Aji Arai
味あら井
Kaiseki in Nakatsu, Oita, 9 min walk from Nakatsu Station
Our analysis
- #2of 14 kaiseki restaurants in Oita
- 46%of high-end restaurants in Oita have a higher dinner budget
- 8 yearsThe Tabelog Award in a row
- Englishonline booking from abroad
Dinner ¥15,000–19,999Book online: Pocket Concierge
All 7 photos, by dishes, the room and the entrance
Dishes 5
Inside 1
Entrance 1
In our ranking, Aji Arai is 2nd of the 14 kaiseki restaurants in Oita. Its dinner budget on Tabelog (¥15,000–19,999) is lower than that of 46% of the high-end restaurants in Oita in this guide, and lower than that of 50% of its kaiseki restaurants. Its record: The Tabelog Award every year since 2019 (8 times; the only restaurant in Oita in this guide with that run) and Tabelog 100 in 2021, 2023, and 2025. From abroad it can be booked online in English on Pocket Concierge; 2 of the 14 kaiseki restaurants in Oita can be. Good for a seat at the counter, a private room (for 2, 4, 6, or 8), and a meal with children (its Tabelog listing says they are welcome).
How it compares
Kaiseki restaurants in Oita with a dinner budget close to its own, nearest to it in our ranking.
| Restaurant | Rank in Oita | Dinner from | Lunch from | Booking | Awards | Walk | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aji Arai | #2 | ¥11,550 | — | Online in English (Pocket Concierge) | Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 9 min, Nakatsu | — |
| Nananin | #3 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | Phone only | — | 12 min, Ōita | — |
| Oita Usuki Fugu Yoshi no Ie | #4 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | Phone only | — | 17 min, Takajō | Tue |
| Aji Fuku | #5 | ¥7,700 | — | Phone only | — | 6 min, Ōita | — |
| Oryori Hatano | #6 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | budget ¥15,000–19,999 | Online, Japanese only | — | — | — |
| Tsumami | #7 | budget ¥15,000–19,999 | — | Phone only | — | 8 min, Beppu | — |
For international visitors
Easy to book from abroad
Takes bookings online in English and has a menu or staff in English.
| Menu | English |
|---|---|
| Staff | Not listed |
| Payment | |
| Seating and facilities | Counter seats, Private rooms, Sunken seating (no kneeling), Tatami room |
How to book Aji Arai
- Book online in English on Pocket Concierge, the booking service the restaurant uses.
- The restaurant also takes online bookings in Japanese through Ikyu Restaurant.
- Call 0979-23-5550 (+81-979-23-5550 from outside Japan). Staff may speak only Japanese, so a hotel concierge can call for you.
- Reservations: required. Walk-ins are not accepted.
- Start time: all guests start the meal together, so arrive a little early; late arrivals may miss courses.
Courses and prices
As listed on Pocket Concierge, which takes bookings in English. Prices are per person. Book on Pocket Concierge
Omakase
Dinner
¥11,550
per person, ≈$80
Cheapest
Omakase
Dinner
¥17,325
per person, ≈$120
¥5,775 more than the one above
The food
Photos from the restaurant's pages on Tabelog and Ikyu.
Prices
| Dinner | ¥15,000–19,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Diners report spending | ¥20,000–29,999 at dinner |
| Credit cards | |
| Electronic money | Not accepted |
Opening hours
| Sundays | — |
|---|
- ■Business hours
- From July 2021
- Counter
- From 16:00 onwards
- From 19:00 onwards
- Tatami Room
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in the restaurant's own photos.
| Private rooms | Yes, for 2, 4, 6, or 8 people |
|---|---|
| Private hire | Possible |
| Smoking | Non smoking |
| Children | Children are welcome |
| Setting | Spacious seating, Counter seating, Tatami room, Sunken seating |
| Drinks | Sake (Nihonshu), Shochu (Japanese spirits), Wine |
| Services | Parties over 2.5 hours |
Getting there
9 min walk (750 m) from Nakatsu Station.
Also near: Yoshitomi: 19 min
- Leave Nakatsu Station and walk north for 20 m.
- Bear right and walk 30 m.
- Turn right and walk 20 m.
- Bear left and walk 30 m.
- Bear left and walk 20 m.
- Bear right and walk 50 m.
- Turn left and walk 250 m.
- Turn left and walk 170 m.
- Turn right and walk 140 m.
You arrive at Aji Arai.
Look for
味あら井
The restaurant's name, as on its sign
The entrance, in the restaurant's own photo
Show this to a taxi driver
味あら井大分県中津市上博多町2001
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 2001 Kamihakatamachi Nakatsu, Oita 871-0042 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | Aji Arai is about a 10-minute walk from Nakatsu Station on the JR Nippo Main Line. There is also a small parking area available. |
Awards
- Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2025
- Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2023
- Selected for Tabelog Japanese cuisine WEST “Tabelog 100”, 2021
Questions visitors ask
How much does Aji Arai cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥15,000–19,999 per person. Drinks may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
Does Aji Arai have an English menu?
Yes. The restaurant lists a menu in English.
Can I bring children to Aji Arai?
Children are welcome.
What is the nearest station to Aji Arai?
Nakatsu Station, about 9 minutes on foot (750 m). Yoshitomi Station is about 19 minutes away.
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026), Ikyu, and Pocket Concierge; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.