Yanagiya

Is Yanagiya worth the trip into rural Gifu?

Yes, and more decisively than most restaurants at this price. Yanagiya in Mizunami, Gifu has held Tabelog Gold continuously from 2018 through 2021, then Silver from 2022 onward, and earned a 4.39 score in 2026 — placing it among the top 157 Silver-tier restaurants on Japan's most scrutinised dining platform. La Liste also rates it at 97 points in 2026, and it was selected for the Tabelog Japanese Cuisine EAST "Tabelog 100" in 2021. That run of recognition is not typical for a rural irori grill house. If you are planning a trip to the Gifu region, this is the one restaurant that warrants building an itinerary around.

What makes it worth it

The format is a gathered-around-the-hearth experience: each group gets its own irori charcoal fire lit specifically for them, and the cooking proceeds around that live flame. The Tabelog description frames it plainly as a "Wild Feast" built on seasonal ingredients, and the venue leans hard into that identity. In the current season, the kitchen's focus on fish is explicit in the listing — the venue flags a particular emphasis on sourcing quality fish , while autumn historically brings game meat into the rotation. Sweetfish and eel appear in summer. The point is that the menu is genuinely seasonal, not seasonally themed: what you eat depends on when you go.

The setting reinforces the casual register. Tatami rooms, sunken kotatsu seating, 100 seats across six private rooms, free parking on-site. Children are welcome. This is not a hushed counter experience where you sit in silence watching a chef work. It is louder, more communal, and considerably more relaxed than a restaurant with these awards has any business being. That gap between the informal setting and the quality of what arrives at the table is the core reason to book. For context, Harutaka in Tokyo or Gion Sasaki in Kyoto operate with comparable Tabelog authority but in far more formal registers. Yanagiya delivers serious cooking in a format where you can bring your family or your colleagues without the room feeling precious.

Sake and wine are both treated seriously here, with a specific callout to wine selection on the drinks list , unusual for a rural irori-style house restaurant. No sommelier is listed for the Gifu location, but wine is flagged as a particular focus. If sake is your preference, that is covered too. Budget roughly JPY 15,000 to JPY 20,000 per head at listed prices, though review-based averages push closer to JPY 20,000 to JPY 29,999 once drinks are included , bring a major credit card (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners all accepted); electronic money and QR payments are not.

Logistics before you book

Getting here requires planning. Yanagiya is not walkable from central Gifu city. From Mizunami Station on the Chuo Line, it is a 20-minute taxi ride at roughly JPY 4,000 one way. Groups of six or more can request a free shuttle from the station. The Tono Railway Bus Akechi Line to the Suasahimachi stop is an alternative if you are using public transport, with a five-minute walk from the stop. Parking is available on-site for those driving.

Reservations are mandatory and the minimum group size is four , the kitchen lights individual irori fires per group, so walk-ins or pairs are not accommodated. For groups of seven or more, the reservation phone line is 0572-65-2102. On weekdays the kitchen closes at 10 PM, but preparation takes close to three hours, which means you need to arrive by 7 PM at the latest. Lunch service runs 12:00 to 15:00, dinner from 17:00 to 22:00 Monday through Saturday, with Sunday closing at 21:00. No outside alcohol is permitted. Book well in advance, especially for autumn and the seasonal game meat period; this is a destination restaurant for Japanese diners and tables do not sit empty.

How It Compares

Among the options in Gifu covered on Pearl, Yanagiya is the clearest choice if the goal is a high-credentialed, full-group experience built around seasonal Japanese cooking. Belle Equipe is the better option if you want French technique at a lower price point (JPY 10,000 to JPY 14,999) or if you are dining as a pair without the irori minimum-party constraint. For Japanese cuisine specifically in the region, Mizuki and Katatsumuri are worth comparing, though neither carries the same sustained Tabelog award history. Kobanzushi and hiro serve different formats and are better suited to smaller parties or shorter bookings.

Nationally, Yanagiya sits below the ceiling of Japanese fine dining , HAJIME in Osaka or Goh in Fukuoka operate at a different level of technical ambition , but Yanagiya's value proposition is distinct: it delivers award-level seasonal cooking in a format that is genuinely accessible, family-friendly, and grounded in a specific regional tradition. For the right group, that combination is harder to find than another formal counter experience. See our full Gifu restaurants guide for broader coverage, and our Gifu hotels guide if you are building an overnight trip around the meal.

FAQ

• How far ahead should I book Yanagiya? Book at least two to three weeks in advance for a regular weekday slot; longer for weekend evenings or autumn, when seasonal game meat draws the most demand. Reservation is by phone only at 0572-65-2102. This is a reservation-only restaurant with no walk-in option.
• Can I eat at the bar at Yanagiya? The Gifu location does not operate a drop-in bar format. The experience is course-based, reservation-only, built around a private irori hearth per group. Counter seating exists as a space type but the restaurant's format requires advance booking regardless of where you sit.
• Is Yanagiya good for solo dining? No. The minimum party size is four, because the kitchen prepares individual irori hearths per group. Solo diners and couples are not accommodated. If you are travelling alone in the region, Belle Equipe or venues in our Gifu guide are better options.
• Is Yanagiya good for a special occasion? Yes, provided your group is four or more. The combination of a Tabelog Silver award (4.39 score), La Liste 97-point recognition, private rooms for up to 30 people, and the ceremonial irori format makes it well-suited to milestone meals, business dinners, or family celebrations. Budget JPY 20,000 to JPY 29,999 per head once drinks are included.
• What are alternatives to Yanagiya in Gifu? For French cuisine at a lower price, Belle Equipe is the clearest alternative. For Japanese cuisine formats that work for smaller groups, check Mizuki, Katatsumuri, or Kobanzushi. For nationally-competitive Japanese fine dining, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto or akordu in Nara are worth considering if you are travelling further.
• Can Yanagiya accommodate groups? Yes, and it is particularly well-configured for groups. Six private rooms cover parties from 4 to over 30 people. The irori format is inherently communal. For groups of seven or more, contact the reservation line directly at 0572-65-2102. A free shuttle from Mizunami Station is available for groups of six or more.
• What should I order at Yanagiya? The menu is course-based, so ordering is not a la carte , you receive what the kitchen is running that season. In the current period, fish is a stated focus. Autumn brings game meat. The kitchen does not accommodate personal preferences beyond food allergies, so arrive without a long list of exclusions. Sake and wine are both taken seriously; budget for at least one drink per the venue's own request.
• What should I wear to Yanagiya? No dress code is specified. The setting is tatami rooms and sunken kotatsu seating in a rural house restaurant, which points toward smart-casual at most. Avoid formal Western business attire , the format is relaxed and the floor is traditional Japanese. Comfort matters more than formality here, even at the JPY 15,000 to JPY 20,000 price point.

Also on Pearl: Gifu bars | Gifu wineries | Gifu experiences | 1000 in Yokohama | Atomix in New York City | Le Bernardin in New York City