Tsurubesushi Yasuke

Boasting over 800 years of history, Tsurubesushi Yasuke is a legendary establishment, famously featured as a setting in the classic Bunraku and Kabuki play Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura. The building itself, with its striking red bengala-painted walls, is a charming three-story wooden structure over 80 years old. Notable literary figures such as Eiji Yoshikawa and Jun'ichirō Tanizaki are known to have dined here.

The restaurant’s specialty is a range of dishes featuring wild-caught ayu (sweetfish) from the Kii River system. Their popular course meals showcase ayu in various preparations—from salt-grilled to served with a vegetable sauce, and finishing with pressed sushi made from ayu. Although ayu dishes are available year-round, the young ayu that peak in flavor around June are particularly prized. Pressed ayu sushi, such as Ayu Sugatazushi and Yaki Ayuzushi, are also available for takeaway.

Inside, there are about 80 seats, including traditional tatami rooms and private spaces. The highlight is the 22-tatami-mat room on the third floor, where the garden view from the windows is spectacular. The garden, laid out along a slope, creates a dramatic and immersive natural scene that changes beautifully with the seasons.