December 26, 2025
Beppu Hirokado
A restaurant that stars fish just out of the water
Beppu, in Oita Prefecture, is one of Japan’s foremost hot spring destinations, with about 2,600 sources and the country’s largest outflow. Eight million visitors come each year, and the lively area around Beppu Station is lined with casual eateries. Thanks to Beppu Bay, the city is also blessed with rich seafood, and fine-dining establishments have been on the rise. Among them is Nihon Ryori Beppu Hirokado, located on a mountainside about 20 minutes from the station.
Proprietor Taizo Hirokado, a Beppu native and son of a chef, learned Japanese cuisine in Osaka after high school. He trained in soba making at Daruma Sekkasanbo in Hiroshima under master Kunihiro Takahashi, then spent four years in Tokyo as second-in-command at a popular restaurant. He opened Nihon Ryori Beppu Hirokado in June 2021.
The restaurant has eight counter seats and serves only an omakase course at ¥28,500 ($190). At the beginning of the meal, diners are shown the fish and sea creatures while still alive — swimming sea bream, undulating octopuses, jumping shrimp and more.
“When I set out on my own, I wanted cuisine unique to this place,” Hirokado said. “Only here can I serve fish truly just out of the water.” Rather than aging fish, he brings it from the market still in seawater, alive.
Because fish toughens quickly once cleaned, sashimi is sliced thin enough for the pattern of the plate to show through. The result is firm texture and sweet, vital flavor possible only with exceptional freshness. In autumn the restaurant also serves charcoal-grilled or nabe pot-cooked game such as wild boar and venison.
Hirokado works with three apprentices. “You don’t need a big city to become a top chef,” he said. “I want people to say Oita has not only good ingredients, but delicious cuisine.”
Address
Beppu Hirokado
4-2 Horita, Beppu, Oita Prefecture
https://beppu-hirokado.jp/
Kiichiro Sato
governor of Oita Prefecture
Heartfelt congratulations to Nihon Ryori Beppu Hirokado. Oita Prefecture is known as one of Japan’s leading “hot spring prefectures,” boasting the largest number of hot spring with the greatest volume. It is also blessed with abundant natural surroundings and with fresh, safe ingredients nurtured by this rich environment.
At Nihon Ryori Beppu Hirokado, guests can experience the appeal of Oita Prefecture’s exceptional local ingredients. We invite you to visit Oita and discover its outstanding cuisine and many other attractions.
Yasuhiro Nagano
Mayor of Beppu
On behalf of the city of Beppu, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Beppu Hirokado.
Their commitment to making the most of local ingredients and carefully expressing the changing seasons of Beppu through their cuisine, while continually refining their culinary craft, has been highly recognized both in Japan and abroad. This is a great source of joy and pride for our city. We hope that its selection will serve as an opportunity for the appeal of Beppu to spread even further, both domestically and internationally.
