Upon arrival, guests are warmly welcomed by the smiling faces of (pictured from right to left) Manager-Sommelier Haruhito Suzuki, Chef Ken Uchiya, Madame Atsuko, and the local staff.

Along the Pacific coast lies Kujukuri, one of Japan’s largest sandy beaches stretching seemingly endlessly. Here, “Ushimaru” stands as an Italian restaurant that transforms the ocean’s bounty into culinary excellence.

It’s the only authentic fine-dining establishment on the vast Boso Peninsula. Finding such exceptional cuisine just over an hour’s drive from central Tokyo truly makes this a “miraculous restaurant.”

In March 2023, the restaurant underwent major renovations, evolving from its rustic charm into a sophisticated dining establishment.

Suzuki’s wine and non-alcoholic beverage pairings have reached new heights of excellence.
Almost all ingredients are sourced from the Boso Peninsula. Chef Uchiya obtains seafood directly from trusted local fishermen.

Fish travel from the boats’ live wells straight to the restaurant’s tanks. On this day, they received impressive blue-spotted groupers, which were prepared two ways. This level of freshness and texture is unique to coastal dining, impossible to find in Tokyo’s finest establishments.

Though Chef Uchiya once worked at Tokyo restaurants, he fell in love with Boso’s vast natural environment so close to the metropolis and relocated here. Today, he’s considered one of the most knowledgeable chefs regarding Boso Peninsula’s mountains and marine bounty.

Herbs come from their own garden, mushrooms are personally foraged by the chef from nearby mountains, and even the salt used in cooking is extracted from Kujukuri’s seawater—such is their commitment to local sourcing.

Chef Uchiya’s cuisine embodies the entire essence of Boso Peninsula’s nature.
Bon appétit!

This restaurant, which lights up both plates and hearts, making guests want to return again and again, overflows with the smiles of both guests and staff.

Getting there: About 6km from Matsuo-Yokoshiba IC on the Ken-O Expressway and Choshi-Renraku Road
Address: Matsuomachikigatana 1307- 2, Sanmu, Chiba Prefecture 289-1527
Website: https://ushimaru.biz

Text: Shunji Miyagawa
Photographer: Masashi Okutani​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​