Courtesans were the only Japanese citizens allowed into the Dutch settlement in Nagasaki Bay, and these enterprising women created a culinary fusion – shippoku ryori. Served banquet-style, this cuisine bears the influence of Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese settlers. Common dishes include tai (red snapper) fin soup, braised pork, and tempura.

Housed within the Hiketaya brothel, Kagetsu opened in 1642, when courtesans were the only Japanese citizens allowed to enter the Dutch settlement in Nagasaki Bay. These women were responsible for shippoku, a new kind of banquet dining that fused elements of Chinese, Dutch and Portuguese cuisine - a culinary heritage that Kagetsu's menu pays tribute to in its sublime tempura and braised pork dishes. The location is worthy of a visit in its own right, with nine unique rooms dating back to the Genroku period and a serene Japanese garden that changes with the seasons - think cherry blossoms, azaleas and vividly coloured leaves.

In 1960, Kagetsu was designated as an important historical restaurant, a rarity not found often in Japan, and is still running business today. During Japan’s long period of isolation during the Edo period, only Nagasaki was allowed to have contact with foreigners, so by taking elements of Belgian and Portuguese food, adding tastes of Chinese and arranging it in a Japanese style, the special cuisine of Nagasaki was born, “Shippoku Ryori.” Come enjoy this prefectural designated historical cuisine of Shippoku Ryori at Kagetsu.

Kagetsu, a renowned restaurant in Nagasaki, is celebrated for its exquisite shippoku cuisine, a fusion of Japanese, Chinese, and Portuguese influences. Established in 1642, Japan's oldest Ryotei offers an elegant dining experience reflecting its rich historical heritage. Once a geisha house, the restaurant features a beautifully maintained garden and a small museum, enhancing the dining ambiance.

As the evening set it, I traveled into the heart of Nagasaki to dine at Kagetsu, one of this region’s most famous restaurants. This restaurant is what is known as a ryotei, a luxurious, traditional Japanese restaurant and entertainment house that serves its customers with the same distinction and practices that rich merchants and other VIPs enjoyed during the Edo Period.

The Historic Site Japanese Restaurant Kagetsu is a restaurant with a long tradition that goes back 360 years. At dinner time, diners can enjoy all the different flavors of traditional Nagasaki Shippoku cuisine. All the soup, fish, and meat were fresh, and surprisingly sophisticated.

It is now widely considered the top restaurant for Nagasaki’s age-old specialty cuisine, shippoku. Here, the high-end meals fuse Japanese kaiseki-style cuisine with Chinese and Portuguese influences, capturing the city’s historic story of foreign trade through its delicious dishes.

Kagetsu, opened within the Hiketaya brothel, is known for its shippoku ryori cuisine. This restaurant survived the 1945 atom bomb and remains a top destination for experiencing Nagasaki's culinary heritage.