14 Best Dinner Spots in Takachiho! Izakaya, Takachiho Beef & Late-Night Dining

Where to Eat Dinner in Takachiho? 14 Restaurants Featuring Local Sake and Regional Cuisine

Looking for places to enjoy dinner in Takachiho?

This article introduces 14 restaurants in Takachiho Town, including izakaya, yakiniku and steak houses, yakitori, and late-night dining spots, organized by category. We’ve also compiled essential information such as business hours, holidays, and phone numbers to help you choose the perfect restaurant.

Izakaya, Yakiniku, and Late-Night Spots: Recommended Restaurants in Takachiho

Takachiho has several restaurants where you can enjoy local ingredients and sake. Here’s a guide organized by category including izakaya and yakiniku.

Izakaya

Discover izakaya where you can casually enjoy Takachiho’s regional cuisine and local sake. We’ve selected 9 establishments ranging from tourist favorites to local hangouts.

Izakaya Kenchan

This izakaya is considered a symbol of central Takachiho. The two large kagura masks at the entrance serve as landmarks, while the interior has a lively and vibrant atmosphere. With an extensive selection of locally produced Takachiho sake, it’s popular among tourists.

Izakaya Mugamuchu

Named with the wish that guests “forget their daily lives and become completely absorbed in enjoying their meal,” this is one of the larger izakaya in Takachiho Town with 60 seats. With counter seating, private rooms, and tatami areas available, it accommodates everyone from solo travelers to groups.

Sakadokoro Hidariuma

This restaurant features all-private-room seating. Kagura masks of Tajikarao and Uzume greet you at the entrance. You can enjoy a wide range of Miyazaki and Takachiho flavors including chicken nanban, kagura udon, charcoal-grilled chicken, and Takachiho beef cutlet. While there’s no counter seating, solo diners are welcome.

Izakaya Tentsukuten

This izakaya is famous for its owner “Gan-chan.” During the day, Gan-chan works as a train driver for the Amaterasu Railway, then transforms into the izakaya’s master at night. The restaurant is known for generous portions, with popular dishes including chicken nanban, “Imo Musume” (deep-fried taro soaked in bonito dashi), and five-color natto. Choose from food-stall-style counter seats or semi-private rooms to match your mood.

Izakaya Chiemaru

This reservation-only izakaya accepts parties of one or more. After renovations in 2021, all seating became private rooms. The charcoal-grilled Miyazaki Jitokko chicken thigh is the popular choice, and their secret salt blend is even sold at the storefront. Fresh sashimi made from fish caught that morning in Nobeoka is also well-regarded. The second floor has a large room (approximately 20 guests) and a small room (up to 10 guests) for banquets.

Izakaya Kamihira

This new izakaya opened in September 2025. Featuring a counter relocated from the long-established “Genta” in Nobeoka, it offers a relaxed atmosphere aimed at being a casual spot for locals. The menu includes various grilled dishes like assorted hirayaki, parent chicken teppanyaki, and salt-grilled mackerel, along with sashimi platters, fried chicken, and tempura.

Sakadokoro Iki

This cozy izakaya is run by a friendly couple. Enjoy homemade dishes like assorted grilled skewers, yam teppanyaki, and fried chicken. The appetizers feature seasonal ingredients, and conversation with the warm, welcoming couple adds to the experience. Conveniently located about 2 minutes on foot from Takachiho Bus Center.

Yakitori Tachiyadori

This yakitori specialty restaurant opened in July 2025 as a sister establishment to “Soba Dokoro Tenan.” They serve carefully prepared skewers using Miyazaki Prefecture chicken and eggs, along with dishes featuring seasonal ingredients. You can also enjoy Takachiho’s regional cuisine and local sake. Private rooms are available for those who want to dine at a leisurely pace.

Yakiniku & Steak

Takachiho is famous for “Takachiho Beef.” Here are yakiniku and steak restaurants where you can taste this rare, high-quality beef that won the top prize at the National Wagyu Competition.

Taishu Yakiniku SAKUYA Honmaru

This restaurant offers Takachiho beef and local chicken yakiniku in a Japanese-style space with cherry blossom motifs. The Takachiho beef served here is a premium brand that won the Prime Minister’s Award at the 12th National Wagyu Competition. You can also taste locally raised Morotsuka Hyakuroku Jidori chicken.

The drink menu is extensive with shochu, sake, and wine, and all-you-can-drink plans are available.

Yakiniku to Steak no Mise Hatsuei

This yakiniku restaurant is run by a butcher shop and has been selected as one of Tabelog’s Top 100 Restaurants. Their signature dish is the thickly-cut Takachiho beef mini steak set, served rare with only the surface seared, eaten with karashi (mustard) soy sauce. It’s renowned for melting in your mouth. The owner runs the shop single-handedly, and reservations are generally not accepted. Worth visiting even if it means waiting in line.

Takachiho Beef Restaurant Nagomi

This JA-operated restaurant lets you savor Takachiho beef that won first place at the 12th National Wagyu Competition. A distinctive feature is choosing from three styles: teppanyaki, table steak, or yakiniku. Located inside Takachiho Gamadase Market at the foot of Takachiho Bridge. Dinner is limited to one group per day (up to 4 people) and requires advance reservation by the day before.

Late-Night Restaurants

Restaurants in Takachiho Town close earlier compared to cities. Here are places open past 21:00 that you can visit after the night kagura performance or for second and third rounds of drinks.

Oshokujidokoro Tanuki

A go-to spot for Takachiho locals’ third round of drinks, open until 3:00 AM. The signature dish is ramen made with soup and noodles from Kumamoto, arranged in “Tanuki style.” The menu is extensive with udon, yakisoba, rice bowls, set meals, and sushi. Everything is handmade at reasonable prices, and takeout is available.

Restaurant & Bar Cats

A restaurant and bar open until 2:00 AM. With the concept of “creating a space where you can slowly enjoy time with someone special,” you can savor drinks and food in a relaxed atmosphere. The food menu includes pizza, fried rice, and spaghetti, with an extensive selection of cocktails and whiskeys.

Blue Moon

This bar relocated and reopened in February 2025. With oldies and 80s Western music playing, it offers a sophisticated adult atmosphere until 2:00 AM. The venue has 12 counter seats and 3 round tables, with Wi-Fi and phone chargers available. Credit cards, QR payments, and electronic money are accepted, and private parties are possible.

Check Before You Visit! Takachiho’s Izakaya and Restaurant Scene

Here’s useful information to know when dining out in Takachiho at night.

Takachiho is a Small Town

Takachiho is a nationally famous tourist destination, but the town itself is very small. The main street is Koudono Street (Prefectural Route 50), and restaurants are concentrated along this street and in the area to its north.

There are no entertainment districts like you’d find in cities or other tourist spots. At night, the town is enveloped in quiet.

Making Reservations in Advance is Recommended

If you plan to dine out in Takachiho, making reservations is recommended. While it’s a popular tourist destination with many overnight guests, the number of restaurants is limited, so places may be full when you arrive.

March and April coincide with local farewell and welcome party season, and New Year and major holidays also tend to be crowded. Make reservations early once your travel plans are set.

The most reliable option is having dinner at your accommodation. Many ryokan and hotels in Takachiho offer dinner-inclusive plans.

If You Couldn’t Get a Reservation or All Restaurants Are Full

Even if you couldn’t book an izakaya or find that everywhere is full, there’s still a way to enjoy Takachiho’s night. That’s Yamazaki Y-Shop Korogi Sake and Rice Store located in the center of Koudono Street.

Here you’ll find an extensive selection of Miyazaki’s local sake, including Takachiho shochu. Taking some back to your accommodation to enjoy at your leisure is one way to spend the evening.

Where Lantern-Lit Lanes Lead to Local Flavors and Friendly Faces

We’ve introduced 14 restaurants where you can enjoy dinner in Takachiho.

Whether you choose to savor local flavors at an izakaya, indulge in Takachiho beef yakiniku, or dine late at a night-owl establishment—we hope this helps you find the right restaurant.

Takachiho’s izakaya and bars are often frequented by locals too, so you might have chance encounters unique to travel. We encourage you to embrace these once-in-a-lifetime connections.

Your stay in Takachiho, the town of mythology. We hope you have a wonderful night.