Nagato (Yamaguchi)
Local Guide
5 recommended yakitori restaurants in Nagato City, the

Nagato Yakitori" is one of the most delicious delicacies of Nagato City, along with seafood. Nagato, with its Senzaki Port and thriving fishing industry, began to produce its specialty, kamaboko, in the Meiji period (1868-1912). The poultry farming industry also developed in parallel, using the fish grounds generated in the process as bait. An agricultural cooperative specializing in poultry farming was established, a rarity in Japan, and the area became one of the leading chicken meat production areas in western Japan. The number of yakitori restaurants, which have gradually increased due to the easy access to fresh chicken meat, is now one of the highest in Japan per 100,000 people. This article introduces five recommended restaurants in Nagato, the "town of yakitori. We will visit some of the oldest and most popular yakitori restaurants in Nagato, and other restaurants with a variety of personalities that are sure to become repeat customers.

A wide variety of excellent skewers of "Choshu Kuro-Kashiwa" and "Choshu Tori" (Choshu chicken)!

From left: “Choshu Black Chicken” “chicken tender,” “thigh,” and “wing drumette”
From left: “Choshu Black Chicken” “chicken tender,” “thigh,” and “wing drumette”

A renowned restaurant that has introduced the world to the charms of Nagato Yakitori. Nagato Yakitori uses both the standard “Choshu-dori” chicken and the “Choshu Kurokashiwa,” which is raised with even greater care and attention to detail.The restaurant’s Choshu Kurokashiwa skewers are particularly popular. You can enjoy three varieties: “Tebamoto” (wing tips) with crispy, aromatic skin; “Momo” (thighs), which are hearty and packed with savory flavor; and “Sasami” (tenderloin), served with two types of paste—plum and wasabi.
The Chōshū chicken skewers are also delicious. One of the recommendations, “chicken skin,” is boiled once during preparation to remove excess fat, resulting in an irresistibly savory flavor. It’s a masterpiece that will have you wanting to eat skewer after skewer.

This restaurant is synonymous with Nagato yakitori. The secret of its popularity is its extensive menu.

The spacious tatami room, counter seats, and private rooms make it easy to use the restaurant by yourself or in a group.
The spacious tatami room, counter seats, and private rooms make it easy to use the restaurant by yourself or in a group.

The owner is a key figure in promoting “Nagato, the City of Yakitori” nationwide, and this restaurant has become synonymous with Nagato-style yakitori. Since its founding, the staff has consisted entirely of women, and the restaurant is popular with families and groups of women because it’s a welcoming place even for those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks.
In addition to classic skewers, the menu features a wide variety of creative options such as “Mountain Yam Rolls” and “Shiitake Mushroom, Tuna, and Cheese.” Along with dried local fish like “Hirataro” and “Senzaki Squid Dried Overnight,” the restaurant offers an extensive selection of a la carte dishes, allowing you to savor Nagato’s finest mountain and sea delicacies while enjoying yakitori as the main attraction.


Local Guide

The "Nagatori-men" (chicken noodle soup) is an absolute must. You can enjoy the taste of Nagato's all-natural ingredients, such as chicken stock, skin, and vegetables from Choshu black kashiwa chicken, a broth made with locally produced soy sauce, and tender Choshu chicken chashu pork.

Yakitoriya Chikuzen Sohonten
  • Address 892-1 Higashifukawa, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 5 min. walk from JR Nagato City Station
  • Business Hours 17:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:30)
  • Closed Days Sundays
  • Phone 0837-22-0735
  • Parking Free

A rare restaurant open for lunch. Set meals featuring yakitori are recommended.

The “Choshu Chicken” yakitori, especially the “thigh” and “tsukune,” are popular. You can enjoy them as part of a set meal during lunch service
The “Choshu Chicken” yakitori, especially the “thigh” and “tsukune,” are popular. You can enjoy them as part of a set meal during lunch service

This is a sister restaurant of the famous "Chikuzen Sohonten" introduced earlier. Fresh local Choshu chicken is skewered every morning and carefully grilled over a charcoal fire, creating an exquisite taste. It is one of the few yakitori restaurants open for lunch, and the most popular dishes are "momo" and "tsukune". The lunch-only set meal "Sakura Gohan" includes these two items plus one skewer of the day's special, and is served in a set with sashimi and other local fish. Of course, you are also welcome to add individual items.
The "Naga Chiki," fried chicken with sweet and spicy sauce, is a must-try on evenings when the menu is full of single items. Hot and freshly fried with plenty of juices, it is one of the restaurant's prized items, along with its yakitori.

Popular among tourists and families. Take-out is available from a single skewer.

In addition to counter seating, there is also tatami room seating that can be partitioned off into fusu.
In addition to counter seating, there is also tatami room seating that can be partitioned off into fusu.

The restaurant is located on a street along the Onshin River in Nagato's Yumoto hot spring resort area. Like its sister restaurant "Chikuzen," it is run by a female owner and is popular with children and groups of women. It is also popular among tourists because they can stop by during lunch hours. Walking around the neighborhood is also a fun way to enjoy eating, and takeout is available from a single skewer. It is also recommended to sit on the riverside and enjoy yakitori.
At night, in addition to yakitori, there is a full menu of a la carte dishes that can be enjoyed with drinks. You can enjoy nodoguro (northern bluefin tuna), kensaki squid dried overnight, and other delicacies.


Local Guide

Chicken Chicken Gobo" is the soul food of Yamaguchi Prefecture, consisting of fried chicken and fried burdock with sweet and spicy sauce, and is served yakitori style on skewers instead of the usual style of serving on a plate. It is an inevitable and irresistible taste that makes you want to eat it again and again.

Yakitori Sakura Shokudo
  • Address 1272-6 Fukagawa Yumoto, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 10 min. walk from JR Nagato Yumoto Stn.
  • Business hours 11:00 - 14:30 (L.O. 14:00), 17:00 - 22:00 (L.O. 21:30)
  • Regular holiday Thursdays (open if Thursday is a national holiday, closed on another day)
  • Phone 0837-25-3660
  • Parking None (use Nagato Yumoto hot spring parking lot)
  • Memo Reservations accepted only at night

Also, look out for the creative menu. A restaurant behind the station loved by local customers.

From left: the signature “Tomarigi Skewer,” “heart,” “pork belly,” and “tsukune”
From left: the signature “Tomarigi Skewer,” “heart,” “pork belly,” and “tsukune”

Located on the west side of Nagato Station, where various restaurants line the street, the shop is marked by a red lantern bearing the characters for “yakitori.” The signature “Tomarigi Skewer” was created to showcase the deliciousness of Choshu chicken thighs. It’s an Italian-inspired specialty topped with two sauces: tomato-garlic and basil.The flavor of the two sauces and their mild, pleasant spiciness pair perfectly with the rich taste of the thigh meat.
The owner, who once worked as a poultry butcher, knows the unique flavors of each cut inside and out, which fuels his enthusiasm for creating original dishes like the “Tomarigi Skewer.”

Excellent yakitori made with careful preparation. Be sure to check out the rare parts!

Inside the restaurant, there are mainly counter seats. The aroma of yakitori grilled over charcoal is appetizing.
Inside the restaurant, there are mainly counter seats. The aroma of yakitori grilled over charcoal is appetizing.

The classic skewers are also exquisite. The “liver” and “gizzard” are carefully soaked in water to remove any unpleasant odor, and the “chicken skin” is blanched beforehand—the restaurant is thorough in its time-consuming preparation. They even insist on using their own homemade salt. The recommended item is “Hatsu,” a skewer featuring the hearts from three chickens.You can fully savor the meat’s rich umami flavor and its exquisite chewiness.
The “Omakase” menu—where you simply tell the staff what you don’t like, and they’ll serve you five recommended skewers tailored to that day’s charcoal heat while avoiding your dislikes—is a popular choice among tourists. Alongside the classic Nagato Yakitori, enjoy exquisite dishes that transcend traditional Japanese culinary boundaries.


Local Guide

Be sure to check out the yakitori parts that are only available when the restaurant stocks them. One of them is "Hatsumoto," the part of the aorta located in the heart, and only 6 or 7 birds' worth are used for each skewer. The rich and robust flavor is sure to impress.

Yakitori Tomarigi
  • Address 946-14 Higashifukawa, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 3 minutes walk from JR Nagato Station
  • Business Hours 6:00 PM–11:00 PM (Last entry at 10:00 PM)
  • Closed Days Wednesday
  • Phone 0837-22-7174
  • Parking None

The new face of Nagato Yakitori, focusing on safe ingredients.

“Chōshū Kurokashiwa” “Skin, Grilled with Tanaka-ya’s Special Sauce” and a “Homemade Honey Lemon” chūhai
“Chōshū Kurokashiwa” “Skin, Grilled with Tanaka-ya’s Special Sauce” and a “Homemade Honey Lemon” chūhai

The restaurant offers yakitori and a la carte dishes made with ingredients from Nagato City and Yamaguchi Prefecture. Recommended is the "kawa," a rarely distributed Choshu black kashiwa. The taste is exquisite, with a special homemade sauce made from locally brewed soy sauce, brown sugar, fruit, and other ingredients. The surface is crispy, and when chewed, it has just the right amount of elasticity. The more you taste it, the more the flavor fills your mouth.
The "white liver" of Choshu chicken is also a must-try. The white color of the liver is evidence of its rich fat content, and the entire liver is cooked over a charcoal fire with just the right amount of heat. The soft texture and rich flavor are blissful delicacies.

A restaurant where you can enjoy Nagato's delicacies in a relaxed atmosphere, just like at home.

The restaurant has both counter and tatami room seating. The restaurant is committed to hospitality based on the spirit of the tea ceremony,
The restaurant has both counter and tatami room seating. The restaurant is committed to hospitality based on the spirit of the tea ceremony, "Issa Kenritsu.

This restaurant is the long-cherished dream of the owner, who has devoted himself to the promotion of "Nagato Yakitori" as a member of the Regional Development Cooperation Team. The name of the restaurant, "Ie" (house), is a reflection of the owner's wish that everyone, from children to the elderly, can relax and feel at home here.
In addition to the traditional charbroiled dishes such as yakitori and sake, the restaurant also offers a variety of family-friendly dishes such as yakitori donburi (yakitori bowl). The restaurant is particular about using safe ingredients that are produced by local farmers, and its commitment to local production for local consumption is reflected in the charcoal fire that brings out the best flavors. Local Nagato "Misumi Charcoal" is blended with prefectural charcoal.


Local Guide

Tanaka-ya’s signature chuhai—including “Homemade Honey Lemon,” “Natsumikan,” and “Yuzukichi”—is popular for its presentation with fruit ice and the great value of the “refill” option. We also source the rare local sake “Miyoshi” directly from the brewery.

Charcoal Yakitori Tanakaya
  • Address 864-1 Higashifukagawa, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 1 min. walk from South Exit of JR Nagato Station
  • Business hours 17:00-22:00
  • Closed Days Wednesday
  • Phone 0837-27-0505
  • Parking Free

Look out for the restaurant's unique skewers, such as "Tamago" and "Kawa" chicken wings!

From left: “liver,” “egg,” “chicken gizzard,” “skin,” and “chicken.”
From left: “liver,” “egg,” “chicken gizzard,” “skin,” and “chicken.”

This is the oldest branch of “Nagato Yakitori,” which has been in business for 79 years. The popular classics are “kashiwa” (chicken breast), “kimo” (liver), and “kawa” (skin). While “kawa” is typically made from the neck area, this shop uses the tip of the wing—known as “saki-kawa.” It’s characterized by a small amount of meat still attached, creating an exquisite balance between the richness of the skin and the meat.It’s a flavor you’ll find yourself craving.
“Tamago” refers to the yolk from a hen’s egg before it’s encased in a shell; orders are accepted only when it’s available, depending on supply. Grilled to a creamy, soft-boiled consistency, it’s simply exquisite.

The starting point of Nagato Yakitori's history, the restaurant where the standard style was born

Enjoy touching each other at the counter
Enjoy touching each other at the counter

The restaurant is also said to be the birthplace of Nagato's classic style of yakitori, in which the chicken is sandwiched between onions instead of leeks and sprinkled with garlic powder. The dish is also characterized by the addition of yuzu kosho (Japanese citrus pepper) on the plate, if desired. The spiciness and rich flavor of the yakitori go perfectly with the yakitori that has had excess fat removed from it over the charcoal fire.
The restaurant has only counter seating, so even if you see other people you don't know, you will feel right at home. The comfortable atmosphere is another reason why the restaurant is loved not only by locals but also by many tourists.


Local Guide

Every cut—from “liver” to “chicken heart”—offers a truly blissful taste. Since we open at 2:00 PM, it’s easy for tourists to stop by, and if you come early, you won’t have to worry about rare yakitori cuts selling out.

Yakitori Koumori
  • Address 911-58 Higashifukawa, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 3 minutes walk from JR Nagato Station
  • Business Hours 14:00-21:00 (L.O. 20:45)
  • Closed Tuesdays
  • Phone 0837-22-0617
  • Parking Yes (3 cars)
  • Memo Reservations not accepted, occasional closing

MAP

Nearby Hoshino Resorts Properties
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*The information provided is current as of the article’s update date. Please check in advance before visiting, as details are subject to change.