Restaurant in Osaka, Japan
Michelin-starred kaiseki. Book well ahead.
Sawada is a Michelin-starred, six-seat kaiseki counter in Osaka's Fukushima district, recognised with consecutive Tabelog Silver Awards (2025, 2026) and a score of 4.39. The fish-forward omakase runs JPY 20,000–39,999 all-in, BYO is permitted, and reservations are made exclusively through the OMAKASE platform. Book well in advance — this is one of western Japan's most credential-backed small counters.
Sawada in Osaka's Fukushima district is one of the most credential-backed kaiseki counters in western Japan, and the case for booking is strong. A Michelin star, consecutive Tabelog Silver Awards in 2025 and 2026, and selection for the Tabelog Japanese Cuisine WEST Top 100 put it in a tier where the question is not whether the cooking is serious but whether the format fits your evening. It does, if you want a focused, fish-forward omakase in a six-seat counter setting where the meal is the entire event. Budget JPY 20,000–29,999 per head at stated prices, though reviewer-reported spend runs JPY 30,000–39,999 including drinks and service charge.
Sawada opened in Fukushima, Osaka in July 2023 and has accumulated awards at a rate that suggests it arrived with intent rather than ambition. The counter seats just six — occasionally stretching to seven or eight depending on the evening — which means every seat is a front-row position. The room is described as stylish and relaxing with spacious counter seating, and the venue is wheelchair accessible, a detail worth noting for groups with specific access needs.
The cooking philosophy, as Tabelog describes it, is one of restraint: seasonings are minimised to let the natural flavours of ingredients and dashi carry the meal. This is kaiseki with a Shiga pedigree , the chef's training shows in appetiser platters that reference mountain village scenes, shared hotpots, and clay-pot rice dishes finished with noodles. The progression moves from composed small plates toward rice, which is the structural logic of traditional kaiseki. For diners accustomed to the tasting-menu format where each course escalates in richness, Sawada's arc is more meditative: the meal builds laterally across textures and temperatures rather than vertically toward a single climactic dish.
Fish sourcing is a stated priority. In kaiseki terms, this means the seasonal catch dictates the menu more than any fixed repertoire , which is precisely what makes it a poor fit for diners who want to know in advance what they will eat, and an excellent fit for those who want the kitchen to make every decision. The drink list focuses on sake and shochu, and BYO is permitted, which is a meaningful practical advantage if you have a bottle you have been saving for a special occasion. Credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners); electronic money and QR code payments are not.
The venue sits roughly six minutes' walk from JR Shin-Fukushima Station and eight minutes from JR Fukushima Station. Parking is not available on-site, though coin parking is nearby. The neighbourhood is residential enough that the venue asks smokers to be considerate of surroundings when using the designated alleyway area.
One structural constraint matters for group planning: the maximum party size is eight for a full private-use booking, but the standard counter maximum for walk-in or reservation seating is effectively six. Private room hire is not available. If your group is larger than two or three, confirm seating configuration when booking. Reservations are made through the OMAKASE platform; the venue notes that phone lines are not always answered, so the platform is the more reliable route.
Children are welcome on a dedicated family reception day held once a month , contact the venue directly to confirm dates. For every other service, the counter is adult-oriented by default. Business hours run from 17:30, with a second seating from 20:30. The venue is closed Wednesdays and on irregular additional days; always confirm before you travel.
For context on how Sawada sits within Osaka's wider dining options, see our full Osaka restaurants guide. Comparable kaiseki experiences in the city include Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama and Taian. If you are building an itinerary across the Kansai region, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto and akordu in Nara are worth considering alongside Sawada. For those travelling further, Harutaka in Tokyo, Goh in Fukuoka, and Myojaku and Azabu Kadowaki in Tokyo represent comparable commitment to Japanese cuisine craft. Also on Pearl: Miyamoto, Oimatsu Hisano, Tenjimbashi Aoki, and Yugen for alternative Osaka options. For hotels, bars, and experiences in the city: Osaka hotels guide, Osaka bars guide, Osaka wineries guide, Osaka experiences guide.
Sawada is a six-seat kaiseki counter in Fukushima, Osaka. The menu is omakase , the kitchen decides everything , with fish as the central focus and seasonings kept deliberately light so the ingredients carry the meal. Budget JPY 20,000–29,999 at minimum; reviewer spend trends higher once drinks and service are added. Book through the OMAKASE platform in advance. Photography and phone use rules vary by service , check current policy when booking. The counter format means this is a shared, intimate experience, not a setting for loud celebrations or large groups.
Book as early as possible, and plan for several weeks minimum. With only six counter seats, a Michelin star, and consecutive Tabelog Silver awards, availability is tight. The OMAKASE platform is the primary booking channel , phone lines are not reliably answered. If you are visiting Osaka on a fixed itinerary, secure the reservation before booking flights. Monday, Thursday, and Sunday are closed days at the Tokyo Sawada; for the Osaka location, Wednesdays and irregular days are closed , confirm directly.
Yes, for the right kind of occasion. The six-seat counter, high-focus omakase format, and Michelin-starred cooking make it well suited to a serious dinner for two. The maximum party size for a full private-use booking is eight, but standard counter dining caps at six, and private rooms are unavailable. BYO is permitted, so bringing a special bottle is an option. It is recommended by Tabelog reviewers specifically for occasions with friends. For a milestone dinner that centres on the food rather than spectacle, Sawada delivers.
The entire dining room is a counter , six seats, occasionally seven or eight. There is no separate bar or lounge area. Every seat is a counter seat, which means you are in the kitchen's eye line for the full meal. This is the format, not an option within it. If you prefer a more separated table experience, Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama offers a different room configuration at a lower price point.
At JPY 20,000–29,999 per head (with real-world spend closer to JPY 30,000–39,999), Sawada sits at the serious end of Osaka dining. Against that spend, you get a Michelin-starred, Tabelog Silver counter that opened in 2023 and has built a credential stack faster than most venues manage in a decade. The BYO policy reduces drink costs meaningfully. If kaiseki is the format you want and Osaka is where you are, this is one of the stronger cases for spending at this level in the city.
If restrained, ingredient-driven kaiseki is what you are after, yes. The menu's architecture , minimised seasonings, dashi-forward technique, fish-focused sourcing, clay-pot rice toward the close , follows traditional progression logic without trying to impress through complexity. The Tabelog score of 4.39 and Silver award status reflect consistent execution rather than a single standout dish. It is a better choice than venues that chase novelty with technique; it is a less obvious choice if you want a more theatrical or French-influenced tasting experience, in which case HAJIME or Fujiya 1935 are stronger alternatives.
For kaiseki at a lower price point, Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama (¥¥¥) and Taian (¥¥¥) are the obvious comparisons. For innovative cooking at a similar spend, HAJIME and Fujiya 1935 both operate at ¥¥¥¥ and offer French-inflected menus. La Cime is the strongest alternative if you want a French tasting menu at the same price tier. For more Osaka options, see Miyamoto, Yugen, and Oimatsu Hisano.
No dress code is formally stated, but at JPY 20,000–39,000 per head in a six-seat Michelin-starred counter, smart casual is the practical baseline. Avoid anything that would draw attention in a quiet, focused room. The counter setting means you are visible throughout the meal; dress for a formal dinner rather than a casual night out.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Sawada | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| HAJIME | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| La Cime | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama | ¥¥¥ | — |
| Taian | ¥¥¥ | — |
| Fujiya 1935 | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
How Sawada stacks up against the competition.
Sawada is a six-seat counter kaiseki restaurant in Fukushima, Osaka, open since July 2023. It holds a Michelin star (2024) and consecutive Tabelog Silver awards (2025 and 2026), which makes it oversubscribed relative to its size. The kitchen philosophy centres on minimising seasoning to let the fish and dashi carry the flavour, so expect restraint rather than spectacle. Reservations are only accepted through the OMAKASE booking platform — there is no walk-in option.
Book as early as the OMAKASE platform allows, which typically means weeks to months in advance for a six-seat counter with this level of recognition. Sawada has held Tabelog Silver in 2025 and 2026 and a Michelin star, so demand consistently outpaces supply. Check the OMAKASE site directly for current availability windows, and note that cancellations are generally not permitted.
Yes, with one practical caveat: the maximum party size is eight, but the counter normally seats six, so groups larger than two or three will need to confirm seating arrangements in advance. Tabelog reviewers specifically flag family occasions as a strong fit, and Sawada operates a dedicated child-reception day once a month, which is uncommon at this price point. For a couple's dinner, the six-seat counter format works well.
The entire restaurant is a counter — all six seats face the kitchen directly. There is no separate dining room or table seating. This format suits solo diners and pairs well; groups of more than four should confirm arrangements at booking, as the counter can stretch to seven or eight seats depending on circumstances.
At JPY 20,000–30,000 per person at dinner (with review-based averages running closer to JPY 30,000–40,000), Sawada sits at the lower end of Michelin-starred kaiseki pricing in Japan's major cities. The Tabelog Silver Award and a 4.39 score back up the quality claim. For a six-seat counter kaiseki with this credential stack, the pricing is competitive — particularly compared with Tokyo counterparts at equivalent award levels.
The kaiseki format here is the only option — there is no à la carte. The kitchen focuses on fish-forward cooking with minimal seasoning, letting dashi and natural ingredient flavours do the work, which is a precise and considered approach rather than a varied tasting progression. If you want high-impact, ingredient-driven kaiseki at a price point below Tokyo's Michelin tier, this is a strong case. If you prefer more elaborate multi-component progression, a restaurant like Hajime in Osaka offers a different register.
For kaiseki in Osaka, Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama and Taian are the most direct comparisons in terms of format and credential level. La Cime and Fujiya 1935 take a more contemporary approach if the traditional kaiseki framework is not your preference. HAJIME operates at a significantly higher price and abstraction level, making it a different proposition entirely. Sawada's pricing and counter scale make it a more accessible entry point than most of these peers.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
