7 RESTAURANTS & CAFES IN MIYANOURA, DOWNTOWN OF NAOSHIMA

Miyaura port, a main gateway to Naoshima, is home to artworks including “Red Pumpkin” by Yayoi Kusama and “I ♥ Yu” by Shinro Ohtake. It is here that many of the eating places of the island can be found, along with the only bar on the island that is open through the night and a number of guesthouses, so the area is full of overnight guests till late at night.
Being close to the port, this area offers various styles of restaurants and cafés, including traditional Japanese restaurants, cafés housed in old folk houses, American diners and so on. A few restaurants have opened in advance of the 2016 Setouchi Triennale festival. As you may expect of an island belonging to the Kagawa prefecture, there are plenty of udon noodles restaurant too. Why not give it a try if you haven’t yet!

A café-bar housed in a renovated marine container, just next to “I ♥ Yu”, an art installation and public bath on the island. Full of atmosphere and openness, it features homemade “dry curry”, or curried pilaf (750 yen), and Naoshima beer. They serve a variety of drinks (about 100 different kinds, mainly cocktails) and a rich variety of food to complement. The second floor is used as a dormitory, and they also offer rental bicycles.

[Address] 2252-1, Miyanoura, Naoshima-cho, Kagawa-gun, Kagawa-ken, JAPAN
[Tel] 087-892-3751/080-1906-3751
[Hours] Wed-Sun 11:00 to 22:00, Tue 17:00 to 22:00 (last orders 21:30).
Closed on Mondays and irregular holidays.
[Access] 2 mins from Miyanoura port.
Accommodation：Overnight stay without meals from 3,000 yen per person. http://www.littleplum.net/

Cozy and spacious, the interior of this restaurant features an elegant wooden wall that suggests a relaxed mood. Their recommended dish is “Naoshima curry”, made with plenty of fresh local seafood. They also serve cakes of the day and a variety of drinks, and drinks can be taken to go. It is a guest house in addition, so guests stay till late.

[Address] 2310-31, Miyanoura, Naoshima-cho, Kagawa-gun, Kagawa-ken, JAPAN
[Tel] 087-840-8133
[Hours] Tue-Sun 11:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 22:00.
Closed on Mondays and irregular holidays.
Overnight stay available from 4,000 yen per night per person including breakfast only.
[Access] 5 mins from Miyanoura port.
http://www.cin-na-mon.jp/en/index.html

Located just across the street from “I ♥ Yu”, the art installation and public bath designed by Shinro Ohtake, this restaurant is modeled on the classic American diner, replete with the appropriate knick-knacks, like tin-sheet toys. The juicy beefsteak and Cajun chicken, both cooked to order, are a real treat. Tacos and taco rice are tempting too, but if you are hungry after visiting the art pieces on the island, then the Cajun Chicken Combo (1,200 yen) is the dish to order.

[Address]　2227, Miyanoura, Naoshima-cho, Kagawa-gun, Kagawa-ken, JAPAN
[Tel] 087-892-3290
[Hours] Sat-Thurs 11:30 to 20:45（last orders 20:00).
Closed on Fridays and irregular holidays.
[Access] 2 mins from Miyanoura port.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shioya-Diner/437280336290995

A new izakaya (Japanese-style pub), established by the local-born owner after running another for years in Tokyo. Since Naoshima has no fish market on the island, the owner goes to one in Uno, Okayama Prefecture every day to buy fresh, in-season seafood and cooks it to its best. As a result, there’s no fixed menu, but the menu of the day can be found on their Facebook page. The lunch menu is priced from 1,648 yen; dinner from 3,780 yen. The owner can make nigari-sushi to order, and they even serve “Nozaki-gyu” brand steaks. You have plenty of time to enjoy your meal, as they are open until 11 pm.

[Address] 2298-1, Miyanoura, Naoshima-cho, Kagawa-gun, Kagawa-ken, JAPAN
[Tel]　090-2544-1124
[Hours] 11:30 to 23:00.
Open year-round, including irregular holidays.
[Access] 3 mins from Miyanoura port.
http://www.naoshimadecks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/UOGASHI-7070-866882266741906/

Kagawa has come to be known for sanuki udon noodles so well as to call itself the “udon prefecture”. Yamamoto Udon has been making and serving udon noodles in their traditional fashion since long before sanuki udon became a big thing everywhere in Japan. The second-generation owner maintains tradition, making their noodles without the use of machines. The all-handmade noodles’ firm and elastic texture attracts fans from other cities, including Osaka and even Tokyo. Their most popular dish is “niku udon” (beef noodles), with a rich beef flavor blended in the broth. The recommended “bukkake udon”, is udon topped with sticky grated yam, a shredded laver sheet (nori), shredded spring onions, deep-fried tempura batter and optional grated ginger, all of which match perfectly with the strong texture of the noodles. This is one of the best restaurants at which to try Japanese udon.
It is conveniently located next to a supermarket, about seven minutes’ walk away from Minoura port.

[Address] 2526-1, Naoshima-cho, Kagawa-gun, Kagawa-ken, JAPAN
[Tel]　087-892-4072
[Hours] Mon-Sat 10:00 to 16:00（closes when sold out).
Closed on Sundays and irregular holidays.
[Access] 7 mins from Miyanoura port.
https://www.tripadvisor.jp/Restaurant_Review-g1121428-d7589928-Reviews-Naoshima_cho_Kagawa_gun_Kagawa_Prefecture_Shikoku.html

This is an outpost of Kinosaki Udon, a typical self-serve udon restaurant in Manou-cho, Kagawa Prefecture. You take a tray, order the udon of your choice and pick up toppings such as tempura on the way before paying at the cashier. You can choose from kake-udon (simple warm udon with broth), niku-udon (udon with beef), niku-bukkake (udon with beef topped with dipping sauce), ontama-niku-bukkake (niku-bukkake with a soft-boiled egg), ontama-bukkake (bukkake with a soft-boiled egg), zaru-udon (udon served with separate dipping sauce) or yudame-udon (udon served in hot water with separate dipping sauce). Prices start from 280 yen. You can also choose to have your udon served warm or cold, and servings come in three sizes (small, large and extra-large). A variety of topping are available to choose from, including tempura and Japanese-style croquette (Korokke), from 80 yen per piece.

The smooth-textured noodles are very popular among international visitors, and some even come back especially for them.

[Address] 2071-4, Naoshima-cho, Kagawa-gun, Kagawa-ken, JAPAN
[Tel] 080-8636-7903
[Hours] Fri-Wed 11:00 to 15:00.
[Closed] Thursdays
[Access] 3 mins from Miyanoura port
https://www.tripadvisor.jp/ShowUserReviews-g1121428-d7725687-r254935789-Kinosaki_Udon_Naoshima-Naoshima_cho_Kagawa_gun_Kagawa_Prefecture_Shikoku.html

The only bar on Naoshima that stays open until very late at night. This bar, with its homely atmosphere, has been moved to Miyanoura from its former location in the Honmura area. The overnight guests can be found socializing every night with glasses of Naoshima beer (700 yen) or cocktails (from 600 yen) in hand. Popular drinks include the Original Mojito and Setouchi Lemon Mojito. Snacks include pizzas (from 880 yen) and salsa dogs/hotdogs (from 300 yen).

[Address]2243, Naoshima-cho, Kagawa-gun, Kagawa-ken, JAPAN
[Tel]　090-6414-6694
[Hours] Mon-Sat 18:00 to 24:00.
Closed on Sundays and irregular holidays.
[Access] 1 min from Miyanoura port.
http://naoshimabackpackers.wix.com/saru