NARA NIKON

Shojiro Shimizu is dedicated to showcasing Japanese cuisine to the world. Centuries-old cooking techniques are on full display here, including grilling over a charcoal brazier and cooking rice in a kamado (traditional stove). Appetisers are indispensable here, as they express a sense of season. The restaurant’s name refers to a Zen chant intoned by the Zen master Dogen Zenji (1200–1253). Shimizu’s serious attitude to cooking is encapsulated in the Zen proverb, ‘Do what must be done in this moment in what you must achieve in this moment’.

• Two MICHELIN Stars in Nara: a compact Japanese dining room in Nabeyacho.
• Technique-first kaiseki: charcoal brazier grilling and kamado rice anchor the meal.
• Name and philosophy: "NARA NIKON" references a Zen chant associated with Dogen Zenji, with a kitchen focus on doing the essential work of the moment.

Signature Ingredients

• Seasonal appetisers: early courses that track micro-season changes
• Charcoal-grilled elements: cooked over a charcoal brazier
• Rice: cooked in a kamado (traditional stove) as a central, finished course

Kaiseki

Seasonal kaiseki tasting menu built around classic techniques, including charcoal grilling and rice cooked in a traditional kamado stove.