5 Top Restaurants for Matsusaka Beef Near Kintetsu Matsusaka Station

• Table of Contents
• About Matsusaka Beef
• What is the Traditional Matsusaka Beef "Sukiyaki"?
• 5 Best Restaurants to Enjoy Matsusaka Beef 
• How to Access Matsusaka
• Great Value Tickets from Osaka/Nagoya to Matsusaka
• Limited Events 

About Matsusaka Beef

There are strict conditions for "Matsusaka beef." Here are three main characteristics.

1. It must be a female cow that has not given birth (there are no male Matsusaka cattle).

2. It is one of the three major wagyu beef breeds in Japan (the others being Kobe beef and Omi beef).

3. The fat has such a low melting point that it can even melt with the heat of a human hand, creating a texture that melts in your mouth the moment it is put into your mouth.

Click here for the e-book on the city of meat (Matsusaka)

Visit Matsusaka City's Tourism Website

What is the Traditional Matsusaka Beef "Sukiyaki"?

In Matsusaka sukiyaki, it is common to first season the beef and then eat it, in order to enjoy the original flavor of the beef. Once the beef is cooked, you can eat it by mixing it with eggs as you like. Next, you can grill vegetables in the pot to retain the flavor of the Matsusaka beef.

5 Best Restaurants to Enjoy Matsusaka Beef 

Gyugin Main Store

Founded in 1902, the historic Gyugin main store offers sukiyaki in a private room. They carefully select the finest Matsusaka beef, with an excellent balance of lean meat and fat. Sukiyaki, where each piece of meat is carefully grilled and seasoned simply with soy sauce and sugar, is a supreme dish.

Get off at Kintetsu Matsusaka Station, and walk for about 15 minutes from the south exit.

Wadakin

Founded in 1878, Wadakin has an impressive, stately appearance reminiscent of a high-class inn. They serve carefully selected Matsusaka beef raised on their own ranch. The thick cut of meat allows you to enjoy the rich yet delicate flavor of the original ingredients. Another appealing feature is that the dedicated staff will grill the sukiyaki right in front of you, allowing you to enjoy it at the perfect timing.

Get off at Kintetsu Matsusaka Station, and walk for about 6 minutes from the South Exit.

Shotoan

At "Shotoan" located in the castle town, they have a reasonably priced menu of Matsusaka beef sukiyaki at lunchtime. They use A4 and A5 rank Matsusaka beef and their homemade seasoning brings out the full flavor of the meat.

Get off at Kintetsu Matsusaka Station, and walk for about 12 minutes from the South Exit.

Yachiyo

"Yachiyo" is a long-established inn that was founded in 1915 and takes pride in its cuisine. In addition to Matsusaka beef sukiyaki, you can also enjoy a luxurious course meal that uses plenty of Matsusaka beef, in a building that is designated as a national registered tangible cultural property.

Get off at Kintetsu Matsusaka Station, and walk for about 10 minutes from the South Exit.

Taiya Ryokan (currently closed for maintenance in 2025)

Taiya Ryokan, which has been in business since the Edo period for approximately 250 years, has private rooms where you can enjoy Matsusaka beef in a private space. The exquisite sukiyaki uses a generous 200 grams of A5-rank Matsusaka beef per serving. The delicious flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness of the Matsusaka beef will fill your mouth.

Get off at Kintetsu Matsusaka Station, and walk for about 5 minutes from the south exit

How to Access Matsusaka

If you take the Kintetsu Limited Express from Osaka Namba, Kyoto, or Nagoya, you can get to Matsusaka without changing trains. It's relatively close, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Osaka and Kyoto, and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Nagoya, so you can go there as a day trip.

Great Value Tickets from Osaka/Nagoya to Matsusaka

The "Kintetsu Rail Pass 5 Days" is convenient and great value, allowing you to get on and off at all Kintetsu railway stations from Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto to Matsusaka, Nara and Ise-Shima for five days. Please take advantage of this pass.

Buy a Kintetsu Rail Pass! (For tourists outside Japan only)

Limited Events 

[Finished] Matsusaka Beef Festival to be held on November 24th

This is a once-yearly festival that is full of the charms of Matsusaka beef. 50 carefully raised cows will be gathered together! It will be held at Bell Farm in Matsusaka Agricultural Park. There is a free shuttle bus from Matsusaka Station, so please make use of it.

Matsusaka Beef Festival flyer (Japanese only)

[Finished] "Papermaking experience and tea ceremony class" held from December to February

This is an original plan that combines a traditional papermaking experience with learning about Matsusaka tea from a Japanese tea professional.

Details and application for the papermaking experience and Japanese tea ceremony class (Japanese only)

[Finished] "Seven Lucky Gods Bus Tour" held on January 25th

Bring good fortune and connections into the New Year! This is a bus tour around the Seven Lucky Gods of Matsusaka. Starting from Matsusaka Station, we will visit a total of seven temples and shrines.

Details and application for the Seven Lucky Gods bus tour (Japanese only)

[Finished] "Experience event in Iinan Town, Matsusaka City " held on February 16th

This tour includes a Japanese cypress woodworking experience and the opportunity to enjoy Japanese tea and sweets at Fukaryokuchaya, a tea shop run directly by a tea farmer.

View event details and make reservations