BlueSky2525
"Aotakean" is a Japanese restaurant located next to the long-established traditional Japanese restaurant "Onoya," which was founded in 1951. Compared to the traditional atmosphere of Onoya, Aotakean has a slightly more casual feel. It is a space where you can enjoy Japanese cuisine in a more relaxed setting. Onoya itself offers authentic kaiseki cuisine and is a well-known traditional restaurant used for various events.
Aotakean's entrance may seem upscale, but inside, besides a few private rooms for a small group, there are also counter and table seats available without reservations. However, being produced by a traditional restaurant, the establishment exudes a sense of elegance with well-maintained rooms and a view of a meticulously cared for garden from the private tatami rooms.
We visited during lunchtime and had the opportunity to use a private room with a sunken hearth, allowing us to relax comfortably. We visited in June, and the hydrangeas in the garden were beautiful.
Lunch menu options include seafood bowl, sirloin steak, sashimi set, Aotake set, nigiri set, and flower basket bento. For dinner, there are course menus such as the Flower course for 5,800 yen, the Moon course for 8,400 yen, and the Snow course for 10,500 yen (reservation required). It is also possible to enjoy the dinner courses during lunchtime with prior reservation.
We opted for the Flower course for 5,800 yen during lunchtime and enjoyed a variety of dishes meticulously prepared and beautifully presented. The culinary skills, seasonal decorations, and artistic presentation in Japanese cuisine are truly impressive.
Unfortunately, we forgot our digital camera, so we only have a few photos taken with a mobile phone. For more detailed information about the dishes, please visit Aotakean's website.
Onoya, located next door, seems to offer only private tatami rooms, making it a bit difficult for solo diners to casually visit. However, according to reviews on Tabelog, they also offer curry lunch (1,000 yen) and bento boxes (Rokka-zen for 1,200 yen, Miiro-zen for 1,800 yen) without reservations. While the evening kaiseki courses require reservations for a group of 15 or more, the lunchtime offerings at the main restaurant seem more accessible.