Recommended lunches to enjoy Aizu Wakamatsu to the fullest.
Aizu Wakamatsu is dotted with sightseeing spots such as "Tsurugajo" castle, "Iimoriyama" castle, and "Nanoka-machi Street" lined with Taisho-era buildings, and there are also many places recommended for lunch. From local restaurants to gourmet burger stores, here are six carefully selected restaurants you should definitely stop by during your sightseeing in the city.
1Shibukawa Donya
Enjoy the flavorful local cuisine of Aizu
A restaurant serving local cuisine located on Nanokaicho Street. You can enjoy traditional Aizu meals in a tasteful building built between the Meiji and Taisho eras. In the inland Aizu region, various dried foods were used for cooking instead of fresh fish, giving rise to dishes such as pickled herring with Japanese pepper, kombu-maki (kelp roll), and tempura, in which the head, entrails, and roe of the herring are taken off to be dried. The popular "Matsuri gozen Tsuru" features these three types of herring dishes, as well as "stick cod stew," which is made by boiling dried cod that has become hard like a stick, and "buckwheat grain gayu," which is made by boiling buckwheat seeds from the Aizu region.
A special moment spent in a historic building
Shibukawa Wholesale Store was founded in the 1887's as a seafood wholesaler. The wholesale business ended in the 1960s, and the building has been reborn as a local cuisine restaurant and Property. The impressive building with its fine latticework stands out even on Nanoka-machi Street, and its size reminds us of its history as a prosperous big store in Aizu.
Dining is available without reservations, and the "Tairyo no Ma" with its irori (sunken hearth) is crowded with many people every day. If you make a reservation in advance, you can also use the "Kura-zashiki" room overlooking the beautiful courtyard. You can spend an extraordinary time here.
- Shibukawa Donya
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3-28 Nanokaicho, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture MAP
2 minutes walk from JR Nana-nichi-machi Station.
Take a bus from JR Aizuwakamatsu Station and get off at "Shichinancho Eki-mae" bus stop.
11:00-21:00 (L.O. 20:00)
Closed on weekends and holidays
0242-28-4000
Free of charge
2Vegetable Restaurant Potager
Beautiful dishes using seasonal vegetables
This Restaurant is located near "Iimoriyama," which is known as a place associated with the Byakkotai. Vegetables are the star of the cuisine, and the hors d'oeuvres of the lunch course are made from about 20 different kinds of seasonal vegetables. The menu changes a little each day, but the appeal is that you can taste a variety of dishes such as terrine, potage, and ratatouille on a single plate.
The "Sweets Lunch" is recommended for women. It is a hearty meal that includes a vegetable hors d'oeuvre, pasta, an assortment of five or six kinds of sweets, and a drink. The sweets are all handmade and not too sweet, which is also a nice point.
Experience the deliciousness of Fukushima vegetables
Most of the vegetables used in the dishes are grown in Aizu Wakamatsu City, Aizu Sakashita Town, and the Kita-Aizu region. In order to make the most of the vegetables from Fukushima Prefecture, which are known for their "sweetness and strong flavor," the seasoning of the dishes is very simple. We are particular about seasonings, such as high-quality olive oil, Italian salt, and local "mountain salt. The restaurant's stock changes every day, so you can enjoy new dishes every time you visit. Come and enjoy seasonal vegetable dishes.
- Vegetable Restaurant Potager
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- 14-1 Ushigatoma, Yawata, Ichiminomachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture MAP
- 6 minutes drive from JR Aizuwakamatsu Station
- From JR Aizuwakamatsu Station, take a bus to the Iimoriyama-shita stop. 3 min. walk from the bus stop.
- 11:00 - 14:30 (L.O.), 17:30 - 20:00 (L.O.)
- Monday and Sunday nights
0242-93-8404- Free of charge
3Mitsutaya
A wide variety of dengaku with traditional miso
A long-established miso shop located near Nanoka-machi Dori. At the Dining Area, you can order various kinds of dengaku from a single serving. We recommend the "Dengaku Course," which offers six different flavors. In addition to fried tofu, konnyaku (two pieces), taro, and rice cakes, you can also enjoy dried herring, shingorou (half cooked Uruchi rice that has been crushed and rolled), and other ingredients unique to Aizu, served with four types of miso from Mitsudaya (sweet miso, yuzu miso, sansho miso, and junen miso). Of these, the Junen Miso, which is made by mixing ground sesame seeds with miso, has a grainy texture and a savory aroma that is addictive.
A very popular restaurant with a long line on weekends and holidays
Manda-ya has a long history, dating back to 1834. It has been loved by the locals as a handmade miso store, but it became famous when it began serving dengaku during its predecessor's reign.
When an order for dengaku is placed, the young proprietress, now in her seventh generation, puts a skewer on the hearth and roasts it over a charcoal fire. The type of miso used and the timing of its application vary according to the ingredients. The skewers are grilled at just the right angle and at just the right time so as not to burn the ingredients, and are served hot. On weekends and holidays, there is a long line of people waiting in line, so be sure to leave plenty of time for your visit.
- Mitsutaya
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- 1-1-25 Omachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture MAP
- 10 min. walk from JR Nanokaicho Station
- Take a bus from JR Aizuwakamatsu Station, get off at Shiroki-ya-mae Nanoka-machi bus stop and walk about 3 minutes.
- 10:00-17:00 (Dining Area "Miso Dengaku" 10:30-16:30 *L.O. 16:20)
- January - March: Every Wednesday
April-December: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wednesdays - 0120-30-8803
- Free of charge
4Tsurugaoka Saryo
A very popular lunch in a luxurious space
Located near Tsurugajo Castle, this Japanese restaurant is distinguished by its thatched gate. The restaurant is well known for its elegant cuisine served in the tasteful main building or in a detached house.
The most popular dish is the "Rikyu bento," which features seasonal dishes. It comes with an appetizer, a small bowl of cooked food, sashimi, grilled dish, simmered dish, deep-fried dish, rice, miso soup, and dessert, and uses a variety of local seasonal vegetables. The dishes are also changed monthly, so you can enjoy admiring the beautiful Aizu lacquerware bowls, Arita and Imari plates, and other beautiful dishes. Make a reservation in advance to visit.
Enjoy your meal in a Japanese atmosphere
Upon entering the main house, you will find that each table is spacious enough to enjoy your meal in a relaxed atmosphere while gazing out over the well-kept garden. Private rooms are recommended for small groups. The private rooms, especially those located in a remote area, are very private and allow you to forget about the time you spend there.
At first glance, the restaurant may seem intimidating, but the prices are relatively reasonable. Popular dishes include the "Saryogozen" (3,100 yen), a mini kaiseki set meal featuring seven seasonal dishes that change monthly, and the "Aizu Marugotozen" (4,400 yen; reservation required), a course of Aizu's local dishes such as horse sashimi, pickled herring with Japanese pepper, kozuyu (soy sauce), and umami carp.
- Tsurugaoka Saryo
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- 8-47 Toei-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture MAP
- Approximately 8 minutes from JR Aizuwakamatsu Station by car
- Take a circular bus from JR Aizuwakamatsu Station, get off at "Kita-demaru Odori" and walk shortly.
- 11:30-15:00 (last entry at 13:40), 17:00-22:00 (last entry at 20:00)
- Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday, closed the following day)
- 0242-26-6052
- Free of charge
5Aizu Cuisine Tsuruizutsu
Enjoy a variety of local cuisine in a traditional Japanese house
Aizu Cuisine is located near the Aizu Bukeyashiki. In the Aizu region, there is a saying, "Soba, mochi, gochisou (buckwheat noodles, rice cakes, and gochisou)," and the "Aizu no Aji Marukagiri Set (snow)" offers dishes that are inspired by the custom of treating guests with buckwheat noodles and rice cakes. Cod roe (stick cod) and pickled herring with Japanese pepper are representative dishes of Aizu, which was created when the area was far from the sea and fresh seafood was unavailable. Kozuyu," a soup bowl, is an essential dish for celebrations and is a clear soup containing kikurage, root vegetables, and fu (bean curd). In addition, you can enjoy thick fried bean curd dengaku, rice cake with sesame and soybean flour, and soba noodles with wild vegetables.
Feel like a landowner in a sake brewer's mansion built in the 1890s.
In addition to the marukajiri set, an essential Aizu specialty is manju tempura. It is a deep-fried manju filled with sweet bean paste, which can be eaten with soy sauce as a snack for alcoholic beverages. Kitakata Ramen and other dishes are also available, allowing you to fully enjoy the flavors of the Aizu region.
The building was moved from the main building of a sake brewery in Yamato-cho, Kitakata City, and is impressive with its three sunken hearths, thick zelkova beams, and daikoku-bashira (main pillar). The dining area is a 32-tatami mat room in the back of the restaurant. It is a tasteful space with paintings by a Japanese artist from Aizu.
- Tsuruizutsu
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- 109-1 Innai, Higashiyama-cho, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture MAP
- 10 minutes drive from JR Nishi-Wakamatsu Station
- From JR Aizuwakamatsu Station, take a excursion bus. 1 min. walk from Aizu Bukeyashiki-mae bus stop.
- 11:00-16:00 (open by reservation after 17:00)
- Closed on weekends *Closed during the winter season from January 6 to early March.
- 0242-26-5629
- Free of charge
6Aizu Burger Lucky Smile
Gourmet burgers that spread the flavor of meat
A hamburger restaurant on Nanokaicho Street. The menu features local names such as "Inawashiro Burger" and "Tsurugajo Burger. There are three types of homemade buns. The patties are made from specially ordered ground beef, and vegetables are purchased from local farmers.
The "Aizu Bijin Burger," popular among women, features a chewy bun kneaded with rice flour made from Koshihikari rice grown in Aizu and ripe tomatoes rich in lycopene. The creamy cheese sauce perfectly complements the flavor of the juicy patty and vegetables such as avocado, tomato, and fried onions.
Enjoy your lunch time in a pop-up restaurant
The restaurant has a fun atmosphere with balloons, phonographs, and old toys.
Because of its location in Nanokaicho, the restaurant attracts many tourists and students on school excursions, so they have created original products with the goal of creating gourmet burgers that are unique to Aizu. The approximately 15 hamburgers are a tempting combination of three types of buns (rice flour and tomato, rye, and onion whole grain) and a wide variety of ingredients. Another unique feature is that the burgers are served with rusks instead of fries, which are available in sugar, caramel, or almond flavors.
- Aizu Burger Lucky Smile
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- 3-45 Nanokaicho, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture MAP
- 5 min. walk from JR Aizu Nanokaicho Station
- Take a bus from JR Aizuwakamatsu Station and get off at "Nanaichicho Chuo" bus stop.
- 11:00-20:00 (L.O. 19:30)
- Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday, closed the following day)
- 0242-23-8241
- Free of charge
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Kaisei Goto Ramen Boys in Aizu
