Kobe and Saitama restaurants close as new eateries prepare to open

In Kobe's Higashinada‑ku, the Naruto Taiyaki Honpo Okamoto shop on the north side of JR Settsu‑Motoyama Station closed on 30 June 2026, and a "Tenant Wanted" sign now covers the storefront.

In Saitama's Minuma‑ku, the Chinese Dining RYANPAO near JR Ōmiya‑Higashi Station ceased operations on 16 March 2026. The vacant space will host a new yakitori restaurant, Yakitori Byaku, slated to open in early September 2026, offering a hybrid electric‑charcoal grill and a "one‑level‑up" dining concept.

Both closures were noted in local job listings, and the upcoming openings have generated interest among residents who frequented the former establishments.