Ichijunisai Ueno Minoo

Osaka has no shortage of traditional restaurants in its inner-city districts, but for a true taste of luxury, it’s often best to look slightly further afield. Ichijunisai Ueno Minoo is a traditional kaiseki restaurant situated near the entrance to Mino National Park — an idyllic woodland area surrounded by nature to the north of the city. The premises is an old traditional inn, repurposed as a restaurant. This means spacious private dining rooms steeped in historic elegance. Each has a beautiful view of the outdoors, with the chance to catch sight of fireflies in summer. Chef Norio Ueno started out as a cooking teacher before deciding to practice what he preached, opening two of his own restaurants which both feature in the Michelin Guide. His exquisite cuisine thoroughly disproves the tired old adage, “Those who can’t do, teach.” He offers very reasonably priced set meals for lunch and dinner, with 7 courses, perfect for anyone wanting to sample fine Japanese washoku without breaking the bank. If you would prefer to have the full experience, opt for the more luxurious courses which display the full range of seasonal ingredients, and the expert skills of the chef, through over a dozen dishes. Only 7 groups are lucky enough to pass through the doors per day, so be sure to make your reservation well in advance to make sure you’re among them.