Restaurant in Gotemba, Japan
Kobayashi's name, Gotemba prices, Fuji views.
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.
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.
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.
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.
| 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 |
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.
It's a French course restaurant, not à la carte. Budget JPY 10,000–14,999 for lunch and up to JPY 20,000–29,999 for dinner per person. The venue is out of town in Gotemba, so plan transport in advance. The menu is classical French with consistent, traditional execution. Five consecutive Tabelog Bronze Awards signal reliability rather than surprise.
No dress code is listed, but at this price tier and with private dining rooms available, smart casual is the safe call. Avoid anything too casual; the room and service level suggest guests dress accordingly. Gotemba is a resort-adjacent area, so the atmosphere is slightly more relaxed than a central Tokyo equivalent, but this is still a formal course meal.
Lunch is the stronger choice if the Mount Fuji view matters to you, and the price is lower: JPY 10,000–14,999 versus JPY 20,000–29,999 at dinner based on reviewer data. Last order at lunch is 12:30 PM, so arrive by 11:30 AM. Dinner offers a more extended evening experience but without the view advantage. For value-to-experience ratio, lunch wins.
Yes, with caveats. The 54-seat main room is accessible for solo diners, but private rooms start at 2 guests. Solo dining at a formal French course in Japan can feel self-conscious in some venues; the relaxed, house-restaurant atmosphere here makes it more comfortable than most. The price per person is the same regardless of party size.
Gotemba is not a dense dining city, so the realistic alternatives involve a short drive or a trip into the broader Shizuoka or greater Tokyo area. For classical French with heavier accolades, HAJIME and Les Amis are regional reference points. For a completely different format at a similar occasion level, Harutaka in Tokyo represents the sushi tier. Within the Gotemba area itself, Maison Kei is the clear destination-meal option at this price point.
Yes, and the private rooms are the reason. Rooms for 2, 4, 6, or 8 guests are available, fully private, and appropriate for anniversaries, business dinners, or family milestones. Children are welcome if the party takes the course menu, which is unusual at this price tier. A sommelier is available, the wine program is taken seriously, and the Mount Fuji view at lunch adds a visual element that most special-occasion restaurants in urban Japan cannot match.
The database does not confirm specific dietary accommodation policies. Contact the restaurant directly before booking: phone reservations are taken 10:00–11:30 AM and 3:00–5:30 PM at +81-550-81-2231, or book online via maisonkei.jp and note requirements there. For a French course format, advance notice is essential regardless of venue.
Booking difficulty is rated Easy relative to comparable Japanese fine-dining venues. One to two weeks ahead should be sufficient for weekday slots; book two to three weeks out for weekend lunch, which is the most sought-after service. Same-day and next-day cancellations carry significant charges (100% and 50% respectively), so only book when plans are confirmed.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maison Kei | Easy | — | |
| HAJIME | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown | — |
| Harutaka | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown | — |
| RyuGin | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown | — |
| L'Effervescence | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown | — |
| HOMMAGE | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown | — |
A quick look at how Maison Kei measures up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
