Nara Nikon
奈良 而今
Kaiseki in Nara & Saidaiji Area, Nara, 8 min walk from Nara Station
Our analysis
- #1of 17 kaiseki restaurants in Nara & Saidaiji Area
- 55%of high-end restaurants in Nara have a lower dinner budget
- ★★Michelin Guide 2026
- Japaneseonline booking only
Dinner ¥20,000–29,999Closed Mondays and SundaysBook by phone
In our ranking, Nara Nikon is 1st of the 17 kaiseki restaurants in Nara & Saidaiji Area and 1st of 24 in Nara. Its dinner budget on Tabelog (¥20,000–29,999) is higher than that of 55% of the high-end restaurants in Nara in this guide. Its record: two Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide 2026 (one of 4 in Nara in this guide), The Tabelog Award every year since 2020 (7 times; one of 2 in Nara in this guide with that run), and Tabelog 100 in 2021, 2023, and 2025. It takes bookings online only in Japanese, on Ikyu Restaurant; 6 of the 24 kaiseki restaurants in Nara can be booked online in English. Good for a seat at the counter, a private room (for 2, 4, or 6), and an anniversary (it prepares a celebration if asked when booking).
How it compares
Kaiseki restaurants in Nara & Saidaiji Area with a dinner budget close to its own, nearest to it in our ranking.
| Restaurant | Rank in Nara | Dinner from | Lunch from | Booking | Awards | Walk | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nara Nikon | #1 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | Online, Japanese only | ★★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 8 min, Nara | Mon, Sun |
| Tsukumo | #2 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | budget ¥20,000–29,999 | Phone only | ★★ · Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 14 min, Kyōbate | Mon |
| Gen | #3 | ¥18,150 | budget ¥2,000–2,999 | Online, Japanese only | Tabelog 100 2025 | 15 min, Kyōbate | Mon, Sun |
| Oryori Hirooka | #4 | budget ¥15,000–19,999 | budget ¥15,000–19,999 | Online in English (OMAKASE) | ★ | 6 min, Nara | Wed |
| Okada | #5 | ¥20,570 | budget ¥8,000–9,999 | Online in English (TableCheck) | ★ | 7 min, Nara | Sun |
| Tsuru Yoshi | #6 | ¥14,300 | ¥11,000 | Online, Japanese only | Bronze 2026 · Tabelog 100 2025 | 9 min, Nara | Mon |
For international visitors
Book through a concierge
No online booking in English and no menu or staff in English are listed. A hotel concierge can book for you.
| Menu | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Staff | Not listed |
| Payment | |
| Seating and facilities | Counter seats, Private rooms, Sunken seating (no kneeling) |
How to book Nara Nikon
- The restaurant also takes online bookings in Japanese through Ikyu Restaurant.
- Call 0742-31-4276 (+81-742-31-4276 from outside Japan). Staff may speak only Japanese, so a hotel concierge can call for you.
- Reservations: required. Walk-ins are not accepted.
- Anniversaries and birthdays: the restaurant prepares a celebration if you ask when you book (a dessert plate with your message, a cake or a surprise). More in Nara.
Can't get a table? Kaiseki nearby you can book online
The food
Photos the restaurant posted on Tabelog.
On Instagram
Prices
| Dinner | ¥20,000–29,999 per person |
|---|---|
| Lunch | ¥20,000–29,999 per person |
| Diners report spending | ¥30,000–39,999 at dinner, ¥20,000–29,999 at lunch |
| Service charge | Service charge: 5% |
| Credit cards | |
| Electronic money | Not accepted |
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 18:00–22:00 |
| Wednesday | 12:00–15:00, 18:00–22:00 |
| Thursday | 18:00–22:00 |
| Friday | 18:00–22:00 |
| Saturday | 12:00–15:00, 18:00–22:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Seats and rooms
Inside
The dining room, in the restaurant's own photos.
| Seats | 15 |
|---|---|
| Private rooms | Yes, for 2, 4, or 6 people |
| Private hire | Not possible |
| Smoking | Non smoking |
| Dress code | none |
| Setting | Stylish space, Relaxing space, Counter seating, Sunken seating |
| Drinks | Sake (Nihonshu), Shochu (Japanese spirits), Wine, Particular about Sake (Nihonshu), Particular about wine |
| Services | Celebrations and surprises |
| Opened | September 2016 |
Getting there
8 min walk (610 m) from Nara Station, Exit 1.
- Leave Nara Station by Exit 1 and walk north for 20 m.
- Turn left at 7-Eleven onto Higashimuki-Kita-dori and walk 260 m.
- Turn right and walk 70 m.
- Turn left and walk 120 m.
- Turn left and walk 120 m.
Nara Nikon is on your right.
On your right
Look for
奈良 而今
The restaurant's name, as on its sign
Show this to a taxi driver
奈良 而今奈良県奈良市鍋屋町3
The address in Japanese, as drivers enter it
Location
| Address | 3 Nabeyacho Nara, Nara 630-8264 |
|---|---|
| Stations |
|
| Directions | 4 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. |
Nearby
Sights within a walk
- Tōdai-ji Temple, 980 m, about 16 min walk
Awards
MichelinMichelin Guide 2026: two stars
Nara Nikon has two Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide 2026. Nara Nikon in the Michelin Guide · All Michelin-starred restaurants in Nara · Michelin-starred kaiseki in Nara
- 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 Nara Nikon cost?
The restaurant puts dinner at ¥20,000–29,999 per person and lunch at ¥20,000–29,999. Drinks and a service charge (Service charge: 5%) may be extra; credit cards are accepted.
When is Nara Nikon closed?
It is closed on Mondays and Sundays.
What is the nearest station to Nara Nikon?
Nara Station, about 8 minutes on foot (610 m).
Does Nara Nikon have a dress code?
none
Does Nara Nikon have a Michelin star?
Yes. Nara Nikon has two Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide 2026.
Sources
Facts on this page come from Tabelog (checked in November 2026), Ikyu, and the Michelin Guide; the walking directions from OpenStreetMap. Report a correction.