Aji Arai

Nakatsu City is located on the eastern shore of Kyushu, facing the Seto Inland Sea. This oceanic pantry provides some brilliantly fresh seafood to Aji Arai, a traditional kappo restaurant — and one of the only Michelin-starred restaurants in the city. The owner-chef was raised in a fishing community near the city, and his grandmother was a fish dealer, so he has long had excellent knowledge of just what the region’s waters can offer. This knowledge is transmuted into dishes such as baked pufferfish shirako, and Matsuba crab shabu shabu. Most of the seafood is sourced locally, but the proprietor also has great connections around the country, all the way to Hokkaido in the north, for securing regional and out-of-season specialties. Though premium seafood is the number one priority, Aji Arai also sells wild game and high-grade beef, all prepared in the simple yet elegant style of Kyushu kappo — a thoroughly local food culture of which the owner is extremely proud.