Aizu Local Food and Sakura Nabe Tsuruga Aizu Main Store

Cheers with premium "Basashi" and "Sakura Nabe". A renowned restaurant to enjoy Aizu's local cuisine in a relaxing atmosphere.

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What Is the Tsuruga Aizu Main Store?

Located in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, “Aizu Local Food and Sakura Nabe Tsuruga Aizu Main Store” is a renowned restaurant where you can fully enjoy the highest grade Aizu brand horse meat and traditional local cuisine. Relocated from its previous location, it is now conveniently situated about a 5-minute walk from Aizuwakamatsu Station, making it immensely popular not only among locals but also tourists from outside the prefecture.

In the Aizu region, the culture of eating horse meat (sakura meat) has been deeply rooted since ancient times. Among them, what is served at “Tsuruga Aizu Main Store” is genuine “Aizu Brand Certified Horse Meat” shipped directly from Aizu horse ranches every day. The greatest appeal is being able to taste the highest quality horse meat, which is not widely distributed in the general market, in an exceptionally fresh state.

In addition to horse meat dishes, the restaurant offers a rich variety of local cuisine nurtured by the history and climate of Aizu. You can enjoy traditional Aizu flavors all at once, such as “Kozuyu,” an essential clear soup for celebratory occasions made with a broth from dried scallop adductors; “Tempura Manju,” offering a perfect balance of crispy batter and sweet red bean paste; and “Nishin Sansho-zuke” (pickled herring with Japanese pepper), which pairs perfectly with alcohol. The restaurant is fully equipped with everything from small private rooms to a large banquet hall, allowing you to spend a relaxing dining experience in a calm space brimming with traditional Japanese atmosphere.

Relish exceptionally fresh “Sakura Sashimi” and exquisite “Sakura Nabe”

When visiting here, you absolutely cannot miss the famous “Sakura Sashimi” (horse meat sashimi) and “Sakura Nabe” (horse meat hot pot). Tsuruga offers more than eight cuts of horse sashimi, including lean meat and rare parts. Eating it by dissolving a special “spicy miso” in soy sauce is the Aizu style. Furthermore, the “Sakura Nabe” is an exquisite dish where premium horse ribs are simmered sukiyaki-style with a spicy miso specifically for sakura meat, and eaten dipped in a raw egg.

For those who want to fully and harmoniously taste these famous dishes and Aizu’s local cuisine, the course meals are definitely recommended.

For first-timers or those looking to enjoy it at a reasonable price, the “Sakura Gozen Course,” which includes a set of sakura sashimi, sakura nabe, and seasonal simmered dishes, is perfect. Also, for those who want to thoroughly savor horse meat down to the rare cuts, the luxurious “Sakura Mankai (Full Bloom) Course,” which features an assorted platter of all sakura sashimi types and a premium sakura nabe, is gaining popularity. With course meals, you can cover the culinary charms of Aizu without struggling to choose from the menu, making it ideal for a tourist dinner. As an accompaniment to your meal, be sure to try local Aizu sake.

The restaurant always has an assortment of about 30 to 40 types of local sake. If you choose a course plan that includes all-you-can-drink, you can thoroughly enjoy a wonderful marriage with delicious horse meat and local cuisine.

If you visit without a reservation, you may have to wait for about 20 to 45 minutes during lunchtime and 90 to 180 minutes during dinnertime, so it is recommended to make an advance reservation once your visit date is decided.

Recommended Ways to Spend Your Time

Since “Tsuruga Aizu Main Store” boasts excellent access, being about a 5-minute walk from Aizuwakamatsu Station, it is highly recommended to incorporate it at the beginning or end of your itinerary as a base for Aizu sightseeing. Since they are open for both lunch and dinner, you can plan your schedule flexibly.

Upon arriving in Aizu, why not start with a slightly luxurious lunch at “Tsuruga”? After filling your stomach with an exquisite sakura sashimi or sakura nabe set meal, hop on the city loop bus “Haikarasan” or “Akabe” from in front of the station and head to Tsurugajo Castle, the symbol of Aizu. After climbing the castle tower with its beautiful red roof tiles, taking a stroll around the prefectural museum and reflecting on history is also a wonderful way to spend time.

In the afternoon, take the bus further to Nanukamachi Street and stroll through the townscape lined with retro Western-style buildings and storehouses. Looking for traditional crafts such as Aizu lacquerware and Akabeko as souvenirs is also a fun moment. If you plan to use “Tsuruga” for dinner, a romantic and perfect course would be to stop by Iimoriyama, a place associated with the Byakkotai, in the evening, take in a panoramic view of the Aizu Basin dyed in the setting sun, and then head to the restaurant.

At night at “Tsuruga,” be sure to reserve a luxurious course meal with all-you-can-drink local sake and immerse yourself fully in Aizu’s food culture without worrying about the time. However, it is an extremely popular restaurant that is fully booked as soon as it opens every day.

Basic Information

・Address:Aizu Local Food and Sakura Nabe Tsuruga Aizu Main Store

・Operating Hours: Lunch: 11:30 – 14:30 (L.O. 14:00) 　Dinner: 17:00 – 22:00 (L.O. 21:30)

vPlease check the notices on the official website in advance.)

・Closed: Wednesdays, December 31st, January 1st (*Other irregular holidays may apply.)

・Estimated Price:Lunch: Around 1,500 yen to 3,000 yen　Dinner: Around 5,000 yen to 8,000 yen Official

・ Other: Adjacent coin parking

Access

・Address: 6-12 Ekimae-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture 965-0041

・By Train:About a 5-minute walk from “Aizuwakamatsu” Station on the JR Banetsu West Line

・Car: About 10 minutes from Aizuwakamatsu IC on the Ban-etsu Expressway

TSURUGA Higashiyama Souhonzan

Originally built in the Showa era as a traditional Aizu kaiseki restaurant, the beautifully preserved wooden building was transformed into a private hot spring retreat and reopened in 2022. Guests can enjoy exclusive use of a spacious 169㎡ royal suite, complete with a personal butler who provides attentive and tailored service throughout your stay.