Restaurant in Kobe, Japan

Uemura

Name: Uemura
Address: 1 Chome-24-14 Nakayamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0004, Japan, Kobe, JP
Telephone: +81782210631

1,095Pearl Points

11-seat kaiseki counter; book well ahead.

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About Uemura

Two-Michelin-starred Uemura transforms kaiseki dining into intimate theater at chef Ryosuke Uemura's exclusive eleven-seat counter in Kobe, where personalized seasonal menus blend traditional Japanese techniques with contemporary artistry in one of Japan's most coveted dining experiences.

Pearl Verdict

Budget JPY 30,000–40,000 per head at listed rates, though review data suggests actual spend often runs JPY 50,000–59,000 at dinner once drinks and the 10% service charge are added. At that price, Uemura delivers a tightly focused kaiseki counter experience with a Tabelog score of 4.44 and consecutive Silver and Bronze awards from 2017 through 2026. It has also been selected for the Tabelog Japanese Cuisine WEST Top 100 in 2021, 2023, and 2025. La Liste rates it at 90 points (2026), and Opinionated About Dining ranked it #388 in Japan for 2025. For a kaiseki dinner in Kobe at this price tier, it is a well-credentialed choice. Book it for a special occasion or a serious food-focused dinner; it is less suited to casual group meals.

About Uemura

Uemura (formally Ryoriya Uemura) sits on the fourth floor of a building on Nakayamatedori in Kobe's Chuo Ward, seven minutes on foot from Sannomiya Station. The room holds 11 seats, all at the counter. There are no private rooms. For groups wanting the full space, private hire is available for up to 20 people, which makes it a workable venue for a corporate dinner or a small celebration where exclusivity matters.

The counter format is central to the experience here. Eleven seats means chef Ryosuke Uemura and the team are cooking for a small, fixed number of guests at any one time. For a special occasion dinner, that physical intimacy is part of the proposition: you are close to the preparation, the pacing is controlled, and the room is non-smoking throughout. If you are used to kaiseki at larger Kyoto establishments, the spatial register here is more compressed and personal. For a comparison point in the kaiseki category, Ifuki in Kyoto and Kikunoi in Tokyo offer a sense of how the format plays out at different scales.

The drinks program is worth factoring into your budget planning. Uemura is noted as particular about both sake (nihonshu) and shochu, with wine also available. In kaiseki settings, sake pairings tend to drive the bill significantly beyond the food price, which likely explains the gap between the listed JPY 30,000–39,999 range and the JPY 50,000–59,999 figure that emerges from review spending data. If you are coming for the full counter experience, plan for the higher figure. Credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners); electronic money and QR payments are not.

Timing matters at Uemura. Lunch runs 12:00–14:00 with a last order at noon, and is available only on weekends and public holidays for individuals; weekday lunch requires a group of 10 or more. Dinner runs in two sessions: first from 18:00, second from 20:40 (last order 21:00). Closing days are not fixed, so confirm directly before booking. Cancellations on the day of reservation carry a 100% cancellation fee, which is standard for this tier in Japan but worth noting before you commit.

For broader context on dining in the region, see our full Kobe restaurants guide. If you are building an itinerary across the Kansai region, HAJIME in Osaka, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, and akordu in Nara are worth considering alongside Uemura.

Quick reference: 11-seat counter, JPY 30,000–59,000 per head depending on drinks, reservation-only, 10% service charge, credit cards accepted, no parking on-site, 7 min walk from Sannomiya Station.

Ratings & Recognition

Tabelog Score: 4.44 (Silver Award 2025; Bronze 2026)
Tabelog Japanese Cuisine WEST Top 100: 2021, 2023, 2025
La Liste: 90 points (2026); 90.5 points (2025)
Opinionated About Dining: #388 in Japan (2025); #454 (2024)
Google Reviews: 4.6 / 5 (144 reviews)
Consecutive Tabelog Awards: Bronze or Silver every year from 2017 to 2026

Booking

Uemura is reservation-only. With 11 seats and strong award recognition, availability is limited, particularly for weekend dinner. Book as far in advance as possible; confirm hours and closed days directly with the restaurant at +81-78-221-0631 or via ryouriya-uemura.com. The 100% same-day cancellation fee means you should only book when the date is firm. For solo diners or pairs, the counter format means you do not need to assemble a larger group to secure a seat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Uemura accommodate groups?

Yes, but the format limits you. The restaurant has 11 counter seats, so groups larger than that require a private buyout, which is available for up to 20 people. Weekday lunch is only open to groups of 10 or more. For smaller groups of 2–4, a standard dinner reservation at the counter is the right call.

What should I wear to Uemura?

No dress code is listed, but the setting — fourth-floor counter kaiseki at Tabelog Silver level with a 10% service charge — signals that understated, tidy clothing is appropriate. Avoid anything overly casual. Treating it like a formal dinner reservation is the safe approach.

What should a first-timer know about Uemura?

Uemura is a counter-only kaiseki restaurant with 11 seats, so the experience is intimate and paced. Budget JPY 30,000–40,000 at listed rates, but review data puts actual dinner spend closer to JPY 50,000–59,000 once drinks are included — factor that in. Cancellations on the day incur a 100% fee, so only book if your plans are firm. The restaurant is seven minutes on foot from Sannomiya Station.

Is Uemura good for a special occasion?

Yes, provided your group fits the counter format — there are no private rooms. Uemura holds a Tabelog Silver Award (2025, score 4.44) and 90.5 points from La Liste, and Tabelog reviewers specifically flag it for occasions with friends. The spend at JPY 50,000–59,000 per head (based on review data) puts it in serious celebration territory, so match the occasion to the price.

What are alternatives to Uemura in Kobe?

Kitanozaka Kinoshita is the most direct comparison for formal Japanese cuisine in Kobe at a similar award tier. Setsugekka and Ca Sento offer different cuisine formats if kaiseki is not the priority. For sushi at a comparable price point in the region, Sushi Ueda is worth considering. Uemura's specific position — counter-only kaiseki with a strong fish focus — is harder to replicate locally.

Can I eat at the bar at Uemura?

The entire restaurant is a counter — all 11 seats are counter seats, so every guest eats there. There is no separate dining room or bar seating. This makes it a fully counter-format experience regardless of party size.

Is Uemura good for solo dining?

Yes. The 11-seat counter format suits solo diners well — it is the same experience as any other table, without the awkwardness of a room built around larger parties. At JPY 30,000–59,000 per head, it is a significant solo spend, but the Tabelog Silver recognition and La Liste 90-point score make it a defensible choice if kaiseki is what you are after in Kobe.