1.
high-class Japanese restaurant; traditional Japanese dining establishment
An upscale traditional Japanese restaurant featuring private tatami rooms, attentive service, and elaborate multi-course cuisine, typically used for business entertaining or special occasions.
有名な料亭を予約した。
I made a reservation at a famous high-class Japanese restaurant.
この料亭は創業百年の老舗です。
This restaurant is a long-established place with a hundred years of history.
接待で京都の料亭を利用することになり、個室で懐石料理をいただいた。
We used a traditional restaurant in Kyoto for a business dinner and enjoyed kaiseki cuisine in a private room.
A traditional, high-end Japanese restaurant that serves elaborate Japanese cuisine, typically in private rooms with tatami seating. Combines 料 (food, cooking) and 亭 (pavilion, establishment).
USAGE:
- Distinguished from ordinary restaurants by the quality of ingredients, presentation, and service
- Typically features private rooms (個室), tatami floors, and attentive service by staff in kimono
- Often used for important occasions: business entertaining (接待), celebrations, and formal gatherings
- Prices are significantly higher than regular restaurants
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 料亭で食事する: to dine at a high-class restaurant
- 老舗の料亭: a long-established traditional restaurant
- 料亭の味: the taste of a fine restaurant
- 料亭風: in the style of a traditional restaurant
CULTURAL NOTES:
- Historically, some 料亭 were venues where politicians held private meetings, leading to the expression 料亭政治 (backroom politics)
- Kyoto is especially famous for its traditional 料亭
SIMILAR WORDS:
- レストラン: restaurant — general term, usually Western-style
- 割烹: Japanese cooking restaurant — slightly less formal than 料亭, often with counter seating
- 懐石: kaiseki — the style of multi-course cuisine often served at 料亭