Local Guide
6 recommended pubs in Tsuchiura City

A large number of izakaya (Japanese style pubs) and small restaurants are clustered around Tsuchiura Station. We have selected six izakayas that are popular with locals but also friendly to travelers and have a wide range of nostalgia. The best thing about izakaya is that you can enjoy a variety of dishes, such as a dish using local ingredients, little by little. You can enjoy a drink alone at the counter, or share a drink with someone you don't care for. Enjoy a special time in a cozy space.

Kama-meshi with a variety of ingredients and seasonal fish dishes

Seasonal grilled dishes such as
Seasonal grilled dishes such as "grilled saury" from 660 yen (front), "Gomoku Kamameshi" 1,100 yen (back), etc.

Founded in 1946, this small restaurant is one of the oldest in Tsuchiura City, where there are many traditional restaurants. The grand landlady and the young landlady run the restaurant, and their sons, the third generation, are the kitchen staff. A wide variety of kamameshi (takeout available) has been a staple of the menu since the restaurant's founding. The "Gomoku Kamameshi" is made with chicken broth. The "Gomoku Kamameshi" is made with chicken broth and is colorful and rich in ingredients. The "Deep-fried lotus root clams" with shrimp paste sandwiched between lotus root produced in Tsuchiura, known as the largest producer in Japan, and fresh fish sashimi, grilled dishes, and simmered dishes are also popular.

Comfortable atmosphere with a sense of history

A tatami room with a sunken kotatsu. The space is full of warmth, reminiscent of an old private home.
A tatami room with a sunken kotatsu. The space is full of warmth, reminiscent of an old private home.

The space at the back of the restaurant, which used to be a residence, has been converted into a tatami room, so the interior is much more spacious than the cozy storefront would suggest. There are four private rooms with different atmospheres and settings, 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 each space is surrounded by a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant offers a wide selection of sakes, including sake, beer, sours, highballs, shochu, wine, and other beverages. Pairing sake with food is also a popular way to enjoy sake.

Local Guide Comment
This retro Showa-era kappo (Japanese cooking) izakaya is loved by the locals. After enjoying a variety of seafood dishes unique to the prefecture by the sea and lotus root dishes unique to Tsuchiura, you will be very satisfied if you finish your meal with kamameshi (rice cooked in a pot and served with rice).
Takasago
  • Address 7-14 Yamato-cho, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki MAP
  • Direction 5 minutes walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • Business Hours 17:00-22:30 (L.O. 21:00 *L.O. 21:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, drinks L.O. 22:00)
  • Closed Sunday, December 30 - January 4
  • TEL 029-821-1814
  • Parking Free of charge

Enjoy fatty yellowtail in shabu-shabu

Yellowtail shabu shabu
Yellowtail shabu shabu" (right) 2,600 yen per person (order from 2 persons), "Assorted sashimi" 2,800 yen for 2 persons

This is a very popular restaurant representing Tsuchiura City that is not unknown among locals. The reason why this restaurant attracts so many food lovers is its uncompromising selection of ingredients and its bold presentation of thickly sliced sashimi and other dishes that are both satisfying and spectacular. The "yellowtail shabu shabu" is a limited menu item available from November to April, but it is a specialty that attracts so many fans that they come all the way from outside of the prefecture just to try it. The restaurant sources the fattiest yellowtail at the time of the season. When served in a simple kombu dashi (kelp broth), the fatty flavor and sweetness of the fish will fill your mouth.

A three-story izakaya that can accommodate a variety of occasions

A sunken kotatsu seating area. The two-tone orange and yellow painted walls create a friendly atmosphere.
A sunken kotatsu seating area. The two-tone orange and yellow painted walls create a friendly atmosphere.

This three-story izakaya is a large box izakaya that can be used for a variety of occasions: the first floor has counter seating and a sunken kotatsu (a Japanese-style tatami room); the second floor is a retro-style tatami room with a vermilion color scheme; and the third floor is a banquet hall that can accommodate 30 to 50 people. With this many seats, the restaurant is often fully booked even on weekdays, so advance reservations are recommended when visiting. In addition to fresh fish, the menu offers a variety of deep-fried and grilled dishes, as well as a snack menu. As for alcoholic beverages, there is a wide selection of expensive premier shochu as well as famous brands of sake from all over Japan.

Local Guide Comment
The thick sashimi is the best in this very popular izakaya. The yellowtail shabu-shabu is hearty, but the never-ending flavor will keep you coming back for more.
Umaiya
  • Address 1-6-7 Sakura-machi, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki MAP
  • Direction Approx. 4 min. walk from JR Tsuchiura Sta.
  • Business Hours 17:30 - 24:00 (L.O. 23:30)
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • TEL 029-826-6878
  • Parking Free of charge

Robata-yaki is served with ingredients prepared with a lot of time and care

Robatayaki Six Kinds
Robatayaki Six Kinds" for 1,390 yen (front) and "Salt Stewed Mots" for 650 yen; "Scallop-Scented Radish Salad" for 640 yen (in the back)

The restaurant was opened in 2015 by the owner, a local who studied Japanese cuisine in Ginza and gained knowledge of meat at his family's steak restaurant in Tsuchiura City. The restaurant is proud of its robatayaki, which features dried fish and mirin dried fish prepared at the restaurant and grilled over charcoal. Many regular customers order the Robatayaki Six Kinds Platter, an assortment of six kinds of fish skewers: salmon halibut, squid mirin, shrimp, mackerel mirin, hokke, and turban shell. The owner wants customers to "taste a little of many kinds of fish," so all the fish are deboned and prepared on skewers, making them easy to eat and pick up. The fish skewers can also be ordered individually.

Reproducing the atmosphere of a good old folk house with old-fashioned folk furniture.

The restaurant has a nostalgic atmosphere. Folk music plays comfortably in the background.
The restaurant has a nostalgic atmosphere. Folk music plays comfortably in the background.

The restaurant is decorated in the style of a traditional Japanese house, with many folk tools on display. There are two types of seating: a tatami room with a sunken kotatsu (sunken floor) at the back of the tables, and counter seats arranged around a sunken hearth where the owner grills his ingredients. In addition to fish, Wagyu beef and other meats such as beef tongue, halami, and pork tenderloin are grilled over charcoal and served. In addition to salads and a la carte dishes, dashi chazuke and onigiri rice balls are also available, perfect for the end of the meal. Sake is mainly Ibaraki's locally brewed sake, and seasonal sake is also available one after another. Non-alcoholic ume (plum) wine and lemon sours are also available, allowing those who are not fond of alcohol to fully enjoy the izakaya atmosphere.

Local Guide Comment
You can enjoy homemade original dishes and robatayaki with ingredients that suit the season of the day. All dishes are delicious, and sake goes down a treat.
Robata to Niku Kappou Sasaya
  • Address 1-5-5 Kawaguchi, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki MAP
  • Direction 5 minutes walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • Business Hours 17:00-23:00 (L.O., last entry at 22:00)
  • Closed Sundays, National Holidays (If Monday is a national holiday, the restaurant is open the following day)
  • TEL 029-828-8725
  • Parking None

Japanese cuisine restaurant that makes the most of local and seasonal flavors

Grilled
Grilled "Hitachi Beef" 1,980 yen (front), "Soft Stewed Octopus" 840 yen (back left), "Deep Fried Meokko" 660 yen (back right).

The owner, a native of Tsuchiura City who honed his skills at a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo, treats diners to a variety of a la carte dishes that incorporate local ingredients and other seasonal flavors. The "Grilled Hitachiniku Beef" has a good balance of lean and tender meat, and the moment you bite into it, its elegant flavor spreads out. The octopus is simmered in beer and seasoned with sweet and spicy sauce, making it a hidden favorite. The "Deep-fried Mehikari" is made from fish caught off the coast of Joban, one of the most famous fishing grounds for mehikari in Japan, and fried until crispy, allowing you to enjoy the flavor and fluffy texture of the light white meat.

Located in a relatively quiet area away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown area

Counter seating where you can enjoy the craftsmanship right in front of you. Solo customers are also welcome.
Counter seating where you can enjoy the craftsmanship right in front of you. Solo customers are also welcome.

The restaurant opened in 2015, making use of the owner's family's long-established local sushi restaurant, which was temporarily operating during renovations. Recommended for those who want to relax and enjoy food and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere favored by adults, the restaurant offers counter and small seating on the first floor, as well as private rooms on the second floor. In addition to boiled and simmered dishes that showcase the skills of a professional, the restaurant also offers a full menu of meals such as nigiri platters, rolls such as torotaku and anakyu, and seafood rice bowls, all of which were taught to the restaurant's chef by his father. Local sake from Ibaraki Prefecture is also available and can be tasted in small quantities by the glass.

Local Guide Comment
The owner, whose father was a sushi chef, is very good at cooking seafood. The restaurant is very popular among locals and is always crowded, so reservations are recommended.
Wasoshun Koubee
  • Address 1-8-11 Kawaguchi, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki MAP
  • Direction Approximately 7 minutes walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • Business Hours 12:00 - 14:00 (L.O. 13:30), 17:00 - 23:00 (L.O. 22:30)
  • Closed Wednesdays, Year-end and New Year's holidays, Obon *Confirm details on website
  • TEL 029-875-5800
  • Parking Free of charge (4 spaces) *Service coupons are issued to holders of parking tickets for the Musashiya Kawaguchi Toll Parking Lot.

Warm your body and soul with our delicious oden and special a la carte dishes

Pork Kakuni
Pork Kakuni" 730 yen (front right), "Tsuchiura lotus root salad" (front left) 650 yen, "Oden" 800 yen (back)

The signature dish is oden soaked in soup stock carefully made from dried bonito flakes produced in Makurazaki, Kagoshima Prefecture. You can order one dish at a time, but the "Oden Maki" is a great value with an assortment of six items recommended by the owner. Another specialty is the "Pork Kakuni," which is so tender you can easily cut it with chopsticks. The "lotus root salad" uses only the sprouted part of locally grown lotus root, which gives the salad a crunchy texture.

Spacious L-shaped counter seats are the best seats.

L-shaped counter seats surrounded by the delicious steam of oden are popular.
L-shaped counter seats surrounded by the delicious steam of oden are popular.

The interior of the restaurant is decorated in chic colors, creating a relaxing and spacious atmosphere. In addition to the tasteful counter seating, there are three private rooms with sunken kotatsu and tatami rooms, and a banquet hall on the second floor. In addition to the regular menu, there is a recommended menu that changes daily, and many regular customers come here for it. Another reason for the restaurant's popularity is its wide selection of alcoholic beverages. In addition to Ibaraki's locally brewed sake, we have carefully selected sake and shochu from all over Japan, as well as a total of 10 types of draft beer, including craft beer.

Local Guide Comment
The elaborate dishes are all heartwarming. The oden is so good that you will want to eat it on cold days, of course, but also in summer. You will want to drink every last drop of the broth.
Musha
  • Address 1-15-5 Sakura-machi, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki MAP
  • Direction 5 minutes walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • Business Hours 17:00～24:00（L.O.23:00)
  • Closed Sunday
  • TEL 029-821-1711
  • Parking None

Fresh Tsukuba chicken from Ibaraki Prefecture grilled over charcoal

Negima
Negima" (Negima) 180 yen and "Sasami" (white meat) 200 yen in the front, "Liver" 220 yen and "Authentic Charcoal Grilled Oyako-don" 640 yen in the back.

The restaurant is famous for its yakitori (grilled chicken) using local Tsukuba chicken. Tsukuba chicken is characterized by its finely textured meat, which boasts moderate elasticity and a strong flavor. Using binchotan charcoal, the chicken is grilled slowly and with just the right amount of heat, making the outside crispy and fragrant, while the inside is soft and fluffy. In addition to the 12 types of Tsukuba chicken yakitori, the "authentic charcoal-grilled oyakodon" is an addictive dish with soft sweet eggs and the aroma of the charcoal fire.

A moody atmosphere that makes you feel like you are in a yakitori restaurant.

Both the counter and table seats are full of privacy, allowing you to enjoy your meal in a relaxed atmosphere.
Both the counter and table seats are full of privacy, allowing you to enjoy your meal in a relaxed atmosphere.

The restaurant's Japanese-modern interior has a graceful appearance reminiscent of a high-class hotel lounge. Indirect lighting creates a calm and relaxing atmosphere. In addition to counter seats where you can relax in low chairs and open-air table seating, there is also a private room-like tatami room space separated by a noren (a Japanese cord dividing the room into two sections). The menu includes not only Tsukuba chicken, but also a wide variety of dishes such as salads, today's sashimi, deep-fried dishes, and nabe (hot pot). The menu also includes dishes that can be picked up lightly, making it perfect for a second visit to the restaurant.

Local Guide Comment
This is a yakitori restaurant where service is attentive. They will tell you the best way to eat yakitori and suggest tasting local sake to match the dish.
Chicken Skewer Restaurant Ichidori
  • Address 7-2 Yamato-cho, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki MAP
  • Direction 3 minutes walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • Business Hours 18:00 - 24:00 (L.O. 23:00, Drink L.O. 23:30) *Varies.
  • Closed Wednesdays, 1st Tuesday of the month, December 31-January 3
  • TEL 029-824-2983
  • Parking None
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.