per head at dinner. Tabelog Silver every year from 2021 to 2026, plus Gold in 2018–2020, and three consecutive listings in the Tabelog 100 for Eastern Japan give you the confidence that the occasion will be treated seriously. Private room use for up to 20 people is available if your group warrants it.
No dress code is specified in Takamura's listing, but at JPY 20,000–29,999 per head in a 13-seat kaiseki setting described as a 'stylish, relaxing space', arriving in smart, understated clothing is appropriate — nothing that signals you are treating this like a casual dinner. The counter seats and sunken kotatsu room both call for the kind of restraint that lets the food take precedence.
Takamura operates on a membership basis, so your first step is securing membership before any reservation. The venue lists reservations as available via akita-takamura.jp or by phone (+81-18-866-8288), but given 13 total seats and consistent Tabelog Top 100 recognition, expect the counter to fill weeks out. If you are planning a trip to Akita specifically around this restaurant, sort membership and reservation simultaneously — do not leave it as an afterthought.
Within Akita, no comparable venue matches Takamura's awards record at this price tier. Affetto Akita and Giueme are worth considering if you want a different format entirely. Kyu and Shuhai offer alternative dining options in the city, and F rounds out the local scene. None carry the same Tabelog credential depth as Takamura, which has held Silver or Gold continuously since 2017.
Yes — the seven-seat counter is the natural format for solo diners, and kaiseki as a structure works well for one person. At JPY 20,000–29,999 per head, solo dining here is a real spend, but the counter setting means you are not paying a couples or group premium. Membership is still required regardless of party size, so that step applies equally.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
