On our first day in Akita, we didn’t include hotel meals. So, we decided to look for a place to eat near Akita Station.
Since we came all this way, I thought, “I want to eat something extra delicious!” and chose this restaurant. I was a bit worried about bringing the kids, but we had such a wonderful, satisfying time, so I’d love to share it with you.
Restaurant Information (Access)
“Shabusen” is about a 5-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from Akita Station.
After getting off the bus and walking for a bit,
This sign comes into view. It’s a specialty shabu-shabu and steak house that has been loved by locals for a long time. I saw a Japanese celebrity who knows Akita well recommending it on YouTube, and I just had to go and try it!
What We Ordered
- Special Select Beef Shabu-shabu Set B（特選牛しゃぶしゃぶセットB）：5,500yen
- Kuroge Wagyu Shabu-shabu Set (Akita Nishiki Beef)黒毛和牛しゃぶしゃぶセット(秋田錦牛)：8,000yen
Just by looking at what was served, you could tell right away it was going to be delicious! (lol)
It tasted just as amazing as it looked—the fat was so refined and the flavor incredibly mellow. It’s meant to be eaten with ponzu or sesame sauce, but it was so good that I wanted to enjoy it as is. Before I knew it, I was eating it without any sauce at all!
We were so hungry that we didn’t take the time to look through the menu properly… I realized later that they also serve Sendai Beef and are even a certified provider. I was so drawn to the words “Kuroge Wagyu,” but now I think I should have tried the Sendai Beef too!
By the way, they also offer à la carte options, as well as other dishes like hot pot (huoguo) and sukiyaki.
The portions felt quite generous for a single serving. I even wondered, “Wait, was this actually for two?” but since there was only one shiitake mushroom in each, it was probably a single serving (lol). Even though I ate quite a bit, it didn’t feel heavy or greasy at all—it was a truly elegant dining experience.
The portions felt quite generous for a single serving. I even wondered, “Wait, was this actually for two?” but since there was only one shiitake mushroom in each, it was probably a single serving (lol). Even though I ate quite a bit, it didn’t feel heavy or greasy at all—it was a truly elegant dining experience.
The side dishes included in the set, salmon dressed with sauce and beef with spinach, were also delicious. The salmon was a huge hit with the kids!
Kid-Friendly Points
Since it was a Friday night, I thought it might be crowded, so I called ahead to make a reservation.
Thoughtful Seating Arrangements
Since I had mentioned we were bringing children, they provided a semi-private room away from other tables. It was spacious enough to fit large bags and even a stroller! We used the stairs, but there appears to be an elevator available as well.
Kids’ meals / Food for the children
We ordered udon and juice for the kids. However, once they got a taste of that delicious beef, they couldn’t get enough and ended up fighting over our portions too! (lol)
Kids’ Utensils / Kids’ Cutlery
While they didn’t have high chairs, they did provide kids’ utensils. The tableware wasn’t plastic, so we had to be a little careful, but since the table was quite large, it was a big help to have plenty of space to move things out of their reach.
Staff & Service
The staff member was a very dapper, distinguished gentleman who was incredibly kind to the children.
Restrooms & Diaper Changing
There was a restroom inside the restaurant, but there were no diaper-changing facilities.
The Kids’ Experience
At home, the kids often run around during meals, but maybe because they picked up on the restaurant’s atmosphere, they stayed seated and behaved remarkably well.
However, I didn’t want us to end up wolfing down such an expensive meal like animals (lol), so I finally gave in and let them watch some videos.
Once they got glued to their videos, I ended up just shoving food into their mouths one by one. I started to wonder, “Do they even realize how good this tastes?”
When I said to them, “That was delicious, wasn’t it? We’re so lucky!”, they actually went up to the staff on their own at the end to say, “Gochisosama! (Thank you for the meal!)”
Final Thoughts & Access
I don’t have many photos since I had to surrender my phone to the kids, but the meal was truly delicious.
While I was a bit concerned about the smell of cigarettes outside before entering, it wasn’t an issue at all once we were inside.
I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a slightly upscale dining experience near Akita Station where you can enjoy delicious meat with kids without any worries. If you’re taking the bus, head for “Omachi 5-chome”—it’s just a short walk from the stop.
You can take a bus heading for Akita Station from the Omachi 5-chome stop（大町5丁目）. It might involve a bit of walking, but since several other bus lines also run nearby, it’s quite convenient to access.
I hope you find this helpful!
