Japan's Destination Restaurants: Dining Worth the Trip

Explera DMC Japan uses The Japan Times' Destination Restaurants list to build regional dining into small-group programmes. Each year since 2021 the newspaper has named ten restaurants worth travelling for, all outside Tokyo's 23 wards and Japan's largest cities. The 2026 edition, its sixth, brought the total to 60 restaurants.

The 2026 Destination Restaurant of the Year went to Kesennuma Kuromori, a Chinese restaurant specialising in shark-fin cuisine in the port city of Kesennuma, Miyagi. The award was announced at a ceremony in Tokyo in May 2026, and the judges chose it unanimously.

Which restaurants were named in 2026?

Besides Kesennuma Kuromori, the 2026 list names:

Hokkaido and Tohoku. Robata to Wine K in Kushiro, Hokkaido, and Ukitomam in Nanyo, Yamagata.
Kanto and Chubu. Ohtsu in Mito, Ibaraki; nôtori in Oshino, Yamanashi; and mano in Karuizawa, Nagano.
Hokuriku and Kansai. TSUKIHI in Echizen, Fukui; RUKAWA in Takashima, Shiga; and SÉN in Tenkawa, Nara.
Kyushu. Restaurant Présage in Karatsu, Saga.

Several of these places sit on routes we already sell, such as Karuizawa, Lake Biwa and Karatsu.

A chef in whites finishes a plated dish at a kitchen pass.

How do groups book destination restaurants?

Check capacity first. Restaurants of this kind are often small, so we confirm how many guests each one can seat before we offer it to a group.
Book early. Seats at well-known regional restaurants are limited. We request dates as soon as a programme is confirmed.
Plan the journey. These restaurants are in the regions by design, so we build the meal into a route with transport and a nearby hotel.
Dietary needs in advance. Set menus are built around local produce, so we send allergies and preferences to the kitchen ahead of the visit.

For city dining, see our guide to sushi, kaiseki and Michelin restaurants.

Root vegetables, mountain greens and fresh fish on ice on a rural kitchen counter.

Sources: Jiji Press via Adnkronos: Japan Times selects this year's Destination Restaurants and Travel Voice: Destination Restaurant of the Year 2026.

FAQ

What are Japan's Destination Restaurants? A list published each year since 2021 by The Japan Times, naming ten restaurants worth travelling for. All are outside Tokyo's 23 wards and Japan's largest cities.

Which restaurant was the Destination Restaurant of the Year 2026? Kesennuma Kuromori, a Chinese restaurant specialising in shark-fin cuisine in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture.

How many Destination Restaurants are there? Sixty after the 2026 edition, the programme's sixth year.

Can large groups dine at Destination Restaurants? It depends on the restaurant. Many are small, so we plan them for small groups or split a larger group across sittings where the restaurant agrees.

Planning regional dining in Japan for your clients? Write to b2b@explera.jp, message the trade desk on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090, or register on the B2B portal. Proposals within 24 hours. IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.