Matsusaka, the town of meat, is just an hour and a half away from Osaka! We'll introduce you to some recommended restaurants where you can eat the coveted high-quality wagyu beef, Matsusaka beef!

• Table of Contents
• What is " Matsusaka Beef", the world-famous brand of beef from Matsusaka ?
• What is the traditional Matsusaka beef dish? ... "Sukiyaki"
• Here are 5 restaurants where you can eat Matsusaka beef "sukiyaki"!
• Access to "Meat Town (Matsusaka)"
• Great value tickets from Osaka/Nagoya to Matsusaka

What is " Matsusaka Beef", the world-famous brand of beef from Matsusaka ?

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

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

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

③The 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 dish? ... "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.

Here are 5 restaurants where you can eat Matsusaka beef "sukiyaki"!

Gyugin main store , a famous Matsusaka beef and sukiyaki restaurant

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.

The original Matsusaka beef "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.

Taiya Ryokan, a long-established inn that has been in business since the Edo period

Taiya Ryokan, which has been in business since the Edo period for about 250 years, has all private rooms, allowing you to enjoy Matsusaka beef in a private space. The exquisite sukiyaki uses 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.

Enjoy Matsusaka beef while looking at the garden at "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 is a long-established inn that offers a luxurious menu featuring Matsusaka beef.

"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.

Access to "Meat Town (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)