Robata & Warayaki
Robatayaki & straw-grilled
Bonito from Kochi and Omi beef from Shiga, grilled over straw right before you. Seasonal fish and vegetables draw out their fullest flavor over charcoal.
© 2026 UOMARU MINAMI-KUSATSU
Our story
Located in Noji, Kusatsu, Shiga — steps from Minami-Kusatsu Station — Uomaru is a seafood izakaya where fresh fish and carefully selected sake meet the craft of robatayaki grilling.
Sashimi finished by skilled hands from fish delivered straight from the port, bonito from Kochi, and Omi beef from Shiga — grilled dynamically right before you over straw and charcoal.
A calm Japanese space with lively counter seats facing the straw grill — for dates, business dining and company banquets alike. Smoking is permitted at all seats, so guests under 20 cannot enter.
Commitment
In spring, young 2-3kg first-catch bonito; in autumn, richly fatty 4-5kg returning bonito, carefully selected by season.
Most Kochi bonito is pole-and-line caught, leaving it beautiful and undamaged. We ship our select bonito direct from the port.
We use straw hand-cut ourselves from vast contracted fields in Shiga. Dried straw burns hot with the finest smoky aroma.
Over straw flames reaching 1000 degrees, we sear a crust about 5mm into the flesh, then finish with residual heat to lock in flavor.
Cut over 1cm thick so the straw aroma fills your mouth, brimming with bonito flavor and a springy texture.
A fully sun-dried salt handmade by artisans from Kochi seawater. We select larger crystals for a mellow mineral taste.
Service
Five pleasures to savor in Minami-Kusatsu
Robatayaki & straw-grilled
Bonito from Kochi and Omi beef from Shiga, grilled over straw right before you. Seasonal fish and vegetables draw out their fullest flavor over charcoal.
Selected Japanese & Shiga local sake
A generous selection of sake chosen from across Japan, including local Shiga brews — from dry to sweet. Our staff suggest the one glass that suits your dish, so you can enjoy sake tasting in Minami-Kusatsu.
Port-fresh fish & sashimi
Fresh fish shipped straight from the port, finished into sashimi by skilled hands. Enjoy the seafood of Minami-Kusatsu in seasonal plates such as our five-kind sashimi platter.
Shiga Omi beef & chicken
Shiga's specialty Omi beef, straw-grilled or miso-marinated, and overnight-dried Omi chicken. Enjoy Shiga's premium ingredients dynamically over charcoal in Minami-Kusatsu.
Banquets & full venue
Banquet courses with free-flow drinks, and full-venue bookings for 35–45 guests. Steps from Minami-Kusatsu Station — ideal for company parties and gatherings.
01
Bonito from Kochi and Omi beef from Shiga, grilled over straw right before you. Seasonal fish and vegetables draw out their fullest flavor over charcoal.
Recommended
02
A generous selection of sake chosen from across Japan, including local Shiga brews — from dry to sweet. Our staff suggest the one glass that suits your dish, so you can enjoy sake tasting in Minami-Kusatsu.
Recommended
03
Fresh fish shipped straight from the port, finished into sashimi by skilled hands. Enjoy the seafood of Minami-Kusatsu in seasonal plates such as our five-kind sashimi platter.
Recommended
04
Shiga's specialty Omi beef, straw-grilled or miso-marinated, and overnight-dried Omi chicken. Enjoy Shiga's premium ingredients dynamically over charcoal in Minami-Kusatsu.
Recommended
05
Banquet courses with free-flow drinks, and full-venue bookings for 35–45 guests. Steps from Minami-Kusatsu Station — ideal for company parties and gatherings.
Recommended
How to enjoy Robata
How to enjoy straw-grilling and robata
One to two minutes from the east exit of Minami-Kusatsu Station, at Liberty Minami-Kusatsu 2F. From the counter seats facing the straw grill you can watch the bonito wrapped in flame.
Straw-grilled bonito starts at 1,490 yen for the medium, about two portions. Take the first slice unseasoned and taste the smoke held in the surface.
Work through the condiments, rock salt and citrus. The large, about four portions at 2,480 yen, gives you enough to keep shifting the flavor to the last piece.
All 45 seats allow smoking, and guests under 20 cannot enter. We suggest Shiga sake, dry through sweet, to sit alongside the straw-grilled plates.
Producers
Tosa-Saga Port, KochiIkkatsu no Daiki
Saga is where the Kuroshio current first meets Japan, a town thriving on pole-and-line bonito fishing and one of Kochi's foremost fishing towns.
Tano, KochiTanoya Seihachi
A genuine sun-dried salt made using only the sun's heat, with painstaking care. Entirely handmade, it grows into crystals that melt in the mouth, the very finest sun-dried salt.

* Producer information is provided by the shop. Producer photos are pending.
Pairing
3 questions to suggest a pairing from our selected sake. Ask our staff about the day's lineup.
Q1 / 3
Today's moodWhat are you in the mood for today?
Reserve
Reserve by phone or online booking. Weekends and peak hours fill up — early booking recommended.
Reserve 02 / Course & PartyEight courses with 2 hours of free-flow drinks, from ¥5,500 (tax incl.). Perfect for company parties and gatherings.
See courses 03 / Private venueFull-venue bookings for 35–45 guests are available on request. Please consult us for size and dates.
InquireCourse
Eight banquet courses built around our signatures — straw-grilled bonito, sashimi and robatayaki — each with 2 hours of free-flow drinks. From the standard course to Omi duck and Omi beef charcoal-grill, the alfonsino and clam hot pot and Omi beef sukiyaki. Perfect for company parties and celebrations.
11 dishes
¥5,500 (tax incl.)
10 dishes
¥6,600 (tax incl.)
10 dishes
¥7,700 (tax incl.)
7 dishes
¥11,000 (tax incl.)
* All courses include 2 hours of free-flow drinks. Prices are tax-included. Reservation required. See all eight courses and details on the course page.
Signature

Fresh bonito from Kochi, seared over a roaring straw flame right before you — smoky aroma, concentrated flavor.

Shiga's premium Omi beef, grilled over straw to draw out its aroma and natural richness.

The day's freshest fish from the port, arranged with care by our skilled hands.

Plump, overnight-dried atka mackerel grilled to order — a robata classic.

Thick fried tofu grilled over charcoal — crisp outside, tender within.

Hakata mentaiko lightly seared over the robata to bring out its aroma — a fine partner for sake.

Pork belly slowly braised for eight hours until meltingly tender.

Rolled one by one by hand, brimming with dashi — a quiet signature.

Elegant wasanbon sweetness under a crisp, bittersweet caramel to close the night.
Minami-Kusatsu
A 1–2 minute walk from the east exit of JR Minami-Kusatsu Station, at Liberty Minami-Kusatsu 2F, 1-7-21 Noji, Kusatsu. All 45 seats at Uomaru Fresh Fish & Robatayaki Minami-Kusatsu allow smoking, and guests under 20 cannot enter.
We have counter seats facing the straw grill. Bonito sent directly from Tosa-Saga port is seared over a straw flame: medium (about two portions) 1,490 yen / 1,639 yen incl. tax, large (about four portions) 2,480 yen / 2,728 yen incl. tax.
We take full-venue bookings for 35 to 45 guests across all 45 seats. There are no private rooms, so the whole floor is yours. Please call 077-561-5133 to discuss dates.
Eight courses with two hours of free-flow drinks, from 5,500 yen including tax — from the Uomaru Standard (11 dishes, 5,500 yen) up to the Omi beef sukiyaki course at 11,000 yen, each built around straw-grilled bonito and sashimi.
We are open every day from 17:00 to 24:00 (food L.O. 23:00, drinks L.O. 23:30). A single plate and a glass at the counter is perfectly fine. We close irregularly, roughly once every three months.
There are no private rooms, but we seat you at quiet table seating. Try straw-grilled Omi beef from Shiga (1,690 yen / 1,859 yen incl. tax) or the selected five-kind sashimi platter of fish gathered from across Japan (1,290 yen / 1,419 yen incl. tax). Since smoking is allowed at every seat, it is worth telling your guests in advance.
A 5% service charge applies, waived when you order a course. E-money is not accepted; we take cash, major credit cards and PayPay. There is no dedicated car park — please use the coin parking around Liberty Minami-Kusatsu.
Scenes
From dates to banquets, solo drinking to business dining — Uomaru Minami-Kusatsu fits many scenes near Minami-Kusatsu Station with counter seats, full-venue bookings and courses.
A calm Japanese space for a special evening. Pair fresh sashimi with local Shiga sake in Minami-Kusatsu.
Calm seating steps from Minami-Kusatsu Station for relaxed business dining. Straw-grilled Omi beef and carefully selected sake leave a strong impression.
Eight banquet courses with 2 hours of free-flow drinks from ¥5,500 (tax incl.), plus full-venue bookings for 35–45 guests for company parties in Minami-Kusatsu.
Steps from Minami-Kusatsu Station — ideal after work. Open daily from 17:00 until 24:00 (food L.O. 23:00 / drinks 23:30).
Lively counter seats where solo guests watch the cooking up close. A single plate and a glass of sake, at your own pace.
A varied menu for gatherings and reunions, steps from Minami-Kusatsu Station. Smoking is permitted at all seats, so guests under 20 cannot enter.
Column
Tucked away in the bustling heart of Minami-Kusatsu, our restaurant offers a variety of exquisite dishes crafted from carefully selected, premium ingredients by skilled chefs. Among them, our signature Straw-Seared Bonito Direct from Kochi is a culinary delight that captivates everyone with its rich aroma and flavor from the very first bite. However, some may feel that simply tasting such a wonderful dish isn't enough. How can you maximize this special experience depending on the occasion and your choice of seating? Our private rooms, in particular, are special spaces that cater to the diverse needs of our guests, ensuring privacy and versatility. Today, we'll introduce specific ways to utilize our private rooms to make your dining experience, centered around our straw-seared bonito, even richer and more memorable.
Whether it's for business entertainment in Minami-Kusatsu with important clients, a banquet with close friends, a family gathering, or a quiet evening savoring a meal alone, we believe that knowing how to choose the perfect private room for each scene will elevate your time with us from a mere meal to a true experience.
Through this column, we will provide concrete hints and tips so that you can wisely and fully enjoy our private rooms to your heart's content.
When our guests visit, they come with various expectations and requests. We often receive questions from those considering a private room, such as, What kind of private rooms do you have? and Which room is best for my purpose? For instance, if you want to discuss business in a calm atmosphere, a bustling main dining hall won't allow for concentration. Conversely, a small room might feel inadequate for a large, lively group. Furthermore, for guests searching for a smoking-friendly izakaya in Minami-Kusatsu, the availability of a private smoking room is a crucial point.
Thus, the ideal private room varies depending on the occasion, group size, and desired atmosphere. Without the right environment, even exquisite dishes like our Straw-Seared Bonito Direct from Kochi and Omi Beef may not be fully appreciated. In this section, we will answer your questions about choosing a private room and provide specific perspectives to help you find the perfect one for your purpose, companions, and situation. By understanding the types and features of our rooms, you can book with confidence before your visit.
Our restaurant offers several types of private rooms, each with a different ambiance, to meet the diverse needs of our guests. Here, we'll introduce the features of each room and explain in which scenarios they truly shine. We'll also include tips for savoring our Straw-Seared Bonito Direct from Kochi in the best possible environment, so please use this as a reference.
It's not just about choosing a private room; how you utilize the space greatly influences the quality of your experience. Here, we offer specific tips for making the most of our private rooms for particular occasions, along with the services we can provide.
For business entertainment in Minami-Kusatsu involving important partners or clients, not only the taste of the food but also the atmosphere and service are crucial. From the choice of the room to the food, drinks, and coordination with our staff, meticulous attention to detail is the key to success.
For organizers planning large events like company year-end parties, New Year's parties, or reunions, choosing a venue can be a challenge. We offer private hire spaces for up to 45 guests and connectable private rooms to support grand banquets with a sense of unity.
For large banquets, a wide-ranging menu that caters to various tastes is always a hit. The dramatic flair of searing the Straw-Seared Bonito Direct from Kochi on-site can be a highlight of the party. Our course menus, featuring seasonal ingredients including our Minami-Kusatsu Warayaki, are designed to satisfy all participants. We offer a rich variety of all-you-can-drink plans with beer, sake, shochu, wine, and cocktails, ensuring everyone can enjoy themselves to the fullest.
A private hire allows for flexible layouts and the creation of entertainment spaces, enabling various productions based on your ideas. We are here to help you deepen the bonds among participants through a unified and enjoyable banquet.
Private rooms are also very convenient for casual use, such as drinks with friends, a family meal, or when you want to enjoy delicious food alone at your own pace.
Our private rooms do more than just offer a private space. They are designed to make our signature dishes, starting with the Straw-Seared Bonito Direct from Kochi, even more delicious and memorable. Here's how you can enjoy a special experience that only a private room can offer.
The greatest appeal of our Straw-Seared Bonito Direct from Kochi is the fragrant aroma of the burning straw. The enclosed space of a private room intensifies this special scent, allowing you to experience the luxury of having it all to yourself. The rising aroma of the straw as the dish is served stimulates the appetite and heightens anticipation. Experiencing it with all five senses is the true pleasure of warayaki.
Just because you are in a private room doesn't mean service is compromised. On the contrary, we strive to provide even more meticulous service tailored to your pace. A dedicated staff member will attend to you at the optimal time for dish delivery, drink orders, and any other requests, ensuring a smooth dining experience where your meal and conversation flow without interruption.
Alongside our Straw-Seared Bonito Direct from Kochi, our other pride is Shiga's brand beef, Omi Beef. In the calm atmosphere of a private room, why not take the time to savor these two completely different yet equally captivating ingredients and enjoy their combination? Indulge in a pairing that brings out the best in both the smoky flavor of the warayaki and the rich umami of the Omi beef. Our staff will be happy to suggest wine and sake pairings as well.
To ensure you have no regrets about your private room experience, it's important to confirm a few points before booking. Please use the following checklist for a smooth reservation and a wonderful time.
Private rooms fill up quickly, especially on weekends, holidays, and during peak seasons, so booking early is crucial. If the number of guests is uncertain, you can provide an approximate number and confirm later, so please consult with us first.
Informing us of your purpose helps our staff recommend the best room, course, and services. For example, for business entertainment in Minami-Kusatsu, we'll suggest a quieter room, while for a large banquet of 45 people, we'll recommend a space with a flexible layout.
Consider your companions when choosing a room, such as a table seat for someone with mobility issues or a horigotatsu for a more relaxed setting. Completely private rooms are very popular, so we recommend booking them early.
If there are smokers in your party, please check in advance if a smoking-friendly private room is available, as we are a smoking-friendly izakaya in Minami-Kusatsu, and state your preference.
To ensure all guests can dine with peace of mind, please inform us of any allergies or food restrictions when you book. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Providing a specific budget allows us to suggest the most suitable course and all-you-can-drink plans. We offer many courses that feature our signature Straw-Seared Bonito Direct from Kochi and Omi Beef.
We will do our best to accommodate your requests, such as surprise presentations for anniversaries, bringing in a birthday cake, or arranging for a bouquet. Please feel free to consult with us.
For our restaurant, which aims to provide the best dining experience in Minami-Kusatsu, private rooms are a vital element in creating a special time and space for our guests. In this article, we have covered a wide range of topics, from how to choose and utilize our private rooms, focusing on our Straw-Seared Bonito Direct from Kochi, to tips for a flawless reservation.
Whether for business entertainment, a large banquet, a family gathering, a chat with friends, or a treat for yourself, choosing the right private room for each occasion and indulging in our signature dishes like Straw-Seared Bonito Direct from Kochi and Omi Beef will surely make your time with us an unforgettable moment etched in your memory.
We also cater to the needs of those seeking a smoking-friendly izakaya in Minami-Kusatsu. We invite you to experience our private rooms, which are adaptable to various situations. We sincerely look forward to your visit.
Voices
滋賀県・南草津にある、ナデシコグループの 魚業態のお店。魚料理と日本酒を楽しめる 居酒屋です。 看板はカツオの藁焼き。しっかりと藁の香りが 立った仕上がりで、香ばしさとカツオの旨味を 存分に楽しめます。この香りだけで日本酒が 進む、看板メニューにふさわしい一品です。 日本酒の品揃えも豊富なので、魚料理に 合わせて色々な銘柄を試せるのが嬉しい ところ。魚と日本酒の組み合わせをじっくり 楽しみたい方にぴったりの構成です。 スタッフさんの対応も良く、気持ちよく 過ごせます。 南草津エリアで魚を肴に日本酒を飲みたい夜に、 頼りになる一軒です。 【利用シーン】南草津での食事、魚料理と 日本酒を楽しみたい時、藁焼きを食べたい時、 仕事帰りの一杯、友人との食事。 【アクセス】滋賀県草津市・南草津駅から 徒歩圏内。
ビワマスがすごく美味しかったです✨ お野菜のお料理も美味しく、こちらからの要望にも快く応えて下さり、気持ちの良い接客で嬉しかったです! またきます😊
料理は美味しかったです。カツオの藁焼きと粗塩はとてもマッチしていました。 喫煙できるお店のようで、幸い周りには喫煙者いなかったので良かったです。 サービス料?が別に取られていました。
居酒屋なので静かに飲むには向かないが、大きな店では無いので我慢できないレベルではない。何より店員さんがテキパキ笑顔で対応してくれるのが嬉しいです。日本酒も地酒豊富で大満足。南草津駅で時間が有るならオススメです。あいみちゃん、なかじーさん、ユーゴさん、アサヒさん、ありがとう。
とても繁盛していたので、予約して来店するのがおすすめだと思います。 スタッフの方々の接客も良かったです。食べ終わった皿なども定期的に下げてくだったので、皿で机のスペースがなくなることもありませんでした。 料理もとても美味しかったです。 どの料理もお酒に合う味付けでお酒が進みました。 魚と店名にあるだけあって特に海鮮料理は安定して美味しいと思いました。 帰る際にはふりかけをもらいました。後日食べましたが、とても美味しかったです。 草津駅の近くの魚丸にも行かせてもらっていますが、南草津店ならではのメニューもあって楽しかったです。 ウオマルだと草津店ばかり行っていたので、こちらのお店にも再度来店したいと思いました。
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Group
Uomaru has sister restaurants across Shiga, near Lake Biwa. Enjoy the same fresh seafood and robata at a location convenient for you.
Seafood & robata izakaya in Moriyama.
View store Hikone, ShigaSeafood & robata izakaya in Hikone.
View store Yasu, ShigaSeafood & robata izakaya in Yasu.
View store Ishiyama, OtsuSeafood & robata izakaya in Ishiyama, Otsu.
View store Uomaru Sakaba StandA casual seafood stand from the Uomaru group.
View store Nadeshico GyozarouA gyoza specialty restaurant from the same group.
View store* All are Shiga-area group restaurants. Please check each store's site for details and hours.
Store
Get in touch
For reservations, courses and private bookings, please call us. We look forward to your visit.
HoursDaily 17:00–24:00 (food L.O. 23:00 / drinks 23:30)
Banquet courses and full-venue bookings are easiest to arrange by phone — tell us your date, party size and budget and our staff will help.
FAQ
Follow
Latest from Instagram & upcoming events
Instagram @uomaru_minamikusatsu
Events & notices
Autumn seasonal robata and new local sake are now available.
Open daily from 17:00; last orders — food 23:00, drinks 23:30.
Events and notices are updated here.