For a romantically memorable afternoon, look no further than Kawabun Restaurant, a shoo-in for one of the best restaurants in Nagoya. This charming establishment is celebrated for its delightful Italian fare, making it an exceptional choice for a date. Tucked away inside a heritage building, Kawabun not only provides a delightful dining experience but also boasts one of Nagoya's most enchanting ambiences, surrounded by a tranquil garden and a picturesque pond.

Nagoya is relatively a young city (if you compare it with Kyoto), but it hides places with a long history and tradition, which even the residents themselves are completely unaware of. Many of these places are also a Tangible Cultural Heritage recognized by the Unesco, and they are part of the historical heritage of Japan. One of these Tangible Cultural Heritages is Ryōtei Kawabun (料亭河文).

Built at the time of Nagoya Castle and once belonging to the Owari Tokugawa family, this exclusive ryotei restaurant (not to be confused with an Italian restaurant called Kawabun Nagoya, also in the city) offers traditional Japanese fare and kaiseki banquets. The tables surround a beautiful interior garden; sit back and marvel at each exquisite course created from seasonal ingredients.

There are two reasons why people choose to eat at Kawabun Nagoya. The first is the excellent food, which is skillfully crafted from the region’s finest produce. Despite the Japanese name of the restaurant, the menu features Italian and other European dishes, so it is something different from the usual Japanese offerings you will find in the majority of Nagoya’s restaurants.

Drawing on centuries of culinary tradition from the cuisine of the old Imperial Court to Buddhist vegetarian cooking, kaiseki is a course meal made up of highly intricate dishes, chosen by the chef to highlight the beauty of individual ingredients and the constant change of the seasons.

This year the Kawabun Nagoya will offer a Christmas Course from December 23 to 26. They invite you to join with family and friends, and small children are welcome. Though the course is not exactly the most traditional of selections, it still promises to be pretty fantastic.

Kawabun is a point of particular pride for Nagoya, being the oldest restaurant in the city. Its clientele is an equal mix of history or architecture buffs and gourmets looking to taste its traditional Japanese cuisine. Often, those who come as one leave as the other.

The staff speak perfect English but, warning, it is a bit fancy so you’ll feel out of place if you don’t dress up a little bit and you might want to arrive at the beginning of dinner hours so you can make an escape before all the customers on dates start piling in.

The oldest restaurant in Nagoya, a meal at Kawabun is a cultural experience in its own right. Enjoy fine traditional dining in the surroundings of a ryōtei which has entertained the Nagoya elite for over 400 years. Lunch: $164.98-171.86

Italian2-12-30 Marunouchi, Naka Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. Provided by Autoreserve. "THE KAWABUN NAGOYA" is an Italian restaurant located in the long-established restaurant "Kawabun" in Nagoya.

Expressway Nagoya High Speed ​​Downtown City Line "Marunouchi Exit" and go straight ahead. Go to the "BOJ front" intersection east. "Sakura-dori Cyojyamachii" cross the intersection north.