Restaurant in Gotemba, Japan

Maison Kei

Name: Maison Kei
Address: 527-1 Higashiyama, Gotemba, Shizuoka 412-0024, Japan, Gotemba, JP
Telephone: +81 550-81-2231

700Pearl Points

Kobayashi's name, Gotemba prices, Fuji views.

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About Maison Kei

Maison Kei in Gotemba is the clearest case for a destination French meal outside Tokyo: five consecutive Tabelog Bronze Awards, private rooms for 2–8 guests, and a Mount Fuji view at lunch. Dinner runs JPY 20,000–29,999 per person; lunch is meaningfully cheaper. Booking is straightforward by Japanese fine-dining standards, making it the practical choice for a special occasion in Shizuoka.

Verdict

Maison Kei earns its place on any serious Gotemba itinerary, but know what you're booking: a French course restaurant connected to the reputation of Chef Kei Kobayashi, the first Asian chef to earn three Michelin stars in France, now expressed in a Shizuoka setting with Mount Fuji views at lunch. Reservations are direct to secure by Japanese fine-dining standards, and the price point, around JPY 10,000–14,999 per person based on reviewer spending at lunch and JPY 20,000–29,999 at dinner, is reasonable for the pedigree. If you're visiting the Gotemba area and want a destination meal without the booking war you'd face in Tokyo, this is the sensible call. See our full Gotemba restaurants guide for the wider picture.

About Maison Kei

Opened in January 2021 at 527-1 Higashiyama in Gotemba, Maison Kei is a house restaurant set in a stylish, relaxing space that the Tabelog community flags specifically for its beautiful view and calm atmosphere. The lunch service is the one to prioritise if the Mount Fuji backdrop matters to you: on clear days the view is the visual centerpiece of the room. The 54-seat dining room is large enough to feel accessible, and private rooms for 2, 4, 6, or 8 guests are available, making this a practical option for celebrations or business meals where discretion matters.

Chef Kei Kobayashi's name anchors the venue's credibility, but day-to-day the kitchen is led by Chef Mitsuyoshi Sato. The approach is recognisably classical French: traditional technique, consistent execution, little in the way of experimental detours. Tabelog reviewers rate it 4.19 out of 5, and it has held the Tabelog Bronze Award every year from 2022 through 2026, a consistent signal of quality rather than a single spike. It has also appeared on the Tabelog French EAST Top 100 list in both 2023 and 2025, and ranks around #482–537 on Opinionated About Dining's Japan list depending on the year.

For a special occasion, the private room option is worth requesting at booking. The rooms accommodate parties of 2 to 8 and offer full privacy, which the main room cannot. Children are welcome if the party is taking the course meal, so family milestone dinners are genuinely feasible here, which is less common at this price tier in Japan. A sommelier is on hand and the wine program is taken seriously, so bring a budget for it. Credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners); electronic payments and QR codes are not. Parking for 34 vehicles is available, which matters given the out-of-town location.

Getting there takes some planning. From JR Gotemba Station, the fastest option is the bus toward Gotemba Premium Outlets, alighting at Higashiyama Kyukintei-mae (around 6 minutes). A taxi from Gotemba Station runs about 15 minutes. The venue is approximately 2.2 km from the station. While you're planning the trip, check our Gotemba hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide to build a fuller itinerary.

Booking

Reservations are required; walk-ins are not accepted. Phone reservations can be made between 10:00–11:30 AM and 3:00–5:30 PM. Online bookings go through the official website at maisonkei.jp. Cancellation the day before incurs a 50% charge per person; same-day cancellations are charged at 100%. Book at least one to two weeks ahead for weekends; weekday lunch slots are generally easier to secure. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Ratings at a Glance

Tabelog score: 4.19
Google: 4.5 (321 reviews)
Tabelog Bronze Award: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Tabelog French EAST Top 100: 2023, 2025
Opinionated About Dining Japan rank: ~#482–537

Practical Details

Detail	Maison Kei	Typical Tokyo French (comparable tier)
Price per person (dinner)	JPY 20,000–29,999	JPY 30,000–50,000+
Price per person (lunch)	JPY 10,000–14,999	JPY 15,000–25,000
Booking difficulty	Easy–Moderate	Moderate–Hard
Private rooms	Yes (2–8 guests)	Varies
Parking	34 spaces	Rarely available
Closed days	Tue & Wed	Varies
Sommelier	Yes	Common at this tier

How It Compares

See the full comparison section below. For broader context on Japanese French dining, HAJIME in Osaka and Harutaka in Tokyo represent the upper end of the national tier. For regional alternatives with a different cuisine lens, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, akordu in Nara, and Goh in Fukuoka are worth considering depending on your routing. International French reference points include Les Amis in Singapore and Hotel de Ville Crissier in Crissier. Further afield, 1000 in Yokohama, 6 in Okinawa, Abon in Ashiya, affetto akita in Akita, and Aji Arai in Oita round out the regional picture across Japan. For wine context, see our Gotemba wineries guide. And for a lesser-known regional find, Ajidocoro in Yubari District is worth a look if your itinerary takes you north.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a first-timer know about Maison Kei?

This is a reservation-only French course restaurant in Gotemba, Shizuoka, connected to the name of Kei Kobayashi — the first Asian chef to earn three Michelin stars. Walk-ins are not accepted, so you need to plan ahead. Tabelog reviewers report spending JPY 10,000–29,999 per person depending on the service, which is considerably above the listed average, so budget accordingly. It operates five days a week (closed Tuesday and Wednesday), which limits your window if you're visiting the Gotemba area briefly.

What should I wear to Maison Kei?

The venue data lists no explicit dress code, but this is a French course restaurant carrying Tabelog Bronze recognition five years running and a reviewer-reported spend of up to JPY 29,999 at dinner. Treat it like you would any serious French restaurant: neat and presentable at minimum, and erring toward smart is never wrong. Overly casual dress would feel out of place.

Is lunch or dinner better at Maison Kei?

Lunch is the stronger case. The restaurant is described as having a beautiful view of Mount Fuji during lunch hours, which is a material difference from the dinner experience. Tabelog reviewers also report a lower average spend at lunch (JPY 10,000–14,999) versus dinner (JPY 20,000–29,999), making it the better-value entry point. Last order at lunch is 12:30 PM, so arrive promptly after the 11:30 AM opening.

Is Maison Kei good for solo dining?

It is not the obvious choice for solo diners. Maison Kei operates as a course restaurant with private rooms sized for 2–8 people, and the venue data indicates that children unable to take the course meal must use a private room — suggesting the format is built around group or paired dining. Solo diners are not excluded, but the course-only format and room configuration mean you'll be paying full freight without the social context the setting is designed for.

What are alternatives to Maison Kei in Gotemba?

Gotemba has a thin bench of comparable French restaurants, so if Maison Kei is unavailable or out of budget, your realistic alternatives are in Tokyo or Osaka. For French fine dining in the same country, L'Effervescence and HOMMAGE in Tokyo offer a different price-to-prestige equation. If you're committed to the Gotemba area specifically, Maison Kei is the most decorated French option with verifiable Tabelog recognition.

Is Maison Kei good for a special occasion?

Yes, with caveats. Private rooms are available for 2, 4, 6, or 8 guests, a sommelier is on hand, and the wine list is taken seriously. The course format suits celebratory dining, and the Mount Fuji view at lunch adds genuine occasion weight. Book the private room if you want a fully self-contained experience; the restaurant confirms this is available for groups within those size ranges.

Does Maison Kei handle dietary restrictions?

The venue data does not document specific dietary accommodation policies beyond the note that children unable to eat the course meal require a private room. Given the fixed-course French format, check the venue's official channels before booking if restrictions are a factor — phone reservations are accepted between 10:00–11:30 AM and 3:00–5:30 PM at +81-550-81-2231, or via the official website at maisonkei.jp.

Location

527-1 Higashiyama, Gotemba, Shizuoka 412-0024, Japan

Gotemba, Japan

Compare Maison Kei

Is Maison Kei Worth It?

Venue	Price	Booking Difficulty
Maison Kei		Easy
HAJIME	¥¥¥¥	Unknown
Harutaka	¥¥¥¥	Unknown
RyuGin	¥¥¥¥	Unknown
L'Effervescence	¥¥¥¥	Unknown
HOMMAGE	¥¥¥¥	Unknown

A quick look at how Maison Kei measures up.

Also Consider

HAJIME, French, Innovative, ¥¥¥¥
Harutaka, Sushi, ¥¥¥¥
RyuGin, Kaiseki, Japanese, ¥¥¥¥
L'Effervescence, French, ¥¥¥¥
HOMMAGE, Innovtive French, French, ¥¥¥¥

Against the Tokyo-based heavy hitters, Maison Kei makes a different argument: lower price, easier booking, and a setting that urban venues cannot replicate. HAJIME and L'Effervescence both operate at a higher accolade level with more demanding reservation timelines. If maximising Michelin-tier French technique is the priority and you're flexible on location, those venues outperform on pure culinary ambition. But if you're already in the Gotemba or Shizuoka area and want a credentialled French course without a months-long wait, Maison Kei is the practical answer.

HOMMAGE offers a more innovative French approach for diners who want to see the cuisine pushed in a contemporary direction. Maison Kei stays classical: consistent, traditional, and reliable. Neither is wrong, but they serve different preferences. If you find the experimental French format more compelling than the classical one, HOMMAGE is the stronger pick. If you want French cooking you can predict and trust across multiple visits, Maison Kei holds up.

For a completely different format at a comparable occasion level, Harutaka (sushi) and RyuGin (kaiseki) represent the Japanese-cuisine tier for special-occasion dining. Neither is in Gotemba, so the comparison is primarily about what format you want, not which is geographically convenient. The honest answer: Maison Kei is the best-value, easiest-to-book option in its category for the Shizuoka region, with private rooms that the Tokyo-based comparators often cannot match at this price.