Experience the 130-year history of Chikushitei in Nakatsu, Oita and walk through the castle town founded by Kanbei Kuroda

 ・Theme

Food, Culture, History

・Details

Enjoy a meal and stories from the proprietress at "Chikushitei," a restaurant selected among the "Top 100 Western Restaurants."

Explore the historic castle town where many great figures emerged, guided by a curator.

・Travel Designer's Comment

Chikushitei

This splendid wooden restaurant, deemed impossible to restore by renowned architects, reflects the spirit and craftsmanship of its owner in every detail of its building and garden. Each room in the restaurant is adorned with calligraphy, hanging scrolls, and folding screens by cultural figures, scholars, and Zen monks active from the Edo to Meiji periods, exuding the lively atmosphere of the past.

Chikushitei continues the tradition of Nakatsu’s famous hamo (pike conger) cuisine, which dates back to the Edo period. They have elevated the taste of dishes like hamo shabu-shabu and hamo nigiri sushi. Utilizing abundant local ingredients from the sea and mountains, the restaurant serves additive-free dishes that warm you from the inside out.

The proprietress, known as the living dictionary of Nakatsu, has single-handedly run the restaurant for 30 years. Listen to her stories about the Japanese culture of food, emphasizing the philosophy of "food as medicine." Recently, she has been active in writing columns for newspapers and teaching food-related classes to students.

Castle Town

Kuroda Kanbei opened Nakatsu Castle, one of the three great water castles, following his success in the Kyushu campaign under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The castle town flourished as a port town connecting to the Seto Inland Sea and was known as the Hakata of the west and Nakatsu of the east. The original layout remains intact, allowing for a leisurely stroll around the Teramachi area, home to temples associated with Kanbei, such as Goganji Temple.

Nakatsu is also the birthplace of Meiji-era thinker and educator Yukichi Fukuzawa. The Yukichi Fukuzawa Memorial Museum and his former residence display numerous materials and genealogies in an easy-to-understand manner.

・Time Schedule (4-6 hours)

• Meal at Chikushitei (180 minutes)
• Stroll around the castle town (40 minutes)
• Visit Fukuzawa Memorial Museum (40 minutes)

・Fees

1. Chikushitei: 55,000 yen (tax included)
2. Castle town tour: 11,000 yen (tax included)

・Fee Includes

1. Meal, service charge (excluding alcohol)
2. Guide (1 person), admission fees

・Number of Participants

2 to 6 people

・Meeting Time and Place

Please arrive at the designated location about 10 minutes before your reservation time. The tour starts and ends at the site.

・Location

〒871-0038 1692 Edamachi, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture

・Access

8 minutes on foot from Nakatsu Station on the JR Nippo Main Line

・Website

Chikushitei | Traditional Japanese restaurant established in 1901 in Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, famous for its pike conger cuisine.

・Available Days

Reservations are accepted from Wednesday to Saturday on weekdays.

・Cancellation Policy

The full fee will be charged as a cancellation fee from two days before the tour date.

・What to Bring

Nothing in particular

・Clothing

Please remove your shoes before entering the facility. If you plan to join the castle town tour, please wear comfortable walking shoes.

・Payment Method

Advance payment by credit card or other methods.

・Participation Conditions

Please inform us if you have any food allergies. Contact us if you require the use of a wheelchair or other assistance.

・Reservation Period

From 2 months to 7 days before the tour date.

・Disclaimer

The tour may be canceled or the content may change due to unavoidable circumstances. In case of cancellation, we will promptly process a refund.

・Other Information

There is a dedicated parking lot.
Photography during the experience is allowed.
Please let us know in advance if you need foreign language support.