VENTINOVE
Italian · Kawaba
Restaurant in Kawaba, Japan
Book with PearlThe Read
Brewery-Ground Italian
Price
$100–150per person
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
VENTINOVE is worth booking for a quiet, ingredient-led Italian meal in Kawaba, especially for a date or special occasion where the setting matters. It is less useful as a casual Italian fallback; DA PEPI is the easier value alternative, while canade and Don Bravo suit diners who want a more city-style Italian experience.
About VENTINOVE
VENTINOVE is an Italian restaurant in Kawaba with a price range of JPY 15,000-19,999. It is best considered as a planned meal rather than a casual fallback, especially because its hours are limited to 3–9 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with Wednesday and Thursday closed. For diners comparing other restaurant options, DA PEPI is one useful reference point, while VENTINOVE is the Kawaba choice in this set.
The main reasons to consider VENTINOVE are direct: Italian cuisine, a smart-casual dress code, a higher price band, and recognition from The Japan Times Destination Restaurants Selection #2 in 2024, Tabelog 100 in 2025, and Tabelog Bronze in 2026. If the meal is part of a longer stay, plan around the hours and the two weekly closed days.
Italian dining in Kawaba with a higher price range
The clearest case for booking VENTINOVE is that it offers Italian dining in Kawaba at JPY 15,000-19,999. That makes it more suitable for diners who are intentionally planning a meal than for anyone looking for a quick, low-commitment stop. The smart-casual dress code also points to a restaurant where guests should arrive prepared rather than treating it as an improvised visit.
For comparison, Il Pregio and Don Bravo are useful restaurant reference points for diners deciding what kind of meal they want. VENTINOVE's Kawaba location, Italian cuisine, price range, hours, and recognition distinguish it.
Book for a planned meal, not for convenience
VENTINOVE's schedule makes planning important. It is listed as open from 3–9 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and closed on Wednesday and Thursday. There is no lunch service listed, so plan around the afternoon-to-evening hours when arranging your itinerary.
The price range also makes it a better fit for diners who are comfortable committing to a higher-spend Italian meal. If you are comparing other restaurants, DA PEPI, Fogliolina della Porta Fortuna, and canade can help frame the decision depending on the kind of meal, location, and availability you are considering.
Where it sits against recognized dining peers
VENTINOVE has recognition from The Japan Times Destination Restaurants Selection #2 in 2024, Tabelog 100 in 2025, and Tabelog Bronze in 2026. Those accolades make it a credible option for diners looking specifically at recognized restaurants.
Among comparison options, canade, Don Bravo, Il Pregio, Fogliolina della Porta Fortuna, and DA PEPI are useful names to consider alongside VENTINOVE. The most important differences for VENTINOVE are its Kawaba location, Italian cuisine, JPY 15,000-19,999 price range, smart-casual dress code, and limited weekly hours.
Planning details
- Location
- 2593-1 Yachi, Kawaba, Tone District, Gunma 378-0101, Japan
- Reservations
- Book on TableCheck
- Website
- 29ventinove.com
- Phone
- +81
The take
The Take
The Vibe
VENTINOVE presents a quietly serious, house-restaurant approach to Italian cooking set deep in Gunma’s mountain interior. Housed on the grounds of Tsuchida Sake Brewery, it reads as an intimate, destination-minded spot: small, reservation-only and deliberately off the beaten track. The setting and service frame the food as part of a regional conversation rather than a city spectacle. Dining here feels focused and private, the kind of restrained, thoughtful experience that rewards travel and patience rather than impulse visits.
Best For
This is destination dining for travelers who plan ahead. VENTINOVE suits couples and small groups seeking a special-occasion or weekend escape: it operates five days a week, is reservation-only and asks visitors to book at least a month in advance. The restaurant’s mountain location means most guests arrive by car or pre-arranged taxi (about 30–40 minutes from nearby stations), so it works best for visitors who can commit to travel time and a deliberate schedule rather than walk-in spontaneity.
Ordering Tips
Book as early as possible: the restaurant advises planning a month and ideally two in advance. Note the weekly schedule (closed Wednesdays and Thursdays) and that it operates on a reservation-only model. Practical transport planning matters: most guests arrive by car or pre-arranged taxi; there is a bus option with a stop at Yachi Iriguchi roughly 70 metres away. When you book, ask about the signature Akagi beef bistecca so you can reserve or prioritize that dish if it’s available.
Venue details
Ambiance
Spacious dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows framing mountain scenery, sleek modern architecture in a sylvan setting.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Sourcing
View
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
- Kitchen
- Seasonal
- Private Dining
- Available
Signature Dishes
Akagi beef bistecca
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 2593-1 Yachi, Kawaba, Tone District, Gunma 378-0101, Japan
Planning details
Location
2593-1 Yachi, Kawaba, Tone District, Gunma 378-0101, Japan · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Fogliolina della Porta Fortuna, Italian, Italian
- DA PEPI, Italian, ¥¥
- Don Bravo, Italian, Italian
- canade, Italian, ¥¥¥
- Il Pregio, Italian, Italian
Restaurant context
How VENTINOVE compares with other Italian options
Choose VENTINOVE when the meal is meant to feel destination-driven and ingredient-led. Compared with DA PEPI, it asks for a higher level of commitment and suits a more deliberate occasion; DA PEPI is the better call for value and a lower-pressure Italian meal.
canade is the closer cross-shop for diners who want a higher-tier Italian experience without making Kawaba the center of the plan. Don Bravo and Il Pregio are stronger fits for guests who prefer a polished urban Italian frame over a rural destination dinner.
Fogliolina della Porta Fortuna is worth considering if the priority is another serious Italian booking rather than a cheaper alternative. For Kawaba specifically, VENTINOVE is the pick when ambiance, sourcing, and occasion value matter more than ease or flexibility.
Explore Kawaba
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full VENTINOVE guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare VENTINOVE
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VENTINOVE | Kawaba | Italian | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #503Tabelog 100 - Italian - EAST - 2025 · #782024 The Japan Times Destination Restaurants · #2 | JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999 |
| Fogliolina della Porta Fortuna | Nagano | Italian | 2026 Tabelog Silver · #212026 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #125Tabelog 100 - Italian - EAST - 2025 · #422025 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #962025 Tabelog Silver | , |
| DA PEPI | Tokyo | Italian | 2026 Gambero Rosso Top Italian Restaurants2026 Michelin PlateTabelog 100 - Italian - TOKYO - 2025 · #532025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | ¥¥ |
| Don Bravo | Tokyo | Italian | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #552026 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan RecommendedTabelog 100 - Italian - TOKYO - 2025 · #872025 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #4172022 The Japan Times Destination Restaurants · #3 | , |
| canade | Tokyo | Italian | 2026 Michelin PlateTabelog 100 - Italian - TOKYO - 2025 · #592025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | ¥¥¥ |
| Il Pregio | Tokyo | Italian | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan RecommendedTabelog 100 - Italian - TOKYO - 2025 · #642025 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #4942024 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #421 | , |
.png?width=1200&quality=80)
How VENTINOVE Kawaba compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives or comparisons to VENTINOVE?
For comparison, consider Fogliolina della Porta Fortuna, DA PEPI, Don Bravo, canade, or Il Pregio as restaurant reference points. VENTINOVE itself is the Kawaba option in this set, with recognition from The Japan Times Destination Restaurants Selection #2 (2024), Tabelog 100 (2025), and Tabelog Bronze (2026).
Is VENTINOVE good for solo dining?
VENTINOVE can be considered by solo diners who are comfortable planning a higher-priced Italian meal in Kawaba. The price range is JPY 15,000-19,999, and the limited hours make it a planned meal.
How far ahead should I book VENTINOVE?
Plan around the listed schedule: VENTINOVE is open 3–9 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and closed Wednesday and Thursday. No specific booking lead time is given, so check availability directly before making plans.
Is VENTINOVE worth the price?
It is worth considering for diners who want Italian dining in Kawaba and are comfortable with the JPY 15,000-19,999 range. Its recognition includes The Japan Times Destination Restaurants Selection #2 (2024), Tabelog 100 (2025), and Tabelog Bronze (2026).
Is VENTINOVE good for a special occasion?
VENTINOVE is a reasonable special-occasion candidate for diners seeking Italian cuisine in Kawaba at JPY 15,000-19,999. The smart-casual dress code, limited weekly hours, and recognition all support treating it as a planned meal.
