Fugu Kaiseki Garden
Fugu / Crab / Other Seafood
Finding its home in an 80-year-old building constructed in the Showa era, Fugu Kaiseki Garden brings diners straight into the daring world of the perilous Shimonoseki blowfish.
Restaurant Details
At the westernmost tip of Honshu island lies Shimonoseki, a coastal city that might be Japan’s most dangerous — not for its crime, but for the thrill beneath its waters: the notorious blowfish.
Once banned nationwide in Japan due to its lethal toxin, potent enough to kill 30 adults, fugu is now prized for its delicate, exquisite flesh. Though only certified chefs are allowed to prepare it, the slim risk of danger only adds to the allure among daring epicureans.
And there is no shortage of thrill at Fugu Kaiseki Garden, a venue in Shimonoseki dedicated to fugu. Housed in a renovated, 80-year-old mansion from the early Showa era, the restaurant draws on traditional recipes while focusing exclusively on fugu sourced from the city, as its name suggests.
The restaurant offers a series of kaiseki-inspired courses that reveal every facet of the blowfish. Sourcing prized torafugu (tiger pufferfish) from Shimonoseki’s Nanbao Market, the fish is given a sophisticated treatment: the tender white flesh is simmered into a rich stew, the skin is sliced into pribbons served with ponzu and paper-thin fugu sashimi is artfully arranged in a chrysanthemum pattern — a haunting homage to a flower that symbolizes both longevity and funerary rites in Japan. The menu extends even further, with seared fugu, chawanmushi made from fugu skin and fried or porridge-style options.
This experience unfolds in private dining rooms, where the lingering nostalgia of the Showa era is evident: tatami-matted floors contrast with chandeliers, and shoji screens frame windows dressed with draped valance curtains. Head here if you are brave enough.
Fugu Kaiseki Garden Access Info
Fugu Kaiseki Garden is a 4-minute drive from Shimonoseki Station.
Fugu Kaiseki Garden Phone Number
Fugu Kaiseki Garden Business Days
Fugu Kaiseki Garden Address
4-23 Nishiotsubocho, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi 750-0054
Fugu Kaiseki Garden Cancellation Policy
Cancel your reservation at least 1 week before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Restaurant location
Travel off-the-beaten-track to a quiet and rural prefecture that’s home to serene beaches, tranquil caves, and ancient castles, and has a history that’s dominated by the samurai. Its Dassai sake is famed, and local delicacies include the poisonous fugu (pufferfish).
We strive to be as accurate as possible and keep up with the changing landscape of Japan’s food and travel industries. If you spot any inaccuracies, please send a report.
Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 |
3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
cucinA Agoo BamBino
cucinA Agoo BamBino at Shimonoseki offers a fusion of Italian and Japanese cuisine with must-try sea urchin pasta. Located near Shidax Karaoke, it's known for its award-winning culinary expertise.
MUSASHI Yamaguchi Branch
Experience award-winning Izakaya cuisine at MUSASHI Yamaguchi Branch, located near Yudaonsen. Signature dishes include sizzling iron plate octopus and Motsu Nabe hot pot. Perfect for intimate gatherings.
Shunsai Suzuyoshi
Shunsai Suzuyoshi offers exquisite Japanese dishes in a tranquil setting in Yudaonsen. Known for fresh sashimi and local seafood, it's cultivated by an attentive chef.
Ichinomata Onsen Kanko Hotel
Experience rejuvenation at Ichinomata Onsen Kanko Hotel in Shimonoseki, with its famous Champon noodle soup and soothing hot springs. Relax in tranquility!