Kawashima

Founded back in the Edo Period, Kawashima is a tofu restaurant by day and a kaiseki restaurant by night. This Michelin-starred restaurant can be found just three minutes away on foot from Karatsu Station. Known to be the origin of “Zaru Tofu,” its fame extends to more than just its local city. The whole country regards Kawashima as a legendary tofu restaurant. What makes the tofu at this restaurant so special is its process — the natural soybeans are not washed in water but instead are placed in a bamboo basket to soak up natural brine. Because of this unique process, the natural flavors are preserved with a firmer texture as a result. While Kawashima serves tofu dishes during the day, it transforms into a kaiseki restaurant in the evening. They offer a unique omakase course where the owner crafts a menu the very morning of the reservation based on what’s fresh in the local market. No two visits will ever be the same — it’s like a customized course meal just for you. Whether it is afternoon tofu or evening kaiseki, Kawashima never fails to impress and exceed expectations.