My gorgeous wife called it four courses into the nine course degustation. It is not a title she would bandy about lightly, and six months later she stands by her judgment. This was, and remains, she says, the single best meal she's ever had.
Me...too.
We've both had some decent meals in Japan and other places before and since: Motoyoshi Tempura is sensational. Joel Robuchon, Tofuya Ukai, the kaiseki lunch at the Abudai Bekkan (if you're ever lucky enough to get there) - all fantastic.
But there was something about the whole package at Takazawa: the personal service from Akiko and Chef Takizawa, and the tiny restaurant's intimate atmosphere, the creativity that goes into the dishes, the attention to detail and sheer hard work, the flavours, and the visual feast. It is an awesome combination, and it was hard to disagree when my bride made her pronouncement.
I reckon the great strength of TripAdvisor is that -almost without exception - those attractions that consistently rate highly with a large sample group over many years turn out to be excellent. Takazawa is a classic example. It's absolutely no mistake that this restaurant has a certificate of excellence; that it has been rated one of the best restaurants in Asia and the world. It's a truly class act.
Of course, it is not cheap, and unless you're seriously cashed-up, it's probably best reserved as a special treat. But, if you can get a reservation, and put off the kids' school fees for a month, you're very unlikely to be disappointed.
Strongly, highly, recommended.More