Shibukawa Donya
A Restaurant Representing Aizu-Wakamatsu’s Rich History
This stunning building preserves three eras of Japan’s history and serves the unique cuisine of this samurai castle town from days long past. Immerse yourself in Aizu-Wakamatsu’s cultural history at this nostalgic restaurant.
Three Eras of Japanese History and Traditional Aizu Cuisine
Stepping inside Shibukawa Donya is like stepping through time, both in terms of its beautifully preserved architecture and the Aizu cuisine of an era past. The restaurant was a former seafood wholesaler, high in the Fukushima mountains and far from any coastline. Seafood had to be dried and preserved to be transported here and the cuisine served today is a throwback to those rich, umami flavored dishes. As Aizu-Wakamatsu was a powerful castle town in its day, it’s easy to imagine such fare being enjoyed by high ranking samurai.
Served on beautiful traditional tableware including Aizu lacquerware, you can now experience a greater variety of foods that are available in modern times, such as juicy sliced steak of Aizu wagyu beef and fresh seafood from both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. And you can enjoy your meal seated around a traditional irori hearth, as the samurai once did.
Preserved Architecture and Artifacts from Aizu History
Take some time to explore the building too, representing three different eras of Japan’s history. The restaurant is a former Edo Period merchant house, while the store was built in the Meiji Period. The main building is from the Taisho Period and Café Kaika is opened 2021, with strong Western influence. Each period has its own distinct architectural style and features that help you trace the changes in design sensibilities throughout Japan’s history. Feel free to wander the facility and take a closer look at the details you’ll find in the antique furnishing and décor that represent Aizu-Wakamatsu’s glory days.
Access to Shibukawa Donya
Shibukawa Donya is about a 20-minute walk from JR Aizu-Wakamatsu Station. You can also take the Machinaka Tour Bus to Nanokamachi Station and walk 3 minutes to the restaurant. Be sure to explore the surrounding Nanokamachi street on which the restaurant is located for more examples of Aizu-Wakamatsu’s history.
Photo Credit:©Waki Hamatsu
Contact
Tel: +81 242-28-4000
Web Form: https://shibukawadonya.com/contact
Business hours
Lunch: 11:00 - 15:00 (Last entry at 14:30)
Dinner: 17:00 - 21:00 (Last entry at 19:00)
WEB site
MAP
Nearby Sightseeing Spots
Showa Natsukashikan
History lovers will delight in this charming display of Japanese life in the 1950s.
The Showa Natsukashikan is located on the second floor of COTT'N CLUB AIZU, an antique store that faces the histo…
Art & Culture
History
Experience
Family Fun
FUKUSHIMA
JR Tadami Line
Visitors to Fukushima Prefecture should definitely check out a scenic ride on the famous Tadami Line, offering breathtaking views of castles, temples, rivers, towns and serene landscapes, immersing th…
Nature & Outdoor
Scenery
Sites
FUKUSHIMA
Aizu Kendo Experience
Kick it old school in Aizuwakamatsu as you learn the basics of Japanese swordplay in one of Japan’s most revered samurai cities, right in the heart of Fukushima.
Art & Culture
History
Activities
Experience
Family Fun
Sites
Traditions
FUKUSHIMA
Showa Natsukashikan
History lovers will delight in this charming display of Japanese life in the 1950s. The Showa Natsukashikan is located on the second floor of COTT'N CLUB AIZU, an antique store that faces the histo…
JR Tadami Line
Visitors to Fukushima Prefecture should definitely check out a scenic ride on the famous Tadami Line, offering breathtaking views of castles, temples, rivers, towns and serene landscapes, immersing th…
Aizu Kendo Experience
Kick it old school in Aizuwakamatsu as you learn the basics of Japanese swordplay in one of Japan’s most revered samurai cities, right in the heart of Fukushima.