1
Maruaki Hida Takayama Branch

Great value because it’s run by a butcher shop. Compare different cuts of Hida beef at a yakiniku restaurant

Founded in Yoro Town in 1983 (Showa 58), this butcher shop has been sharing the appeal of Hida Beef—often called a “work of art in meat”—ever since. The owner personally attends auctions every week and purchases entire Hida Beef cattle based on his expert judgment, so you can even find rare cuts here.

The Dining Area attached to the Hida Takayama store offers a great value Hida Beef lunch, available only on weekdays.We recommend the “Hida Beef Trimmings Yakiniku Set,” which features 2–3 different cuts that change daily. When you quickly sear both sides on a hot roaster, the distinct textures of each cut and the sweetness of the fat, which slowly seeps out, will fill your mouth.

Savour Hida beef, carefully selected by experts, through a diverse menu

In addition to the Yakiniku Set, the weekday lunch menu features a variety of ways to enjoy Hida Beef, including steak rice bowls, sukiyaki rice bowls, and the Hoba Miso-grilled Set.
On weekends, the full menu is available.You can fully savor A5 Hida beef through a wide variety of dishes, including yakiniku, steak, shabu-shabu, sukiyaki, roast beef, and nigiri sushi. Among these, the shabu-shabu made with “Saito-bi Hida Beef”—the highest grade—is a dish that lets you experience the very essence of Hida beef. It’s the perfect choice for a slightly indulgent lunch.

Local Guide
Supporters

The Dining Area extends to the second floor and is spacious. At the butcher shop next door, “Akachan Curry”—a retort-packaged beef curry containing Hida beef—is a popular souvenir. “Maruaki Old Town Branch” has also opened and is generating a lot of buzz.

Maruaki Hida Takayama Branch

• 6-8 Tenma-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 7-minute walk from JR Takayama Station
• 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. (Last Order 8:30 p.m.)
  *Lunch menu available only on weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Last Order)
• January 1
• 0577-35-5858
• Free of charge

2
Matsuki Beef

Be captivated by the aromatic aroma of charcoal-grilled meat and the rich umami of Hida Beef

This is a sister restaurant of “Matsuki Sushi,” known as “the sushi restaurant that also serves steak.” Based on the concept of “a steakhouse that also serves sushi,” the restaurant specializes in A5-grade Hida beef and serves steaks slowly grilled over charcoal.
The most popular lunch item is the “120g A5 Hida Beef Thigh Steak with Rice Set.” Served on a piping-hot lava stone plate, the steak’s charcoal-grilled aroma tickles your nose, and you can savor its perfect texture and the rich umami flavor that unfolds with every bite.Three types of dipping sauces are available: house-made miso, grated ponzu, and garlic soy sauce. Adding a bit of chopped wasabi for a refreshing twist is also a delightful option.

Hida Beef paired with seafood, too. A selection of dishes crafted with sushi-style expertise

The interior, featuring a long counter made of Japanese hackberry wood and rows of tables, has a bright and open atmosphere. Hida beef ribeye and sirloin are displayed on the counter, and the immersive experience of watching steaks sizzle over charcoal or on a hot plate is unique to this restaurant.
Other lunch options include a beef cutlet set meal—made with tender, lean thigh meat fried at a low temperature—as well as a loin steak rice bowl, nigiri sushi featuring Hokkaido sea urchin paired with Hida beef, a steak-and-sushi combo, and seafood rice bowls. Be sure to check out the seafood menu, which draws on the expertise of the restaurant’s sister location.

Local Guide
Supporters

This restaurant is located on the first floor of a building just a short walk from Takayama Station. From the main street, you can see the meat sizzling over charcoal through the glass, making it hard not to stop and take a look. The sturdy counter made of Japanese horse chestnut wood is perfect for solo diners, allowing you to enjoy your meal while watching the chef at work.

Matsuki Ushi

• 1st Floor, ARC Building, 1-17 Hanaoka-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• About a 3-minute walk from JR Takayama Station
• 11:00 AM–9:00 PM (last order), Lunch until 2:00 PM (last order)
• Closed on weekends and holidays
• 0577-57-8898
• Free of charge

3
Restaurant Cresson

Hida beef hamburger steaks are enhanced by a rich, savory demi-glace sauce

Since its founding in 1984 (Showa 59), this Western-style restaurant has been a local favorite. Every day, many people visit to enjoy carefully selected A5-grade Hida beef steaks, as well as hamburger steaks, beef stew, and spare ribs.The hamburger steak is made with a generous amount of blended ground beef containing Hida beef, supplied by the long-established neighborhood butcher shop “Tengu Sohonten.” When you cut into it, the cheese wrapped inside peeks out.When you take a bite along with the demi-glace sauce—prepared over the course of a week by a chef with over 50 years of experience in French cuisine—a deep, rich flavor spreads across your palate, and the tender meat melts in your mouth.

After your meal, enjoy our popular crepes while gazing at the green courtyard

One of the restaurant’s charms is that, in addition to meat dishes, you can also enjoy omurice, spaghetti, and gratins. The “House-Special Beef Curry”—which the chef learned from an Indian mentor during his training in Tokyo—has a vivid spiciness that’s truly addictive.
For dessert, try one of their crispy crêpes. The “Apple Cinnamon Cream,” filled with sweet-and-sour stewed apples and fresh whipped cream, is the most popular choice. You can spend a leisurely moment here while gazing out at the lush, green courtyard garden, which even attracts small birds.

Local Guide
Supporters

As you walk up the approach to this stylish concrete building, you’re greeted by a garden that blends Japanese and Western styles. It’s a hidden-gem Restaurant run by a charming couple. For weekday lunch, they offer an affordable daily special that comes with soup, salad, and a drink.

Restaurant Cresson

• 1st Floor, SING Building, 46 Yuraku-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• About a 10-minute walk from JR Takayama Station
• 10:00 AM–3:00 PM (Meals: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM [last order]), 6:00 PM–10:00 PM (last order at 9:00 PM)
• Thursdays
• 0577-32-6976
• Free of charge

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Kinnoko Kotte Beef

Hida beef nigiri served medium-rare, showcasing our commitment to quality ingredients

A restaurant specializing in Hida beef nigiri, located near the historic “Old Town” district. When you order, they prepare the nigiri using Hida beef cooked to medium-rare, then lightly sear it before serving. The signature “Hida Beef Nigiri Sushi” (2 pieces) features a rare cut rare cuts The "Goraku" is a "gourmet" restaurant that offers a variety of dining options. “Bamboo Tube Salt,” a blend of two types of salt and a fragrant ginger soy sauce made by combining ginger from Amami Oshima with reduced soy sauce—you can savor each piece one at a time. Take a bite and enjoy the toasty aroma and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

The rice used for the vinegared rice is Hida-grown rice, carefully selected for its suitability for sushi . Using shrimp crackers mixed with aosa seaweed as plates is another unique feature of this restaurant. The flavor is intentionally kept light so as not to interfere with the aftertaste of the Hida beef nigiri.

Take a break in a modern restaurant housed in a renovated old storehouse

Another popular dish is the “Hida Beef Gunkan , ” featuring finely chopped grilled Hida beef topped with a house-made savory-spicy sauce and a quail egg yolk. The “Hida Beef Toro Sashi Nigiri” features sirloin with fine marbling, shaped into a nigiri.Wasabi soy sauce and thinly sliced green onions bring out the rich flavor of the melt-in-your-mouth fat. When sudachi citrus is in season, the “Sudachi Hida Beef Nigiri”—served with sudachi and the restaurant’s secret house-made ponzu sauce for a refreshing taste—also makes an appearance.
Place your order at the counter out front. Once you’ve received your sushi, you can relax and savor it in the spacious interior—a renovated former soy sauce warehouse.

Local Guide
Supporters

This is a sister restaurant to “Kotte-ushi,” located in the historic townscape. “Kotte-ushi” refers to a sturdy bull that won’t budge an inch, no matter how hard you push or pull. Across the courtyard is the affiliated Japanese-style café “Hanakuka.” You can also enjoy nigiri sushi at that building.

Kino Kotte Beef

• 76 Kami-Ninomachi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• About a 15-minute walk from JR Takayama Station
• 10:00 AM–5:00 PM *Closes when sold out
• Thursdays
• 0577-32-0397
• None

5
ONDO

Take a breather with a bowl of pho featuring a clear broth infused with the rich flavor of Hida beef

This property was renovated while preserving the charm of a merchant’s house over 150 years old. Centered around a kitchen, coffee shop, guided tours, and event planning, it’s a multi-purpose property that showcases the unique character of Hida Takayama through the eyes of locals.

In the kitchen located in the center of the building, they serve “Hida Beef Tail Pho” for lunch. The broth is made by simmering Wagyu beef tails for over 8 hours and seasoned with herbs and spices such as cilantro and fennel seeds, along with salt and fish sauce.This is paired with smooth, easy-to-swallow rice noodles and topped with Hida beef seared just enough to remain rare. The clear broth is light yet full of deep, rich flavor and umami—a taste that makes you want to drink every last drop.

A cozy spot in a renovated traditional townhouse

Other lunch options include the “Hida Jidori Herb Salad” featuring crispy, aromatic grilled chicken, and the “Sansho Keema Curry,” flavored with sansho pepper—a specialty of Okuhida—all made with ingredients sourced from Hida.Lunch orders are accepted until 4:30 p.m., making it convenient for a late lunch. The drink menu features natural wines, craft beers, and junmai sake, all of which pair perfectly withthe authenticHida Takayamacuisine.In the evening, guests can choose from set courses (reservations required) and à la carte options,and on weekends, a breakfast menu featuring an abundance of vegetables is also available.

Local Guide
Supporters

In this sophisticated space, tourists from abroad and local residents gather to enjoy their time as they please. Events such as live music performances, talk sessions, and pop-up stores are also held here. Feel free to drop by and experience everyday life in Hida Takayama.

ONDO

• 48 Shimo-Ninomachi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• About a 15-minute walk from JR Takayama Station
• 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. (Lunch last order 4:30 p.m., Dinner 5:30 p.m.–last order 9:30 p.m.)
  Fri & Sat 8:00–22:00 (Breakfast last order 10:30, Lunch 11:00–last order 16:30, Dinner 17:30–last order 21:30)
  Sunday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (Breakfast last order 10:30 AM, Lunch 11:00 AM–last order 4:30 PM)
• Irregular holidays (check Instagram)
• 0577-57-7477
• None

6
Nagase

“Tecchan,” a local favorite for over 60 years, is the specialty

This unpretentious diner, now in its third generation, is located in the Okuhida Hot Spring Village. It serves the same menu for both lunch and dinner. If you want to savor the local specialty, Hida beef, “Tecchan” is a must-try. Tecchan refers to beef large intestine—a rare offal cut that yields only a small amount from each Hida beef cow.
The soup is based on the broth from the restaurant’s popular Chinese-style noodles, made with kombu and dried sardines. They stir in their house-blend miso, add the Tetsuchan and cabbage, and simmer it all together before serving the entire pot right at your table.The chewy texture of the Tetsuchan and the rich, sweet flavor of its fat harmonize perfectly with the miso-flavored soup, creating a dish so delicious you won’t be able to put your chopsticks down.

Enjoy Hida beef offal in a hot pot-style dish, served with udon noodles

For lunch, a popular option is to add a ramen or udon noodle ball to the techan hot pot and simmer them together— a popular way to enjoy it. “Since ramen noodles are thin and curly and tend to get soggy, udon noodles are recommended ,” says the proprietress. The tender, simmered udon slides down easily, soaking up the rich miso broth for a comforting flavor. Other popular items among locals include the light soy sauce-flavored Chinese-style noodles and yakisoba topped with a fried egg.

Local Guide
Supporters

“Tecchan” is served in a large cast-iron pot placed directly on a gas burner. It’s a hearty portion, but the crunchy texture of the cabbage adds a nice contrast, making it easy to polish off in no time. They also offer “Tonchan,” a mix of various cuts of pork.

Nagase

• 868-3 Ichigegane, Okuhida Hot Spring Area, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture MAP
• Take a bus from Hirayu Bus Terminal; get off at “Shin-Hirayu Hot Spring” and walk about 1 minute
• 10:00 AM–2:00 PM (last order 1:30 PM), 5:00 PM–8:00 PM (last order 7:30 PM)
  *May close early
• Thursdays and the 4th Wednesday of each month
• 0578-89-2505
• Free of charge