6 Recommended Izakayas in Tsuchiura City
The area around Tsuchiura Station is home to many izakayas and small restaurants. We have selected 6 welcoming izakayas that are popular with locals but also friendly to travelers. The real pleasure of an izakaya is being able to enjoy a variety of dishes, such as plates made with local ingredients, little by little. Whether you want to drink quietly alone at the counter or share a drink with close friends, enjoy a special time in a comfortable space.
1Takasago
Delight in hearty kamameshi and seasonal fish dishes
Founded in 1946, this small restaurant is one of the oldest among the many traditional eateries in Tsuchiura City. The head landlady and the younger landlady run the shop, while the third-generation sons show off their skills in the kitchen. The wide variety of kamameshi (kettle rice), which is available for takeout, has been a staple menu item since the restaurant's founding. The dashi is changed depending on the ingredients, and the "Gomoku Kamameshi" is made with a chicken-based broth. It is colorful and packed with ingredients. Also popular are the "Renkon Hasami-age" (deep-fried lotus root stuffed with minced shrimp), made with lotus root from Tsuchiura, which is known as the top production area in Japan, as well as fresh sashimi, grilled fish, and simmered dishes.
A charming, historic atmosphere that feels comfortable
Because the space at the back of the shop, which was once a residence, has been renovated into a tatami room area, the interior is surprisingly spacious, far more than one would imagine from the small storefront. There are four private rooms, each with a different charm and decor, including a room overlooking a courtyard with a pond. In addition, there are counter seats and table seats that evoke a sense of history, and every space is wrapped in a calm atmosphere. As for drinks, a full range is available, including sake (mainly junmai), beer, sours, highballs, shochu, and wine. Pairing drinks with your meal is also a sophisticated way to enjoy the experience.
Local
Supporter
A Showa-retro kappo izakaya beloved by locals. You will be fully satisfied after enjoying a variety of seafood dishes unique to a prefecture with a coastline, Tsuchiura's signature lotus root dishes, and kamameshi to finish.
- Takasago
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7-14 Yamato-cho, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP 
Approx. 5-minute walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
17:00–22:30 (L.O. 21:00; Fri/Sat L.O. 21:30, drink L.O. 22:00)
Sundays, December 30–January 4
029-821-1814
Free
2Umaiya
Enjoy fatty yellowtail shabu-shabu
This is a super popular restaurant representing Tsuchiura City, so well-known that no local would be unaware of it. The reason it attracts so many foodies is its uncompromising selection of ingredients and its bold, visually impressive presentation, starting with thick-cut sashimi. The "yellowtail shabu-shabu" is a seasonal menu item available only from November to April, but it is a signature dish with so many fans that people travel from outside the prefecture just for it. Depending on the season, they source the yellowtail that is at its fattiest. When you lightly parboil it in a simple kelp broth, the rich, sweet flavor of the fat spreads throughout your mouth.
A three-story izakaya suitable for various occasions
This is a large, three-story izakaya that can be used for a variety of occasions. The first floor has counter seating and horigotatsu (sunken) tatami seating. The second floor features tatami seating with a retro atmosphere based on vermilion, and the third floor is a banquet hall that can accommodate 30 to 50 people. Even with this many seats, it is often fully booked even on weekdays, so we recommend making a reservation in advance when visiting. In addition to fresh fish, the menu offers a wide variety of deep-fried dishes, grilled dishes, and appetizers. As for drinks, there is an abundant selection of famous sake brands from all over the country, as well as expensive premium shochu.
Local
Supporter
An immensely popular izakaya known for having the thickest sashimi around. The yellowtail shabu-shabu is hearty, yet its flavor is so addictive that you will want to come back again and again.
3Robata to Niku Kappo Sasaya
Serving ingredients prepared with time and care, cooked robatayaki-style
Opened in 2015 by a local owner who learned Japanese cuisine in Ginza and gained knowledge of meat at his family's steakhouse in Tsuchiura City. The restaurant prides itself on its robatayaki, where dried fish and mirin-dried fish prepared in-house are grilled over charcoal. The "Robatayaki Six-Kind Assortment," ordered by many regular customers, is a skewer platter featuring six types of fish: salmon belly, squid mirin, shrimp, mackerel mirin, Atka mackerel, and turban shell. Reflecting the owner's desire for customers to "enjoy a little bit of many different kinds," all the fish are deboned and skewered, making them easy to eat and snack on. Fish skewers can also be ordered individually.
Featuring nostalgic folk tools to recreate the atmosphere of a good old traditional folk house
The interior is decorated with numerous folk implements, finished in the style of a traditional old folk house. Beyond the table seating, there is a sunken kotatsu tatami area and counter seating arranged around an irori hearth where the owner grills ingredients. In addition to fish, we serve charcoal-grilled meats including Japanese beef, beef tongue, skirt steak, and pork cheek. We also offer salads, a la carte dishes, and dashi chazuke or rice balls, which are perfect for finishing your meal. Our selection of alcoholic beverages focuses on local Ibaraki sake, with seasonal limited-edition brews arriving regularly. We also have non-alcoholic plum wine and lemon sours, so those who do not drink alcohol can fully enjoy the izakaya atmosphere.
Local
Supporter
You can enjoy seasonal ingredients prepared as homemade creative dishes or robatayaki. Every dish is delicious and pairs perfectly with sake.
- Robata to Niku Kappo Sasaya
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- 1-5-5 Kawaguchi, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 5-minute walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
- 17:00–23:00 (L.O. and last entry 22:00)
- Sundays and holidays (if Monday is a holiday, the following day)
- 029-828-8725
- None
4Wasoshun Yasube
A Japanese restaurant that makes the most of seasonal flavors, focusing on locally sourced ingredients
The owner, a Tsuchiura native who honed his skills at Japanese restaurants in Tokyo, treats guests to a variety of a la carte dishes that incorporate seasonal flavors, centered on local ingredients. The 'Grilled Hitachi Beef' has a perfect balance of lean meat and marbling, with an elegant umami that spreads the moment you bite into it. The 'Simmered Octopus' is a hidden favorite, made by slowly simmering North Pacific octopus in beer and seasoning it with a sweet and savory sauce. The 'Deep-fried Mebikari (Greeneye)' is made with fish caught off the Joban coast, one of the nation's leading fishing grounds for the species; by deep-frying it until crispy, you can fully enjoy the delicate flavor of the white meat and its fluffy texture.
Tucked away in a relatively quiet area, far from the hustle and bustle of the downtown district
The restaurant opened in 2015, utilizing the space that had served as a temporary location for the owner's family's long-established local sushi restaurant during its renovation. With a calm, sophisticated atmosphere, it is recommended for those who want to enjoy food and drinks at a leisurely pace. In addition to the counter and raised seating on the first floor, there are private rooms on the second floor. The menu features dishes that showcase professional techniques, such as simmered fish and vegetables, as well as a variety of meal options including nigiri sushi platters taught by the owner's father, sushi rolls like toro-taku (fatty tuna and pickled radish) and ana-kyu (conger eel and cucumber), and seafood bowls. We also stock local Ibaraki sake, which can be enjoyed in small amounts by the glass.
Local
Supporter
The seafood dishes prepared by the owner, whose father ran a sushi restaurant, are all delicious. It is very popular with locals and always crowded, so reservations are recommended.
- Wasoshun Koube
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- 1-8-11 Kawaguchi, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 7-minute walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
- 12:00–14:00 (L.O. 13:30), 17:00–23:00 (L.O. 22:30)
- Wednesdays, year-end/New Year holidays, Obon *Please check the website for details
- 029-875-5800
- Free (4 spaces) *Service vouchers issued to those with a parking ticket for Musashiya Kawaguchi paid parking lot
5Yumesha
Heartwarming and deeply flavorful oden and specialty a la carte dishes
Our signature dish is oden, featuring a broth carefully prepared with bonito flakes from Makurazaki, Kagoshima Prefecture. We offer a selection of 20 carefully chosen items year-round, including daikon radish, mochi-kinchaku (mochi in a fried tofu pouch), and cabbage rolls. While you can order items individually, the 'Oden Moriawase' (oden platter) is a great value, featuring six items recommended by the chef. We also have a wide variety of side dishes that pair perfectly with drinks. Another specialty, our 'Braised Pork Belly,' is so tender it can be easily cut with chopsticks. Our 'Lotus Root Salad' uses only the tender shoots of locally grown lotus root, which makes its crunchy texture stand out.
The spacious L-shaped counter seats are the best in the house
The interior is decorated in chic tones, creating a calm and spacious atmosphere. In addition to our charming counter seats, we have three private rooms with horigotatsu (sunken kotatsu) and tatami seating, as well as a banquet hall on the second floor. Beyond our regular menu, we offer daily specials that many regulars come specifically to enjoy. The wide selection of drinks is another reason for our popularity. We carry local Ibaraki sake, as well as carefully selected sake and shochu from across the country, and a total of 10 types of draft beer, including craft beer.
Local
Supporter
Every elaborate dish is heartwarming. The oden is delicious not only on cold days but also in the summer. You will want to drink every last drop of the broth.
6Torikushidokoro Icchi
Fresh Tsukuba chicken from Ibaraki Prefecture, charcoal-grilled
A renowned yakitori restaurant using local Tsukuba chicken. Tsukuba chicken is characterized by its fine texture, boasting just the right amount of elasticity and a rich flavor. By grilling it slowly over binchotan charcoal with exquisite heat control, the outside becomes crispy and fragrant, while the inside remains fluffy and tender, with high-quality aroma and flavor spreading with every bite. Our liver, which many people dislike, is so moist and fluffy that it will change your perception of how delicious it can be. In addition to our 12 varieties of Tsukuba chicken yakitori, our 'Authentic Charcoal-Grilled Oyakodon' is a masterpiece with fluffy, sweet eggs and a charcoal aroma that will keep you coming back for more.
Creating an atmospheric space you wouldn't expect from a yakitori restaurant
The Japanese-modern interior exudes an elegance reminiscent of a luxury hotel lounge. The soft, subtle glow of indirect lighting creates a relaxing atmosphere. In addition to counter seats with low chairs for lounging, open-air table seating, and tatami-mat spaces partitioned by noren curtains are also available. The menu offers a rich variety, including not only Tsukuba chicken but also salads, the catch of the day, fried dishes, hot pots, and more. With a selection of light bites available, it is also perfect for a second stop.
Local
Supporter
A local chicken yakitori restaurant with attentive service. It is a delight that they teach you the best way to eat yakitori and suggest tastings of local sake to pair with your meal.
- Torikushidokoro Iccho
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- 7-2 Yamatocho, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 3-minute walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
- 18:00–24:00 (L.O. 23:00, Drink L.O. 23:30) *Subject to change
- Wednesdays, 1st Tuesday, December 31st–January 3rd
- 029-824-2983
- None
Local supporter in charge of this article
- Shota TakebuchiA sommelier who loves Tsuchiura dearly
BEB5 Tsuchiura
Ibaraki Prefecture, Tsuchiura
Conveniently located directly connected to JR Tsuchiura Station. A cycling hotel where you can stay with your bicycle.
Access Directly connected to JR Tsuchiura Station
- Accommodation rate example
- Per person per night From ¥4,757