In October 2016, I traveled to Japan from Hokkaido to Kyushu using the 14-day Japan Rail JR pass. With extensive research and a sense of spontaneity, my friends/cousin and I were able to enjoy some of the best Wagyu during our trip. I am dedicating this blog post to the amazing less well-known name brand regional Wagyu experiences I had during my Shinkansen bullet train trip in 2016.

Luxurious Akita Yuri/Ugo Wagyu Yakiniku Japanese beef BBQ plate





Yuri/Ugo 由利牛 / 羽後牛 Wagyu Beef in Northeast Akita 秋田 area

Akita Yuri/Ugo Wagyu Fillet Mignon cut melts in your mouth

This place was one of the best Yakiniku BBQ restaurants in Akita and it was conveniently located near JR Akita station. The restaurant is known for their prestigious Yuri/Ugo Wagyu beef. Yuri/Ugo beef is rare brand of Wagyu beef farm raised exclusively in the Northeast/Akita area. The Yakiniku barbecue restaurant was within 5 minutes from our hotel in Akita by foot. The decor of the restaurant resembles an upscale Izakaya restaurant in Japan. With my prior research based on the beautiful photos on their menu, I ordered the assorted meat combo of the day after our waiter confirms that there is no intestine/organ meat on the plate.

Nice decor at Akita Gyutei Yakiniku BBQ restaurant Different portions had a slight different texture and sweetness to it, some were more oily (juicier) than others. The total bill was about 10000 yen for two.

Melt in your mouth texture of Akita Yuri/Ugo Wagyu beef









Kanazawa Meat 金澤ミート Wagyu Hamburger Steak

Japanese Wagyu hamburger steak on sizzling plate at Kanazawa Meat restaurant Japanese hamburger steak typically consists of a patty of mixed ground beef and pork with chopped onion and spice, topped with special sauce. Right after I arrived in Kanazawa and checked into my hotel, the hotel staff recommended us to get our dinner near JR Kanazawa station. We visited a Wagyu Hamburger steak specialty restaurant named "Kanazawa Meat" and ordered their house special and curry Wagyu meal sets.

Kazanawa Meat restaurant was conveniently located near JR Kanazawa station Wagyu fat has a distinct aroma that is very well showcased by being served in hamburger steak style. The dish was about 1500 yen per person.

Can't read Japanese? No problem! Well written menu in English at Kanzawa Meat Japanese hamburger steak restaurant











Noto 能登牛 Wagyu Beef Nigiri Sushi in Kanazawa

Melt in your mouth Noto Wagyu beef Nigiri sushi at Omicho morning market in Kanazawa This Noto Wagyu beef Nigiri Sushi was a pleasant surprise while I was visiting the Omicho 近江町 morning market in Kanawawa. I had seafood Sushi in mind when I visited the Kaiten revolving Sushi bar restaurant, but I could not resist from ordering their Noto Wagyu Nigiri Sushi on the menu. Noto penisula is an area near Kanazawa, Noto Wagyu cattle grading has to be higher than B3/A3 ranking.

Revolving Sushi bar at Kanazawa Omicho morning market was full of amazing ingredients. Slightly grilled or blow torched to perfection, Noto Wagyu Nigiri Sushi truly melted in my mouth.

Amazing hole in the wall restaurant was hidden in Kanzazawa Omicho morning market















Saga 佐賀牛 Wagyu beef near Sasebo 佐世保 area in Kyushu 九州

Perfectly marbled tender Saga Wagyu beef in Kyushu Sasebo area Visiting the Saga Wagyu Yakiniku barbecue restaurant was a spontaneous decision. After having the famous Sasebo burger near JR Sasebo station in Kyushu, my cousin and I decided not to pass on the opportunity of trying the restaurant next door that serves the famous Kyushu meat, Saga Wagyu beef.

Sagaya Saga Wagyu beef Yakiniku BBQ restaurant was near JR Sasebo station in Kyushu The beef was tender and juicy like every other Wagyu. I was surprised that the lean cuts of the Saga beef was equally tender as its fattier marbled counterpart.

Saga Wagyu beef served in Sukiyaki style dipped in raw egg, even the lean cuts were very tender The price was relative reasonable for the quality of the Wagyu beef or was it simply because we did not ordered that much? The final bill was about 4000 yen for two of us.

Nice grill mark on the precious Saga beef in Kyushu Sasebo











Bungo 豊後牛 Wagyu Beef in Yufuin 湯布院 Kyushu 九州

Bungo Wagyu beef bowl at Yufumabushi Shin restaurant in Yufuin near Kyushu Hakata One of the day trips I made while staying in Kyushu Hakata/Fukuoka was to the famous Yufuin Onsen hot spring village town. With some online research, I visited one of local's favorite restaurants named Yufumabushi Shin 由布まぶし 心. Bungo Wagyu beef is another exclusive type of Wagyu that is raised and usually sold only in Kyushu.

Classy restaurant in Kyushu Yufuin serves amazing Bungo Wagyu beef cuisine There were different ways of enjoying Bungo Wagyu at this restaurant, one of the ways was eating it with broth. (Ochazuke お茶漬け style) Simply pour some special soup/tea into the bowl of beef and rice and top it off with some scallion and Wasabi. The bill was about 3000 yen per person.

Traditional way of enjoying Bungo Wagyu beef bowl is to pour tea/soup over it, Ochazuke style











Osaka Tsuruhashi 大阪鶴橋 Korean-town コリアンタウン A5 Wagyu Beef Yakiniku (generic beef/name brand)

Nicely marbled A5 grade Wagyu Japanese beef at a restaurantin Osaka Tsuruhashi area Tsuruhashi area in Osaka is famous for their authentic Korean cuisine such as Korean style barbecue. While there is strong influence of Korean culture, the beef served in this area is usually of high grade Japanese Wagyu.

All streets in Osaka Tsuruhashi area smell like Yakiniku restaurants The streets in Tsuruhashi area in Osaka were lined with different Yakiniku barbecue restaurants. It was hard to choose between many restaurants, but my friends and I finally settled for a franchise restaurant that advertises for their exclusive A5 Wagyu beef menu at the storefront.

Many salary-men visit Osaka Tsuruhashi area for dinner after work before heading home After a night of A5 grade Wagyu beef feast, each of us paid about 5000 yen for dinner. I felt it was of great value because every piece of Wagyu beef was ranked at A5.

The restaurant serves high value A5 grade Wagyu beef to be cooked Yakiniku BBQ style











Hida 飛騨牛 Wagyu Beef in Gero Onsen 下呂温泉

Robust beef flavor of Hida beef grilled in Miso paste in Gero Onsen village town. While I was staying at a hotel in Osaka, I took a day trip to Gero Onsen village town near Nagoya. The area is known for the Hida beef cuisine because of the proximity to the Hida mountains. Spontaneity took me to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant recommended by the tourism office staff. They served the grilled Hida beef on sizzling plate in special Miso paste.

Authentic looking storefront of Hida Wagyu beef restauran in Gero. Yamabiko Robust beef flavor in harmony with special Miso paste was delicious. The beef was slightly less tender than I expected for Japanese Wagyu, but large pieces of Hida beef was still easy to chew without knife and fork.

Family operated hole in the wall Hida Wagyu beef restaurant in Gero Onsen village town











