This time, we’ll be introducing a traditional Japanese cuisine restaurant, “Nazuki”, and their new menu unveiled on January 20, 2020. Keeping Japanese cuisine as the motif for their course menu, the first wave of courses has been released which include 2 courses: the “Tale of the Bamboo Cutter Course” and the “Tsuru-no-Ongaeshi Course”.

Nazuki is a restaurant specializing in Japanese cuisine that unveiled their take on dining experiences by reopening as a restaurant offering 360-degree projection mapping together with great food that tantalizes the 5 senses using carefully selected ingredients that bring out the full essence of the 4 seasons.

As one might expect, for a restaurant whose concept is melding the old and the new, they serve traditional dishes with a modern twist alongside digital art techniques, making the establishment’s atmosphere one that deviates from the everyday experience.

Other than the main hall of 90 seats, they also have 2 VIP rooms that fit a maximum of 10 people, as well as a special “Hanare” section for those visiting as a group via tour buses that can support from as many as 100 people at a time.

This time, we tried out the “Tale of the Bamboo Cutter Course” and “Tsuru-no-Ongaeshi Course” inside Hanare.

Both courses are available at lunch and dinner time, and cost 7800-yen each, with a drink buffet add-on for 2000 yen.

Similarly, both courses comprise of 5 scenes each, with each part of the course served after the scene finishes playing via the projection mapping.

The menu which you use to make your order is designed like a picture book. The text comes in English as well and makes a perfect pastime as you wait for your order, not to mention a great souvenir for your friends and family back home.

While we can’t share too many spoilers here, the movie consists of animations and music only, so even without knowledge of the Japanese language anyone can still enjoy the show.

Some highlights of the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter Course: Zenzai no otsukuri moriawase (a smorgasbord of sashimi), Shiizakana (steamed akaza ebi shrimp in sakura ebi sauce with wild vegetable dressing, grilled Japanese bluefish with bamboo shoot salad coupled with crab chawanmushi and roast wagyu beef and a side of ginger sushi), Shokuji (smoked kaisendon with red miso soup), and lastly Mizugashi (a platter of dessert).

For the “Tsuru-no-Ongaeshi Course”, Sakizuke (thinly sliced blowfish sashimi), Gyoryori (grilled Japanese bluefish with awayuki sauce, wild vegetable tempura and seasonal vegetables, bamboo shoot salad, sakura shrimp, bigfin reef squid, and abalone steamed silkily in thin starchy sauce), Nikuryori (roast wagyu beef, vegetable terrine, yellow mustard, roasted vegetables and onion chips drenched with starchy bitter orange sauce), Shokuji (a sushi platter), and lastly Mizugashi (dessert platter).

Japanese folklore, tales that the Japanese all know but at the same time seem unfamiliar. Experiencing these stories through movies and food made for an enlightening experience indeed.

Nazuki only operates during lunch from 11:00 to 15:30 (Last order at 15:00) and dinner between 17:30 to 22:00. Their main specialties are the Sashimi Gozen during lunch at 1850-yen (tax inclusive) and the “Katsugyo Course” during dinner at 8000-yen (tax and service charge not inclusive).

If you’re feeling rather parched or have cravings for something sugary, there’s a boba tea store located in the first floor of the same building as Nazuki. Manpuku Chakichi is run by the same management as Nazuki, specializing in healthy boba tea that also contains beautifying nutrients.

Written by Shōko Kamiguchi