Arutokoro

Located in a former residential home, owner-chef Sunao Hirakawa remodeled the 130-year-old place into what it is today: a splendorous Japanese restaurant with a nostalgic and homey atmosphere known as Arutokoro. Located just at the foot of Mt. Kagamiyama, this unique restaurant offers traditional kaiseki cuisine featuring only Karatsu ingredients. To convey the best of Karatsu’s essence, Hirakawa makes it a point to apply specific cooking techniques that bring out the umami. He doesn’t clump up the dishes so that each distinctive seasonal ingredient has their own time to shine instead. Unique offerings like wild boar stew can only be tasted here. One iconic dish of Arutokoro is a single chargrilled fish that’s been grilled over binchotan charcoal — a perfect example of Hirakawa's cooking approach. On top of mouth-watering dishes and local sake and wine collection, Hirakawa greets his guests with warm hospitality amidst the peaceful atmosphere. The service combined with the traditional cuisine makes the perfect combination for an authentic Karatsu dining experience, only at Arutokoro.