Sakaguchiya — Restaurant in Takayama

You simply can’t visit Hida Takayama without indulging in the renowned Hida beef! Known for its rich marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture, Hida beef is one of the finest wagyu varieties, raised in the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture. Its unparalleled tenderness and buttery flavor make it an absolute must-try for any meat lover. During our visit, we had the pleasure of enjoying this delicacy at Sakaguchiya (御食事処 坂口屋), a traditional Japanese restaurant that added an extra layer of authenticity to the experience.

The setting at Sakaguchiya is warm and inviting, offering a perfect blend of traditional Japanese decor and a comfortable dining atmosphere. As we sat down to enjoy our meal, we were impressed not only by the quality of the food but also by the attention to detail in both presentation and service. The Hida beef was beautifully prepared, cooked to perfection with just the right amount of seasoning to enhance its natural flavor. Each bite was incredibly tender, and the rich marbling created a luxurious melt-in-your-mouth sensation that left us wanting more.

For those who are visiting Takayama, I highly recommend making a stop at Sakaguchiya to experience Hida beef in its most authentic form. The combination of the top-tier wagyu and the traditional Japanese setting makes for a truly memorable dining experience. Whether you’re a seasoned wagyu enthusiast or trying it for the first time, Hida beef is a culinary highlight that...

The one food item that the YouTube vloggers said was a must-try in Takayama was the Hida Beef Sushi. These self-absorbed, follower-chasing travelers would rave about the tenderness of the meat and then immediately tell me to press the Subscribe button. Alas, it did look like a tasty morsel on camera, and this was the place mentioned the most to get it.

Jamie W and I were strolling on Sanmachi Suji, the heart of Takayama's Old Town, when we came upon this spot. While the street was crowded, surprisingly the order window was not. That was likely because they were sold out of two of the three levels of Hida Beef Sushi - the ¥600 Lean version and the ¥1,000 Premium version. That left the ¥800 Medium-Fat version, so we naturally ordered it to share.

The long slices of tender-looking Hida beef were slightly seared, placed over sushi rice nigiri-style, and lacquered with a horseradish soy sauce. It was placed on a flat rice cracker with a tiny dab of wasabi on top. It was prepared medium-rare, which was a plus, though the meat was slightly chewier than expected. Still, it was gone in a matter of minutes, and we didn't spend much time perusing the rest of their restaurant menu.

FOOD - 4 stars...tender but slightly chewy AMBIANCE - 3 stars...not much atmosphere though they had open seating inside SERVICE - 4 stars...pretty automatic though the process was meticulous TOTAL - 4 stars...Hida Beef...

Niku Niku Niku 😌There’s a queue, go early and last orders are at 2/230pm, they don’t do dinners. Best beef in town - scrumptious, juicy, fresh n decently marbled Prime Hida Beef eaten in sets with accompanying side dishes with a variety of cuts available. Truly a meat lovers paradise with the swirling aroma of juicy steaks slow cooking over aromatic leaf on personalised charcoal grill. Believe me it doesn’t get much better than this - truly authentic settings with wooden ceilings n huge log pillars this age old converted merchant house restaurant is filled with authentic paraphernalia- jingu masks, samurai attire n even an old flintlock rifle - rustic settings with delicious food - at extremely reasonable prices for some of the best beef in Japan (West). They have a decent drinks menu too and the service is ever so polite n courteous. A pleasure to dine here n truly not to...