Bear hot pot in the heart of old Tokyo. At Amakara Kumakara, a specialist gibier (wild-game) restaurant with two locations in Asakusa and Nihonbashi Ningyocho, you can taste something almost no visitor to Japan ever gets to try: wild bear, simmered in a rich hot pot and served the way hunters and the Ainu people of the north have eaten it for generations. It is one of Tokyo’s most unusual dinners — and, because every seat is reservation-only, one of its best-kept secrets.
This guide explains what bear gibier is, what to order, how to pair a meal with a day of sightseeing in Asakusa or Nihonbashi, and exactly how to book your table in English through Tabelog.
What is gibier, and why bear?
Gibier is the French word for wild game, and in Japan it refers to meat from animals living freely in the mountains — deer, wild boar, pheasant, duck, and, most prized of all, bear. Unlike farmed meat, wild game carries the flavor of the season and the forest: leaner, deeper, and completely different from anything on a standard menu.
Bear is the rarest of them all. It has been eaten in Japan’s mountain regions for centuries, valued for its clean, sweet fat that melts into a broth without any gaminess. Every animal we serve is legally hunted and carefully prepared, so what reaches your table is a genuine taste of the Japanese wild — not a novelty, but a real culinary tradition.
The signature experience: two bears, one hot pot
The dish that draws people from around the world is our bear hot pot showdown — brown bear (higuma) versus Asian black bear (tsukinowaguma). You taste both side by side in the same meal: the bold, richly marbled brown bear from Hokkaido against the more delicate, subtly sweet black bear. Simmered in a savory broth with seasonal vegetables and tofu, the fat turns silky and the meat becomes tender enough to melt on the tongue. It is a comparison you will not find anywhere else in Tokyo.
Beyond bear, the seasonal courses roam across the whole world of Japanese wild game — from Japanese badger (anaguma) prepared several ways, to Ezo deer, wild boar, pheasant, and duck. If you are curious about the north, ask about our Ainu-inspired preparations, including chitatap, a traditional pounded-meat dish rooted in the indigenous cuisine of Hokkaido.
The ultimate rarity: bear paw
For the most adventurous gourmets, we serve one of the most legendary ingredients in all of East Asian cuisine: bear paw. Counted for centuries among China’s fabled “Eight Delicacies” (bāzhēn) and once reserved for emperors, bear paw is simmered slowly over many hours until it becomes meltingly tender and richly gelatinous — an experience unlike anything else on a Tokyo table. Our Bear Paw Course is available at both the Asakusa and Ningyocho locations, from ¥38,000 per person, by reservation only. Quantities are extremely limited, so we strongly recommend booking well in advance.
What to order
Courses are the best way to experience the range of the kitchen, and each is built around the rare meats of the season. Signature options at the Asakusa location include:
- Bear Hot Pot Course – Brown Bear vs. Black Bear (6 dishes) — from ¥12,800. The full two-bear comparison, our most popular way to try bear for the first time.
- Blissful Gourmet Course (7 dishes) — from ¥12,800. A tour of up to seven wild-game species in one sitting, including badger sukiyaki.
- Badger Zukushi Course (7 dishes) — from ¥13,800. Seasonal badger prepared four different ways for the true game lover.
Please note: we serve by set course only, and every visit is by advance reservation. Menus shift with the hunting season, so the exact lineup on the night is always a small surprise — part of the fun of eating wild.
Make it a day out in Tokyo
Both restaurants sit in two of Tokyo’s most atmospheric old-town neighborhoods, so dinner slots neatly into a full day of sightseeing.
Asakusa — temples, old Tokyo, and bear for dinner
Asakusa is the beating heart of traditional Tokyo. Spend the afternoon at Senso-ji, the city’s oldest temple, walk the lantern-lined Nakamise shopping street, and catch views of Tokyo Skytree just across the river. As the crowds thin in the evening, our Asakusa restaurant is a one-minute walk from Asakusa Station — the perfect place to end a day of temples with a warming bear hot pot.
Nihonbashi Ningyocho — hidden downtown charm
Ningyocho is a quietly elegant shitamachi (old downtown) district of long-established shops, the historic Suitengu Shrine, and some of the best traditional sweets in the city. It is only minutes from Tokyo Station and Ginza, making it an easy, refined evening stop. Our Ningyocho restaurant is a one-minute walk from Ningyocho Station, tucked into a calm ivy-clad space that feels worlds away from the bustle.
How to reserve (English, online, free)
We are reservation-only, and dining is by set course. The easiest way to book from overseas is through Tabelog’s English website — no phone call and no Japanese required. Reservations are confirmed instantly online.
Step by step:
- Open the English Tabelog page for the location you want (links below).
- Find the “Online reservation” section on the page.
- Choose your date, number of guests, and an available time.
- Enter your name and contact email to confirm.
- You will receive an instant online confirmation — that’s it. Just arrive at your reserved time.
Reserve your table:
- Asakusa: Book the Asakusa restaurant on Tabelog →
- Nihonbashi Ningyocho: Book the Ningyocho restaurant on Tabelog →
Tip: bear and other wild game are seasonal and limited in quantity, so we recommend booking a few days ahead — especially for weekend evenings.
Restaurant information
Amakara Kumakara — Asakusa
Address: 1-20-5 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo
Access: 1-minute walk from Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line); 3-minute walk from Asakusa Station (Toei Asakusa Line)
Hours: 5:00 PM–10:30 PM (Mon, Wed–Sat); 5:00 PM–10:00 PM (Sun & holidays)
Closed: Tuesdays
Seating: 66 seats, including counter and sunken-hearth tatami rooms
Amakara Kumakara — Nihonbashi Ningyocho
Address: Okawa Building 2F, 3-7-11 Nihonbashi-Ningyocho, Chuo City, Tokyo
Access: 1-minute walk from Ningyocho Station, Exit A5 (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line / Toei Asakusa Line)
Hours: 5:00 PM–11:00 PM, Mon–Sat (food last order 10:00 PM; last entry 8:30 PM)
Closed: Sundays & holidays
Come hungry, come curious. Bear is not a dish you will find on most Tokyo menus — and once you have tasted two of them side by side in a steaming hot pot, you will understand why the people who know, keep coming back.
