Kobe Steak and Cafe Noble Urus Sannomiya

When most visitors to Japan are looking for a comfortable, convenient and most importantly affordable place to stay, one of the names that pops up most commonly is APA Hotel. Known for being surprisingly luxe for its reasonable prices, the APA Hotel chain provides arguably the biggest bang for buck in the Japanese hotel industry. Fittingly, one of the premier Kobe beef steak restaurants in the Kobe area — the very origin of the vaunted Kobe beef — is located in the premises of an APA Hotel. The APA Hotel Kobe-Sannomiya Ekimae is a popular choice for travelers looking to stay in the heart of Sannomiya (as the “Ekimae” part of the name suggests, it’s right in front of Sannomiya Station), but the presence of Noble Urus makes it that much more appealing for guests. Kobe’s most popular and exciting nightlife district, the Sannomiya waterfront area has no shortage of excellent Kobe beef yakiniku and teppanyaki restaurants, but it’s Noble Urus that locals go to, bolstered no doubt by its appearances on local television programs. Just like the hotel in which it makes its home, Kobe Steak and Cafe Noble Urus provides quality that far exceeds its price point. The most famous of Japan’s Three Great Beefs, Kobe beef is the pinnacle of wagyu beef. Exclusively sourced from Tajima cattle born and raised in Hyogo Prefecture, the meat is finely marbled, giving it a mouth-melting texture that is rivaled only by other premium wagyu beefs. The restaurant’s owner goes one step further, choosing only A5-grade beef from within his selection of Kobe beef. While Kobe beef may be in the restaurant’s name, Noble Urus procures all kinds of wagyu from trusted suppliers from all over the country as well, from as far as Furano in Hokkaido or Saga in Kyushu. While a la carte options are available, almost every guest opts for a course menu: The wagyu tasting comparison courses let guests try parts like A5-grade kalbi shortrib, beef tongue and other cuts of lean meat. These different types of wagyu are best experienced at the counter, where guests can see the succulent wagyu and other premium ingredients seared on the teppan grill right before their eyes, taking in the intense sizzle and mouth-watering aroma of cooking meat. Have a particularly special occasion to celebrate? Dinner courses have complimentary dessert plates, with personalized messages possible as well — just let the staff know in advance.