Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan
In an historic Kanagawa building, enjoy freshwater eel prepared with traditional techniques that are even older.
Restaurant Details
The majestic Odawara Castle may be the main architectural interest in the city of the same name, but traditional unagi restaurant Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan draws a crowd of both architecture enthusiasts and unagi connoisseurs alike.
Built in 1941, the Toshima Residence was the residence of Makishiro Toshima, a well-known physician in Hakone. Now a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, the residence is a one-story wooden building with ornate ceiling decorations and an attached study room, called a shoin. Even after his passing, the premises — named Ichigetsuan for the brilliant white camellia that bloom in its gardens every January — continue to be a popular green site for Odawara residents and visitors both.
Ichigetsuan also attracts unagi enthusiasts with a bevy of traditional eel dishes, many of which are not even served in other eel specialty restaurants. The restaurant also uses exclusively blue eels, ao-unagi, beautiful blue specimens that are said to account for less than 10 percent of eels caught.
Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan specializes in unabe, an eel hotpot dish that is highly popular in Kyoto, but a rarity in the Kanto region. A mixture of dried bonito, kelp and eel bones, the rich broth is supposed to be good for digestion, particularly when paired with the restaurant’s traditional kuzukiri noodles, thick, translucent noodles made from the root of the kudzu vine (Japanese arrowroot) in Nara Prefecture.
Exclusive to byFood guests is the mini una-don, an eel rice bowl drizzled liberally with the restaurant’s secret sauce. So as to let the natural goodness of the rice and eel come through, the sauce used by Ichigetsuan is significantly less sweet than the sauce used by other restaurants, augmenting the flavors just enough.
After the meal, guests are welcome to walk off the meal by taking a stroll through the famed Japanese-style gardens, admiring both the external architecture like the magnificent southern gate, as well as the indoor art gallery, which features a rotating selection that features local Odawara artwork.
Unagi enthusiasts rejoice. Ichigetsuan recommends this course for beginners to unagi, but it remains a favorite among seasoned unagi veterans. Eat to your heart’s content with several types of unagi appetizers, an unagi hotpot, and more. ※ This course requires a Tangible Cultural Property preservation fee of ¥550 per booking.
Unagi enthusiasts rejoice. Ichigetsuan recommends this course for beginners to unagi, but it remains a favorite among seasoned unagi veterans. Eat to your heart’s content with several types of unagi appetizers, an unagi hotpot, and more. ※ This course requires a Tangible Cultural Property preservation fee of ¥550 per booking.
Variety is the spice of life, and Ichigetsuan recognizes that. This course is aimed at those who want to eat as many different types of things as they can, but have a small appetite. Still, diners are guaranteed not to leave with an empty stomach — it’s a lot of unagi. ※ This course requires a Tangible Cultural Property preservation fee of ¥550 per booking.
Variety is the spice of life, and Ichigetsuan recognizes that. This course is aimed at those who want to eat as many different types of things as they can, but have a small appetite. Still, diners are guaranteed not to leave with an empty stomach — it’s a lot of unagi. ※ This course requires a Tangible Cultural Property preservation fee of ¥550 per booking.
Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan Remarks
Guests with dietary restrictions and/or food allergies should inform the restaurant beforehand. The restaurant might not be able to accommodate guests who make same-day requests.
The restaurant reserves the right to refuse reservations to guests who have excessive dietary restrictions, particularly those of fish or vegetables.
The course menu content listed below is an example, and is subject to change based on seasonal availability.
The restaurant cannot always guarantee that it can provide guests with their preferred seating options after a reservation due to availability.
The pictures provided are for illustrative purposes.
Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan Business Days
Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan Address
4-9-44 Sakaecho, Odawara, Kanagawa, 250-0011
Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan Access Info
Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan is a 10-minute walk from JR Odawara Station, or a 10-minute walk from Odawara Station on the Odakyu Line.
Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan Phone Number
Toshima Manryo Ichigetsuan Cancellation Policy
Cancel your reservation at least 2 days before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Restaurant location
Nestled below the bustling city of Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture is as diverse in its environment as its food is delicious; Kanagawa offers Chinese street food and craft beer in Yokohama and fresh seafood from Kamakura and Enoshima, as well as natural beauty and mountainous produce in the hot spring town of Hakone near the base of Mount Fuji.
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MARUICHI FUJI AKASAKA (formerly Nyorosuke Akasaka)
Rather than steam the eel first in Kanto style, this famed Akasaka unagi specialist upholds Kansai tradition by going straight into grilling the eel for a crispier, crunchier texture.
Azabujuban Hanabusa
This Tokyo restaurant sources its eels from unagi farmers in Isshiki Town, who have raised them in an all-natural environment for over 100 years. The unagi are then coated in a secret sauce, before being grilled Kansai-style over a charcoal flame.
Nyorosuke Roppongi
At Nyorosuke, you can experience authentic Kansai-style charcoal grilled eel dishes such as grilled eel skewers, unaju and unagi-don. Unlike most Tokyo-style eel restaurants, the eel here is not steamed—meaning it’s bursting full of flavor!
Unagi Kappo Ooedo
Unagi Kappo Oedo repeatedly immerses whole pieces of eel within jars of their secret sauce, letting its flavor suffuse the meat entirely. It is then paired with sticky Yumegokochi rice for maximum texture.