Restaurant in Fukuoka, Japan
Tabelog-awarded creative cuisine, one hour from Fukuoka.
NONOKA RESTAURANT in Yame City holds Tabelog Bronze Awards for 2025 and 2026 and a Top 100 ranking in Japan's innovative/creative cuisine category. Chef Takashi Hara's produce-driven creative-French cooking is the focus — dinner runs JPY 10,000–14,999, reservations are required, and a car from Fukuoka is essential. The drive is worth it for a return visit.
If you visited once and left wondering whether it was a fluke, it was not. NONOKA RESTAURANT in Yame City — about an hour south of central Fukuoka — has held Tabelog Bronze Awards in both 2025 and 2026 and earned a place on Tabelog's Innovative/Creative Cuisine Top 100 list for 2025. A Tabelog score of 3.88 (with a Google rating of 4.7 across 69 reviews) confirms this is not a venue coasting on a single good season. For a second visit, the question is not whether the kitchen has slipped , it is whether you are arriving with the right expectations and timing.
NONOKA sits on the second floor of a building in Noso, Yame, a farming area of Fukuoka Prefecture known for high-grade tea cultivation and agricultural produce. The location is deliberate rather than incidental , the restaurant's creative-French approach draws on the surrounding region's vegetables and ingredients. Chef Takashi Hara has been described by visitors as a "vegetable wizard," and the kitchen's treatment of produce (one reviewer singled out a four-radish dish as a benchmark) reflects a cooking style closer to a fine pastry kitchen in its precision than to a conventional bistro. This is not a casual dinner stop you wander into , it is a destination that requires planning.
The atmosphere at NONOKA reads quietly focused rather than lively. This is a room where the energy comes from the food arriving rather than from ambient noise or a crowded bar. If you are coming from central Fukuoka for dinner, expect a calm, unhurried setting , appropriate for a meal that runs through multiple creative courses. That composure extends to the service format: there are no private rooms, but the restaurant is available for private hire in full, which suits groups wanting the whole space to themselves.
On a return visit, the counter experience is worth prioritising if seating allows. Creative-French tasting menus of this kind benefit from proximity to the pass , you read the dishes differently when you can see their construction. This is the format that rewards repeat visitors most: you arrive knowing the register of the cooking, and the counter removes any remaining distance between kitchen and table. For your first visit, any seat works fine; on your second, ask specifically when booking.
Dinner runs JPY 10,000 to JPY 14,999 per person before the 10% service charge. Lunch is priced higher, at JPY 15,000 to JPY 19,999 , unusual relative to most fine-dining formats where dinner carries the premium, and worth factoring into your planning if budget is a consideration. Credit cards and electronic money are accepted; QR code payments are not. Sake and wine are available to accompany the meal.
Reservations are required and must be made by the day before at the latest , same-day bookings are not accepted. Booking difficulty is low relative to comparable awarded restaurants in Fukuoka city proper, which makes NONOKA one of the more accessible Tabelog Bronze venues in the prefecture if you plan even 24 hours ahead. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays and on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Parking is available on site, which matters given the rural location , a car or taxi from Fukuoka is the practical way to arrive.
The full address is 597-1 2F, Noso, Yame, Fukuoka. Confirm hours directly before visiting, as the restaurant notes that hours and closed days may change.
Quick reference: Dinner JPY 10,000–14,999 / Lunch JPY 15,000–19,999, reservation required (day before minimum), closed Tue and 1st/3rd Wed, parking available, 10% service charge.
Within Fukuoka's broader dining scene, NONOKA occupies a different register from most city-centre options. For French-leaning creative cuisine, Goh in Fukuoka city is the higher-profile comparison , more accessible by location, with a stronger international profile. NONOKA trades urban convenience for a quieter, more ingredient-led approach. If the drive appeals and produce-focused creative cooking is your preference, NONOKA is the more focused choice. For kaiseki and Japanese fine dining in Fukuoka, Chiso Nakamura and Asago are city-based alternatives that require less logistical commitment. If you are building a broader Fukuoka itinerary, the full Fukuoka restaurants guide covers the range across price points and neighbourhoods.
For context on what comparable creative-French and innovative tasting-menu venues look like at the national level, HAJIME in Osaka and Gion Sasaki in Kyoto represent the upper end of the format in western Japan. NONOKA's price point is meaningfully lower, and its Tabelog Top 100 recognition in the innovative/creative category confirms it is punching above its price tier. For international points of reference in the creative tasting-menu format, Lazy Bear in San Francisco and Le Bernardin in New York City illustrate how differently the format scales at the higher end of global fine dining.
Also worth exploring: Fukuoka hotels, Fukuoka bars, Fukuoka wineries, and Fukuoka experiences.
NONOKA is a reservation-only creative-French restaurant in Yame City, roughly an hour from central Fukuoka, so plan for the drive and book at least the day before. The cooking is produce-focused and technically precise , closer to a tasting-menu format than a la carte. Budget JPY 10,000–14,999 for dinner (plus 10% service charge). It holds Tabelog Bronze Awards for 2025 and 2026 and a Top 100 listing in the innovative/creative category, so the recognition is consistent. Arrive without expecting a city-centre atmosphere , the setting is quiet and rural, which is part of the experience.
The restaurant requires reservations made by the day before at a minimum , same-day bookings are not accepted. In practice, booking difficulty is low compared to other Tabelog Bronze venues in Fukuoka city, so 2–4 days ahead is usually enough for weekdays. Weekends and the dinner service may fill faster given the restaurant's awards profile, so a week's lead time is safer if your dates are fixed. Confirm hours before visiting, as the closure pattern (Tuesdays plus the first and third Wednesdays) can catch visitors off-guard.
No dietary restriction policy is confirmed in the available data. Given the creative-French tasting format and a kitchen that is strongly produce and vegetable-focused, there may be flexibility , but you should call ahead directly on +81-943-24-1712 to confirm. Do not assume accommodations are available without checking: tasting-menu kitchens with a fixed progression often need advance notice to adjust courses meaningfully.
Yes, with some caveats. The creative-French tasting format works well for solo diners, and the counter (if available) is the right seat to request , it puts you closest to the kitchen and makes a solo meal more engaging than a table for one in an otherwise quiet room. Dinner at JPY 10,000–14,999 is a reasonable solo spend for the award level. The rural location means you will need a car or taxi, which adds cost and planning if you are coming from Fukuoka city alone.
The format is a set menu rather than a la carte, so ordering in the conventional sense does not apply. Chef Takashi Hara's vegetable-focused creative cooking is the draw , reviewers have highlighted the kitchen's produce work as the centrepiece, with dishes like a four-radish preparation cited as a standout. Trust the progression rather than trying to direct it. If sake or wine pairings are offered, they are worth considering given the pairing-friendly structure of the menu. Confirm the current menu format when booking, as courses and content may shift seasonally.
Private rooms are not available, but the restaurant is available for full private hire , making it a good option for a group that wants the entire space. For groups attending as regular diners rather than a private booking, confirm maximum party size directly by phone (+81-943-24-1712), as seat count is not published. The dinner price of JPY 10,000–14,999 per person (plus 10% service) means a table of four will be spending JPY 44,000–65,000 before drinks, so plan accordingly.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NONOKA RESTAURANT | {"Year":"2026","Award Source":"Tabelog","Award Type":"The Tabelog Award","Award Group":"bronze","Award Group Rank":"327","Restaurant Name":"NONOKA RESTAURANT","Score":"3.88","Budget":"Dinner: JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999; Lunch: JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999","Budget Dinner":"JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999","Budget Lunch":"JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999","Price":"JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999 View spending breakdown","Average Price":"N/A","Average Price (Based on reviews)":"JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999 JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999 View spending breakdown","Featured Item":"N/A","Full Address (with ZIP)":"福岡県八女市納楚597-1 2F, 8340004, Japan","Address":"福岡県八女市納楚597-1 2F","Postal Code":"8340004","City":"Noso Yame Fukuoka","State":"Fukuoka","Country":"Japan","Phone":"+81943241712","Phone Raw":"+81-943-24-1712","Website":"No official website found","Description":"Check out NONOKA RESTAURANT/NONOKA RESTAURANT (八女市その他/Innovative、Creative、French) on Tabelog! [No Smoking] Discover Japanese restaurants featuring detailed information such as menus and maps, along with user-posted reviews, ratings, and photos!","Categories":"Innovative, Creative, French","Awards & Recognitions":"The Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze winner The Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Bronze winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Bronze winner Selected for Tabelog Innovative/Creative Cuisine \"Tabelog 100\" 2025 Selected for Tabelog Innovative/Creative Cuisine \"Tabelog 100\" 2025 受賞・選出歴 閉じる The Tabelog Award 受賞歴 2026年Bronze受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze 受賞店 2025年Bronze受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2025 Bronze 受賞店 百名店 選出歴 創作料理・イノベーティブ 百名店 2025 選出店 食べログ 創作料理・イノベーティブ 百名店 2025 選出店","Reservation availability":"Reservation only Reservations must be made by the day before. Same-day reservations are not accepted.","Business hours":"Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 11:30 - 14:30 L.O. 13:30 18:00 - 22:00 L.O. 20:30 Tue Closed ■Closed on The first and third Wednesdays of each month. Hours and closed days may change, so please check with the restaurant before visiting.","Payment methods":"Credit card accepted Electronic money accepted QR code payments not accepted","Private rooms":"Unavailable","Non-smoking/smoking":"Non smoking","Number of seats":"N/A","Private use":"Available","Parking":"Available","Space/facilities":"N/A","Drink":"Sake (Nihonshu), Wine","Food":"N/A","Service":"N/A","Family friendly":"N/A","Service charge & fee":"Service charge 10%? Original text サービス料１０％？ This section has been automatically translated. Please check with the restaurant for accurate information.","Dress code":"N/A","Maximum party size":"N/A","Location":"Hideout","Occasion":"N/A","Remarks":"N/A","The opening day":"N/A","Receipt (Qualified simple invoice)":"N/A","Latitude":"33.218145687350926","Longitude":"130.56780805595295","Primary Image URL":"","Image URL Count":"20","Image URLs":"","Restaurant ID":"40051634","Source URL":"","Raw Details JSON":"{\"Restaurant name\":\"NONOKA RESTAURANT\",\"Awards & Recognitions\":\"The Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze winner The Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Bronze winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Bronze winner Selected for Tabelog Innovative/Creative Cuisine \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2025 Selected for Tabelog Innovative/Creative Cuisine \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2025 受賞・選出歴 閉じる The Tabelog Award 受賞歴 2026年Bronze受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze 受賞店 2025年Bronze受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2025 Bronze 受賞店 百名店 選出歴 創作料理・イノベーティブ 百名店 2025 選出店 食べログ 創作料理・イノベーティブ 百名店 2025 選出店\",\"Categories\":\"Innovative, Creative, French\",\"Phone number (for reservation and inquiry)\":\"0943-24-1712\",\"Reservation availability\":\"Reservation only Reservations must be made by the day before. 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Please check with the restaurant for accurate information.\",\"Private rooms\":\"Unavailable\",\"Private use\":\"Available\",\"Non-smoking/smoking\":\"Non smoking\",\"Parking\":\"Available\",\"Drink\":\"Sake (Nihonshu), Wine\",\"Occasion\":\"None\",\"Location\":\"Hideout\"}","Matched Location ID":"570c74ea-19e4-43fb-9808-6bd5731ee06b","Match Status":"matched","Match Method":"award_page_url_exact","Match Confidence":"high","Matched On URL":"","Matched DB Name":"NONOKA RESTAURANT","Matched DB Address":"納楚5971 2F, 八女 City, Fukuoka","Needs Review":"no","Review Reason":"","Fallback Score":"","Fallback Name Sim":"","Fallback Addr Sim":"","Fallback Loc Sim":"","Fallback City Sim":"","Fallback Country Sim":"","Fallback Phone Match":"","Fallback Domain Match":"","Fallback Explanation":""}; One would think to find himself in a patisserie kitchen that chef Takashi Hara brings to his restaurant Nonoka. Wonderfully presented and with plenty of creativity and flavours! This vegetable wizard really surprised us. The 4 Radishes are more than normal. Nonoka can go to the top of Japanese Best Vegetables Restaurants.; Tabelog Bronze Award 2025 Score: 4.05 Cuisine: Innovative / Fukuoka Phone: 0943-24-1712 Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 11:30 - 14:30 L.O. 13:30 18:00 - 22:00 L.O. 20:30 Address: 納楚5971 2F, 八女 City, Fukuoka Tabelog: | Easy | — | ||
| Chikamatsu | Sushi | Unknown | — | ||
| Gahoujin 我逢人 | Sushi | Unknown | — | ||
| Genkiippai | Ramen | Unknown | — | ||
| Matsuyama | Western | Unknown | — | ||
| Mihara Tofuten | Tofu | Unknown | — |
What to weigh when choosing between NONOKA RESTAURANT and alternatives.
NONOKA is a reservation-only creative French restaurant in Yame City, about an hour south of central Fukuoka, operating from a second-floor space in a farming area. It holds Tabelog Bronze awards for both 2025 and 2026 and a Tabelog Score of 3.88, which places it among Japan's consistently reviewed creative restaurants. Budget JPY 10,000 to JPY 14,999 for dinner plus a 10% service charge. Getting here requires a car or deliberate public transport planning, so treat it as a destination meal rather than a casual drop-in.
Book at least the day before at minimum — same-day reservations are not accepted per the restaurant's stated policy. In practice, given the Tabelog Bronze status and limited seating format, booking several days to a week ahead is the safer approach, especially for weekend dinner. The restaurant is closed Tuesdays and on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, so confirm open dates before calling on +81-943-24-1712.
No dietary policy is documented in available venue data, so check the venue's official channels before booking. Given the creative and French-influenced format, the kitchen works within a structured menu that may have limited flexibility. Call +81-943-24-1712 to confirm — this is especially important if you have serious allergies, as same-day changes are unlikely to be accommodated.
Nothing in the venue data rules out solo dining — there are no private rooms, and private use of the full space is listed as available, suggesting a main dining area that likely accommodates small parties including solo guests. At JPY 10,000 to JPY 14,999 for dinner, the price point is reasonable for a Tabelog Bronze experience. Confirm the booking format when calling, as a creative tasting-style restaurant in this category often suits solo diners well.
No specific menu items are available to confirm here — contact the restaurant or check Tabelog directly for current offerings. What the venue data does confirm is a creative French cuisine format with an innovative approach, including a focus on vegetables noted in reviewer context. The restaurant is categorised as Innovative and Creative, which suggests a set or chef-led format rather than a broad à la carte selection.
Private rooms are not available, but the venue is listed as available for private use — meaning full buy-out is an option for larger groups. No maximum party size is documented, so call +81-943-24-1712 to confirm capacity before planning a group visit. For groups wanting individual billing and a city-centre location, Fukuoka's central creative dining options would be more practical; NONOKA suits groups willing to commit to the Yame drive.
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 11:30 - 14:30 L.O. 13:30 18:00 - 22:00 L.O. 20:30
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