September 29, 2025
Himawari Shokudo 2
Italian in trending Toyama
Among this year’s 10 Destination Restaurants, Himawari Shokudo 2 was honored as Destination Restaurant of the Year 2025. Owner-chef Hozumi Tanaka creates original Italian cuisine in Toyama, one of the New York Times’ “52 Places to Go in 2025.” Toyama offers cultural inspiration and excellent cuisine minus the crowds of Kyoto. The Toyama Glass Art Museum, with a public library, and casual eating spots such as a French bistro, an izakaya and a jazz bar are recommended.
Toyama has seen a steady increase in fine-dining establishments attracting visitors from outside the prefecture and overseas, notably Cuisine régionale L’évo. Opened in 2024, Himawari Shokudo 2 serves an omakase course menu at ¥18,000 ($120). Its predecessor, Himawari Shokudo, launched in 2013 as an easygoing Italian restaurant with a blackboard menu.
While training in Tokyo, Tanaka was invited to work as a chef in Toyama. He returned in 2012 but was laid off six months later, worked part time, saved money and in 2013 opened Himawari Shokudo. Initially the price per customer was ¥6,000 to ¥8,000. He later offered a course for ¥12,000 but felt discomfort with the format.
Tanaka said: “With a la carte it’s more easygoing. An omakase course requires creation. But when I started Himawari Shokudo 2, I borrowed more money and reduced seats to eight, so I had no choice but to serve a course menu for ¥18,000. When I set about creating a menu, I was surprised at how many ideas I came up with.”
The course menu includes a crepe of mountain yam and dried bonito topped with firefly squid and an original Middle Eastern falafel. Tanaka credits “team Toyama,” a group of local chefs who met after work to share ideas, as a key influence. If this circle expands through his efforts, Toyama’s standing as a “place to go” will continue to rise.
Address
Himawari Shokudo 2
1-5-18 Jinzuhonmachi, Toyama, Toyama Prefecture
https://r930900.gorp.jp/
Hachiro Nitta
toyama Governor
I would like to extend our congratulations to Himawari Shokudo 2 for receiving the prestigious Restaurant of the Year 2025 award.
Toyama Prefecture, with its unique topography stretching from the Tateyama mountain range to Toyama Bay, nurtures an abundance of seasonal blessings from both the sea and the mountains. At Himawari Shokudo 2, guests can experience Toyama’s richness through creative Italian cuisine that highlights local seasonal ingredients. We invite you to visit Toyama Prefecture and experience its gastronomy firsthand.
Hirohisa Fujii
Toyama city Mayor
I am truly delighted that Himawari Shokudo 2 has been selected as The Japan Times Destination Restaurant of the Year 2025.Toyama city is blessed not only with abundant seafood and mountain produce, but also with a rich culinary culture cultivated over the years, making it a true treasure trove of food. In this wonderful environment, local ingredients are combined with owner-chef Hozumi Tanaka’s creative ideas and masterful skills to create exquisite Italian cuisine. We warmly invite you to experience it for yourself.
