Michelin is pleased to present the new restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide Nara. The Buddhist culture and crafts nurtured by this thousand-year-old capital, the four seasons of the rural landscape, and the pure water and local terroir continue to breathe life into people’s daily lives and culinary traditions.
Flavours that are the very reason for the journey—such as persimmon-leaf sushi, Nara-zuke pickles, the culture of sake breweries, and Yamato vegetables, river fish and mountain produce—will remain etched in visitors’ memories alongside the scenery of temples and shrines. The ‘Michelin Guide Nara 2026’ introduces the culinary charms of Nara through a selection rigorously curated by inspectors who visited various locations anonymously.
Continuity at the top: Nara’s four Two MICHELIN Stars restaurants impress once again
akordu (Innovative) offers cuisine born from the chef’s experience in French and modern Spanish cuisine. Using local Nara ingredients, it conveys the region’s history and terroir, stimulating the diner’s imagination.
Oryori Hanagaki (Japanese Cuisine) offers dishes that honour tradition whilst incorporating original ideas. Set in a detached house surrounded by bamboo, it welcomes just one party per day, devoting its heart and soul to both the cuisine and the hospitality.
Tsukumo (Japanese Cuisine), true to its chef who trained in Kyoto, New York and London, serves dishes that showcase ingenious combinations of ingredients.
NARA NIKON (Japanese Cuisine) serves pure Japanese cuisine that brings out the natural flavours of the ingredients. The name reflects the artisan spirit that pays close attention to the precise moment when ingredients are at their best.
Hoshino Awarded Its First MICHELIN Star
Keisuke Hoshino, originally from Osaka, draws on his wealth of experience to create his menus. He charcoal-grills Uda Wagyu beef and incorporates seasonal touches such as Japanese pepper in spring and matsutake mushrooms in autumn. The restaurant, housed in a renovated traditional townhouse with a high-ceilinged interior, is adorned with antiques and artworks, and is run by a team including waitresses in kimono and a sommelier.
Seven Green Star Restaurants Continue to Champion Nara’s Local Ingredients
Green Star were from three one-star restaurants: Italian Da terra (Asuka Village), Innovative SÉN (Tenkawa Village) and Chinese Naramachi Kuko (Nara City); and from four Selected Restaurants: Italian Sanjuhachi/37+1 (Yamatotakada City) , Japanese cuisine Kuramoto Ryori Maruto Shoyu (Tawaramoto Town), Japanese cuisine Kiyosuminosato AWA (Nara City), and Japanese cuisine AWA Naramachiten (Nara City).
Eleven restaurants join the Bib Gourmand selection
Introduced in 1997, the Bib Gourmand distinction highlights restaurants in the MICHELIN Guide that offer high‑quality cuisine at accessible prices. Spanning a wide variety of culinary styles, these establishments invite diners to enjoy carefully crafted dishes that deliver excellent value for money.
Eleven establishments have been listed in the Bib Gourmand section, spanning categories including Indian cuisine, eel, kushikatsu, soba, pizza, French cuisine and yakitori.
In addition to Nara City, the guide features eateries and restaurants in the areas of Ikaruga Town, Ikoma City, Uda City, Kashiba City and Kashihara City that offer exceptional value for money.
Seven New Restaurants Join the MICHELIN Guide Selection
There are seven new Selected Restaurants. The Italian restaurant ristorante Nishiyama (Ikoma City) uses creative flair to introduce variety through the aromas of wasabi and sansho pepper, and the refreshing notes of yuzu and sudachi. Vegetables are sourced from local farmers, incorporating regional flavours. The modern cuisine restaurant Aperçu (Nara City) aims to be a restaurant that leaves a lasting impression. Its specialities feature vegetables from Nara, allowing diners to feel the bounty of the land and the connections between people. There are two sushi restaurants: Sushi Matsumiya (Nara City) is a sushi restaurant run by sisters. To bring out the natural sweetness of the prawns, they omit wasabi, whilst the simmered conger eel is lightly seared over bamboo leaves to infuse it with their aroma; they approach sushi from their own perspective, giving deep thought to every single piece. Naramachi Sushi Hanako (Nara City) is a sushi restaurant run by a chef who returned to his hometown after gaining experience in Canada. From sushi rice crafted with Kansai flavours in mind to simmered conger eel that highlights the natural taste of the ingredients, and ‘ura-maki’ rolls familiar from his time in Canada, he honours tradition whilst drawing on his own experience. Two French restaurants: AUBERGE de SENVIE (Sakurai City) offers beautiful, modern cuisine amidst the refreshing scenery of the nature-rich Yamato Plain. The restaurant engages with local producers, potters and woodworkers in Nara, bringing together the passion of everyone involved. SOLIER (Nara City) connects the region with its guests through dishes made with vegetables and fruit grown in its own kitchen garden. The chef personally serves the dishes to the table, conveying the appeal of the ingredients and the story behind them. Sukita (Nara City) is a yakitori restaurant housed in a renovated traditional Japanese house. They use aged chicken, removing excess moisture to bring out the umami of both the skin and the meat. They have their own theories on how to arrange the charcoal and how to grill, and pour their wholehearted passion into their craft.
The restaurant selection in Nara and is available free of charge on the MICHELIN Guide website and app. The selection showcases unique properties both in Japan and throughout the world.
MICHELIN Guide Nara 2026 selection
Two MICHELIN Star restaurants : 4
One MICHELIN Star restaurants : 18, including New One Star restaurants : 1
Bib Gourmand restaurants : 11
Selected restaurants : 45, including Newly Selected restaurants : 7
Green Star : 7
Find the full selection and detailed information about all the restaurants in Nara, on both the MICHELIN Guide website and mobile apps.
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