5 Restaurants Near Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, Perfect for New Year Visits Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Reservation Guide-

Update-Date: Jun 4, 2025

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

5 Restaurants Near Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, Perfect for New Year Visits

Surrounded by the steep mountains of the Japanese Alps, Nagano is popular among tourists as a retreat in the summer, and as a snow resort in the winter. In Nagano City lies Zenkoji, an ancient temple built 1400 years ago, in which the oldest Buddha statue in Japan is enshrined. Visitors can recharge their energy with delicious food on their way back from worshipping at Zenkoji Temple, which is known as an amazing tourist spot.

Italian Cuisine - RISTORANTE NARVALO

Italian cuisine with seasonal ingredients that let guests feel a Japanese essence

RISTORANTE NARVALO is located a 7-minute walk from Nagano Station. This restaurant serves unique, original cuisine based on the theme of encountering Italian food with a Japanese essence. The cuisine using seasonal ingredients can be enjoyed as a course. Guests can choose from two kinds of pairings that go with the flow of the course: the alcohol pairing, which features select Italian wine, and the non-alcoholic pairing, with Japanese tea as the base.

Improve your fortune! Amazing spots to visit for the new year, 5 restaurants near Zenkoji Temple / Nagano

The restaurant interior has a chic and relaxing atmosphere, and feels completely like a refuge. It is perfect to use for dates and anniversaries, as well as wine parties, and is recommended as a memorable scene for a Nagano trip. The numerous cuisine options in which the chef's skill shines through are sure to color the special time spent at the restaurant. These foods include exquisite heating in which the temperature is adjusted in 0.1-degree units, and beautiful arrangements that guests can't help but be fascinated by.

RISTORANTE NARVALO

Address: 2F, First Bldg., 1716-5 Tsuruga Midoricho, Oaza, Nagano-shi, Nagano
Access: 7 minutes walk from Nagano Station

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Original Japanese Food - Shinshu Shinkei

Enjoy the natural blessings of the Shinshu region in this refuge overflowing with warmth

Shinshu Shinkei is located a 5-minute walk from Nagano Station. At this restaurant, guests can enjoy cuisine using copious amounts of the blessings brought about by the rich nature of Shinshu. The menu consists solely of three kinds of Chef's Choice courses. They can try the appetizer Kaiseki Tray, with its vivid appearance and use of seasonal ingredients, as well as the fatty Shinshu Aitchbone Steak. The diverse lineup of alcohol, including wine, Nagano sake, and craft beer, is not to be missed.

This restaurant is located in its own building in a narrow alley near the station. It is a refuge-style place that lets guests forget about the bustle of the city. The interior, which has the warmth of a building built around 60 years ago, is quite comfortable, and the interior decorations which use wood textures create a relaxing atmosphere. They have private rooms with sofas that can be used by up to 6 people, and the tables can be separated with a partition to make semi-private rooms.

SHINSHU SHINKEI

Address: 1383 Kitaishidocho, Nagano-shi, Nagano
Access: 5 minutes walk from Nagano station

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Iron Griddled and French Cuisine - cinq sens K

A reservation-only restaurant where guests can enjoy different genres on each floor

cinq sens K is located near Zenkoji Temple. This restaurant lets guests enjoy iron-griddled and charcoaled food on 1F and French cuisine on 2F. The Japanese Black Wagyu Tenderloin Steak served on 1F is cooked with different methods suitable for each part, such as charcoal grilling and iron griddling. The Shinshu Salmon with Seasonal Vegetables and Buckwheat Flour served on 2F features the plain flavors of buckwheat flour galette along with the fresh fragrances of herbs and vegetables spreading in one's mouth.

Two chefs each serve different genres of cuisine on 1F and 2F, and guests choose which genre they want when they make their reservations. The iron-gridded and charcoaled cuisine restaurant feels completely like being in a theater, and guests can enjoy the cooking scenery with a live feel from any seat. The French restaurant is equipped with private rooms and has an elegant and relaxing atmosphere. When consulting with the restaurant, many customers find that they can't choose, as both options are incredibly appealing.

cinq sens K

Address: 2324 Gondocho, Nagano-shi, Nagano
Access: 5 minutes walk from Gondo Station

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Soba and Original Cuisine - SOUSAKU 28　

Enjoy mature stylishness with the classic snacks of a soba restaurant and try the blessings of Shinshu

SOUSAKU 28 is a 5-minute walk from Gondo Station. Here, guests can enjoy the culture of Soba-mae, in which they enjoy the snacks and Japanese sake unique to soba restaurants and eat soba to finish things off. Look forward to finishing the meal off with soba after eating the cuisine using Nagano ingredients. Their Ultimate Togakushi Pure Soba, made with 100% buckwheat flour from Togakushi (Togakushi soba is considered one of the 3 best sobas in Japan), lets guests enjoy the authentic flavors of the soba. The Togakushi daikon radishes further draw out the flavors.

The interior has a chic and comfortable atmosphere. They have counter seats, and table seats in semi-private rooms, as well as private rooms that can be used by groups. This restaurant can be used in many situations, including normal use, group dinners, and dates. They have a lineup of Shinshu alcohol, including local sake, craft beer, and wine, making this restaurant recommended for tourists, as they can eat all the Nagano food they want. 　

SOUSAKU 28

Address: 1F, Kasai Life Bldg., 1352-5 Tsuruga Kamichitose-machi, Nagano-shi, Nagano
Access: 5 minutes walk from Gondo Station

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Japanese Cuisine - Japanese Kappo Shidoki

Japanese cooking colored with local vegetables and seasonal ingredients, which guests can enjoy while being themselves

Japanese Kappo Shidoki is located a 5-minute walk from Nagano Station. At this Japanese restaurant, guests can enjoy cuisine using seasonal ingredients, including Shinshu vegetables and carefully selected seafood shipped directly from production areas all over Japan. They can also enjoy Chef's Choice Courses with food stocked and a structure decided that day, as well as Japanese sake selected with the careful judgement of the restaurant head. The Taro Manju, completed through trial and error, is a dish that lets one fully enjoy the delicious flavors of taro, a local vegetable.

The interior has a navy-blue theme and jazz playing in the background, and is a truly comfortable space. The threshold for enjoying Japanese cooking tends to feel high, but the restaurant head, with his warm personality, wants to make this restaurant the first entrance of Japanese cooking for people who are not familiar with Japanese cuisine and sake. He wants to ensure that guests relax as they enjoy their time here. Enjoy Japanese cooking with Japanese sake and seasonal items recommended by the restaurant head.

Japanese Kappo Shidoki

Address: 1F, Compass Bldg., 2-15-2, Minami-chitose, Nagano-shi, Nagano
Access: 5 minutes walk from Nagano station

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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.

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