Perfect for Lunch or Dinner, Nihonrettōsakaba KAMIGOTO Is Your Go-To Spot for Luxurious Seafood Bowls in Shibuya, Tokyo

Situated in the bustling Shibuya district of Tokyo, “Nihonrettōsakaba KAMIGOTO” serves up specialties from Kamigotō, a town in the northern part of the Gotō Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture. The restaurant prides itself on a variety of dishes using fresh seafood and local delicacies, directly sourced from Kamigotō. The nihonrettō in their name means “Japanese archipelago.” As for sakaba, it literally means “tavern,” although it often denotes a restaurant which prides itself on its alcohol selection.

Photo of the interior of Nihonrettōsakaba KAMIGOTO

Feast on the “Gottsu-Don Seafood Bowl,” a Kamigotō specialty

A star dish of the restaurant, available for both lunch and dinner, is the “Gottsu-Don Seafood Bowl.” In Nagasaki dialect, gottsu means a feast. True to its name, this bowl is lavishly topped with seven types of seasonal seafood caught in the Gotō Islands.

Photo of Gottsu-Don Seafood Bowl (Deluxe)

“海鮮ごっつ丼(特上),” Gottsu-Don Seafood Bowl (Deluxe) 3,800 JPY (tax included) 

The seafood toppings on the Gottsu-Don change weekly. On the day of our visit, the bowl was generously filled with medium fatty tuna, lean tuna, Spanish mackerel, sea bream, bonito, yellowtail, and flounder. Each slice of sashimi is pre-marinated in a soy sauce blended with ago-dashi, a broth featuring extracts of ago, or flying fish. Therefore, it’s best enjoyed as is. Adding wasabi or other condiments is also recommended.

You can use the bowl’s lid as a small plate, enjoying the dish like a sashimi set meal.

Photo of a seafood bowl

Midway through your meal, pour hot ago-dashi over the bowl to transform it into a delightful ochazuke rice soup. The slight warmth gently cooks the sashimi, offering a new flavor and texture.

Photo of a seafood bowl

Savor Kintaro tuna from the Gotō Islands, delicious in a spicy “Kintaro Tuna Yukhoe”

Most of the tuna used by Nihonrettōsakaba KAMIGOTO in their delicious seafood dishes such as the Gottsu-Don Seafood Bowl comes from Kintaro tuna, mainly sourced from the waters around the Gotō Islands and known for its sweetness and rich flavor.

Photo of Kintaro Tuna Yukhoe

“金太郎まぐろユッケ,” Kintaro Tuna Yukhoe 980 JPY (tax included)

Kintaro tuna thrives in the strong currents between the Kuroshio and Tsushima currents around the islands, making it particularly tasty.

The name Kintaro is inspired by a traditional Japanese candy called kintarō-ame which has the same pattern no matter where in the roll you cut it. Likewise, this high-quality tuna is said to yield delicious cuts no matter which part of the fish you take it from.

Among the various dishes made with Kintaro tuna, their “Kintaro Tuna Yukhoe” is a perfect accompaniment to alcohol.

Photo of Kintaro Tuna Yukhoe

The spicy sauce in the Kintaro Tuna Yukhoe enhances the sweetness and umami of the tuna, making it irresistible with a drink. The restaurant also offers a selection of sweet potato shōchū from the Gotō Islands, such as Gotō Nada Beni Satsuma and Gotō Nada Shiro Kōji. Why not order some along with your meal?

Photo of sweet potato shochu

Kamigotō’s hellishly delicious jigoku-daki udon, a local delicacy

In Kamigotō jigoku-daki udon is a local specialty featuring udon, thick wheat flour noodles. This name originated from a whimsical language mix-up in which shigoku, meaning “extremely,” was misheard as jigoku, meaning “hell.” The name stuck, and the result was “hellishly delicious” udon noodles! The dish, with its captivating name, has become a popular choice among the restaurant’s guests.

Photo of the Signature Jigoku-Daki Udon (Plain)

“名物 地獄炊きうどん(定番),” Signature Jigoku-Daki Udon (Plain) 980 JPY (tax included)

You cook their “Signature Jigoku-Daki Udon” by yourself at the table. It’s simple: once the water boils, add the dried noodles and wait for about 7 minutes.

Photo of the Signature Jigoku-Daki Udon (Plain)

Once cooked, use the provided cooking chopsticks or the noodle strainer to lift the noodles, and then dip them in a special sauce made with soy sauce and a raw egg. You can also try it with ago-dashi for a different flavor. Adding green onions or bonito flakes is optional. While ginger is typically also used in jigoku-daki udon, Nihonrettōsakaba KAMIGOTO chooses to highlight the broth’s natural flavor by offering only green onions and bonito flakes.

Photo of the Signature Jigoku-Daki Udon (Plain)

Eating noodles together with raw egg

The udon used in their jigoku-daki udon is Gotō udon made in the Gotō Islands. These noodles are kneaded with camellia oil, a local specialty, giving them an exceptionally smooth texture.

Photo of the Signature Jigoku-Daki Udon (Plain)

Not just seafood: exploring the unique meat dishes of Kamigotō

In Kamigotō, not only fishing but also boar hunting is popular. The restaurant serves a dish called “Seared Kamigotō Wild Boar” using locally caught boars.

Photo of Seared Kamigotō Wild Boar

“上五島産 猪の炙り焼き,” Seared Kamigotō Wild Boar 1,480 JPY (tax included)

The wild boar meat used in this dish has a flavor similar to pork and a minimal gamey taste. Moreover, it offers a subtle sweetness and a non-greasy texture. The special green chili miso sauce enhances its sweetness and umami.

Photo of Seared Kamigotō Wild Boar

At Nihonrettōsakaba KAMIGOTO, you can enjoy a variety of dishes that are rare in Tokyo. It’s worth visiting for a unique culinary experience!

Photo of the exterior of Nihonrettōsakaba KAMIGOTO

Information

Store name 日本列島酒場 上五島
Nihonrettōsakaba KAMIGOTO
Address 37-35 Udagawa-chō, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access Shibuya Station(SBY)5-minute walk from Shibuya Station Exit A2
  • JR Yamanote Line(JY20)
  • JR Saikyō Line(JA10)
  • JR Shōnan Shinjuku Line(JS19)
  • Tōkyū Tōyoko Line(TY01)
  • Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line(DT01)
  • Keiō Inokashira Line(IN01)
  • Tokyo Metro Ginza Line(G01)
  • Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line(Z01)
  • Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line(F16)
Phone number 03-6427-8067
Reservations Accepted
Phone, Tabelog
Payment
  • Cash
  • Credit card(American Express・JCB・Master・UnionPay・VISA)
  • Transportation-related electronic payment not accepted
  • Electronic payment not accepted
  • QR code payment(Alipay・au PAY・d Payment・FamiPay・Ginko Pay・Hama Pay・LINE Pay・Merpay・PayPay・Rakuten Pay・WeChat Pay)
Service charge/Table charge Service charge (including otōshi) 450 JPY (tax included)
Only at dinnertime
Hours Mon-Sat. 11:30-14:30(last order 14:00), 17:30-23:00(last order: food 22:00 drinks 22:30)
nat’l holidays 11:30-14:30(last order 14:00), 17:30-21:30(last order 21:00)
Closed Sunday
Seating 78 seats
8 counter seats, 46 table seats, 24 private dining room seats
Smoking All seats are non-smoking
Official website https://kiwa-group.co.jp/kamigoto/
Other information
  • English menus are available
  • Please ask staff about allergy-friendly, vegan, vegetarian and halal menus; however, there may be cases in which the restaurant is unable to accommodate your request
  • Wheelchair-accessible
  • Take-out is available; delivery service is not available
  • Please ask staff about luggage storage space
  • Wi-Fi is available
  • Posting of food photos and videos on SNS is allowed
  • Separate billing is allowed

※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of November 2023.