Japan’s Shiga, Hyogo and Tokyo Welcome New Restaurants

A udon‑and‑chicken eatery named 〆太朗 (Shime‑Tarō) is slated to open in July 2026 in front of JR 能登川駅 (Notokawa Station) in Higashi‑Ōmi, Shiga Prefecture. The shop will serve hot kettle‑boiled udon, locally raised chicken and a selection of alcoholic drinks, and staff recruitment is already underway.

In Itami, Hyōgo Prefecture, the award‑winning curry chain 日乃屋カレー (Hinoya Curry) opened a new outlet on July 6, 2026 in Mizuhomachi, occupying the site of the former “Itami Mizuhomachi Ramen” shop. The restaurant offers its signature “championship‑taste” katsu‑curry, a sweet‑first‑then‑spicy style that earned a win at the Yushima Curry Grand Prix.

Tokyo’s Sug‑an‑ku district saw the relocation of the kaiseki restaurant 有いち (Ari‑ichi) from the Ogikubo North‑exit shopping street to a new venue in Nishi‑Ogikubo. The move follows a redevelopment‑driven closure of the original shop. Ari‑ichi, which has been featured in the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand, continues to serve seasonal Japanese cuisine at its new address on West Ogikubo.