Tucked along a quiet residential lane about a seven-minute walk from the Miyajima ferry pier, Les Clos is one of the island’s most memorable dining experiences — a Miyajima Italian restaurant built inside a beautifully renovated century-old estate. The concept brings together the freshest seasonal ingredients from the Seto Inland Sea and Western Japan’s rich farmlands with the elegance of Italian cuisine, all served in a space where traditional Japanese architectural details and modern design sit side by side. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed lunch after a morning at Itsukushima Shrine or a special-occasion dinner, Les Clos offers something genuinely different from the typical tourist restaurant.
A Hidden Gem for a Special Meal on Miyajima
Les Clos sits along the Machiya-dori lane, slightly off the main tourist thoroughfare — which gives it a genuinely tucked-away feel that locals love. My family first visited last year, and my older daughter was practically speechless when we walked in: “This place is way too stylish!” She wasn’t wrong. The restaurant draws on Hiroshima Prefecture’s finest local produce and seafood to create seasonal menus that feel rooted in this part of Japan, even as the cooking style is distinctly Italian. It’s the kind of place that locals choose for birthdays and anniversaries — a mark of quality you don’t always find in a heavily visited tourist destination.
Menu and Prices (Revised April 2025)
Les Clos offers two lunch courses and two dinner courses as the core of its menu, alongside à la carte wagyu steak options and rotating seasonal desserts. All prices below reflect the April 2025 revision.
- Aki Course — ¥4,400: Appetizer plate / seasonal soup and bread / pasta / choice of fish or meat main / dessert and coffee or tea
- Miyajima Course — ¥6,600: The full lunch experience — includes everything in the Aki Course but with both fish and meat as separate courses. Add ¥500 to upgrade the beef to a tagliata.
- Dinner Course — ¥8,000: Amuse-bouche / appetizer / fish course / meat course / dolce / after-dinner drink. A showcase of Setouchi seafood and carefully selected Japanese beef.
- Dinner Course — ¥11,500: A premium option upgrading the meat course to Hiroshima beef or a comparable high-grade cut.
- À la carte wagyu steak: Sirloin 100g ¥4,200 / 150g ¥5,500; Fillet 100g ¥4,800 / 150g ¥6,200. Add a dessert set for ¥500.
- Dessert set — ¥950: A choice of four options including crème brûlée and tiramisu. Ice cream set available for ¥750, including a Setouchi lemon sorbet.
Because the kitchen works with seasonal ingredients, specific dishes rotate throughout the year. It’s worth checking the official website or confirming details when you make your reservation.
My family almost always goes for the Miyajima Course — being able to enjoy both a fish dish and a meat course in the same sitting is hard to pass up. My husband is never disappointed, and even my younger daughter cleans her plate every time (“The fish is so yummy!”). On weekdays, the 14:00–16:00 window tends to be the quietest part of the lunch service, so if you want to linger over your meal without feeling rushed, that’s the time to aim for. Reservations are strongly recommended regardless.
After lunch, Omotesando Shopping Street is close by and a perfect place to browse for Miyajima souvenirs — especially if you’re traveling with kids.
Miyajima's main shopping street — known locally as Omotesando — is a l...
A 100-Year-Old Estate Reimagined: The Interior
The building dates to 1912 — the final year of the Meiji era — and has been fully renovated while preserving the traditional Japanese details that make it so atmospheric. Original azuma shoji sliding screens and carved wooden transom panels (ranma) line the rooms, sitting naturally alongside the restaurant’s contemporary lighting and furnishings. Through the large windows, a manicured Japanese garden changes with every season: pale green in spring, deep shadow in midsummer, a burst of red and gold in autumn. The second floor café space can be reserved for private groups and offers an especially beautiful view down into the garden below. More than one guest has described the feeling as being inside a quiet, slowly moving museum — which feels exactly right.
My visit in mid-November last year was perfectly timed for the autumn foliage. My younger daughter pressed her nose to the window and announced that “the garden is sparkling.” She wasn’t wrong — the maple leaves were extraordinary. Whether you visit in cherry blossom season, midsummer, or the crisp days of autumn, the view outside will be part of the meal.
What We Ate: The Aki Course in Full
Appetizer — Sea Bream Carpaccio, Spinach Quiche, and Fresh Tomato with Mozzarella
The sea bream was impeccably fresh — no fishiness at all, just a clean, delicate bite with a gentle springy texture. The spinach quiche loaded with melted cheese made for a wonderful contrast. It’s the kind of opening plate that sets a confident tone for everything that follows. My older daughter spent about ten minutes photographing this single dish before she let anyone touch it.
Soup and Bread — Corn Cream Soup and Focaccia
The corn cream soup was smooth, rich, and clearly made from scratch — the kind of depth you only get when someone has spent real time on it. The focaccia was soft and slightly sweet with a pillowy, substantial crumb. My younger daughter asked for a second piece before the soup was finished.
Pasta — Shrimp and Mizuna Cream Pasta
A beautiful plate — the pale cream sauce, the pink of the shrimp, and the bright green of the mizuna (a mild Japanese salad green) made it as attractive as it was delicious. The sauce clung to the pasta perfectly, and the shrimp’s natural sweetness ran through every bite. My husband declared it the best pasta he’d eaten in years, which is saying something from a man who normally prefers rice.
Main — Sautéed Spring Vegetables and Beef with Mustard Sauce
Potato, bell pepper, broccoli, kabocha squash, arugula, and tomato sautéed alongside tender sliced beef, finished with a sharp, punchy mustard sauce. The vegetables were clearly seasonal and handled with care — not just garnish, but a genuine part of the dish. Even my younger daughter, who normally avoids vegetables, ate everything when it was mixed with the beef. That alone deserves a mention.
Dessert — Caramel Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream and Coffee
A caramel-drizzled tart with a scoop of dense, creamy vanilla ice cream alongside a well-brewed coffee. Refined but not fussy — exactly what you want at the end of a relaxed, leisurely lunch. We sat at the table for an extra twenty minutes just talking and finishing our cups. The whole afternoon felt unhurried in the best possible way.
After your meal, Itsukushima Shrine is about a fifteen-minute walk from Les Clos — the late afternoon is a wonderful time to visit, when the day-tripper crowds have thinned out a little.
Itsukushima Shrine sits at the edge of the sea on Miyajima Island, jus...
Location, Hours, and Reservations
Les Clos is located at 527-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, approximately a seven-minute walk from the Miyajima ferry pier. Free on-site parking is available for guests arriving by car. Lunch service runs 11:30–15:00 (last order 14:00); dinner runs 17:00–20:00 (last order 19:00). The restaurant operates on irregular holidays, so checking ahead is advisable. Reservations can be made by phone or through the official website. Dinner reservations should be made at least three days in advance.
One local tip worth passing along: if you’re driving and parking at Miyajimaguchi on the mainland, the lot behind the Momiji Honpo shop tends to have spaces available before 8:00 a.m. — useful if you’re making an early start.
Family Groups and Accessibility
Les Clos is well set up for families and larger parties. The restaurant provides baby chairs, a nursing room, and stroller-friendly access. For groups of 15 to 30 guests, group lunch courses are available — seating arrangements and service details can be discussed at the time of reservation. English menus are available, along with Chinese and Korean language options on the restaurant’s website. Wi-Fi is provided throughout, and the restaurant accepts major credit cards and electronic payment methods including Visa, Mastercard, and JCB.
As someone who has visited with small children, I can say the facilities genuinely make a difference. Having a nursing room available when my younger daughter was still a toddler meant we could visit without any anxiety — and the staff were warm and accommodating throughout. It’s the kind of thoughtfulness that makes a place worth recommending to other families.
If you’re looking for something to do with children after lunch, Miyajima Aquarium is a wonderful option nearby — they also offer free stroller rentals, which is a great help with little ones.
Miyajima Aquarium — officially known as Miyajima Marine, or Miyaji Mar...
Health and Safety Measures
Les Clos maintains ongoing hygiene and safety protocols, including table sanitization, regular ventilation, and spaced seating arrangements. Staff follow mask-wearing and temperature-check procedures, and hand sanitization stations are available at the entrance. During busy periods, the restaurant may implement limited-capacity entry — another reason to book ahead rather than walk in.
FAQ
Do I need a reservation at Les Clos Miyajima?
Walk-ins are possible for lunch, but seating is limited and the restaurant is popular with both tourists and locals. Booking ahead is strongly recommended. For dinner, reservations must be made at least three days in advance.
Is there a dress code?
Smart casual is recommended, but the restaurant is welcoming of guests coming directly from sightseeing. You don’t need to dress up — just avoid overly beachwear-style clothing.
Is there a children’s menu?
Yes — Les Clos offers options suited to younger diners, including a kids’ lunch plate and half-portion pasta. The staff can advise on the best choices when you reserve.
Is there parking at the restaurant?
Yes, free parking is available on-site for up to five vehicles. Note that Miyajima Island itself is car-free, so you would park at Miyajimaguchi on the mainland and take the ferry, or use the restaurant’s parking if it is accessible from your route.
What payment methods are accepted?
Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and others) and electronic payment methods are all accepted. Cash is also fine.
Is an English menu available?
Yes, English menus are available. Some staff can also provide basic assistance in English. The restaurant’s website also has Chinese and Korean language pages for non-Japanese visitors.
What is the best time of year to visit?
Les Clos is worth visiting in any season, as the menu changes to reflect what’s freshest. The Japanese garden is especially beautiful in mid-November for autumn foliage and in late March to early April for cherry blossoms. The quietest time during lunch service is typically weekday afternoons between 14:00 and 16:00.
Final Thoughts
Les Clos earns its reputation as one of the finest dining options on Miyajima. The combination of a genuinely historic setting, thoughtfully sourced seasonal ingredients, and warm, attentive service creates an experience that goes well beyond a simple tourist lunch. Every season brings something new to the menu, which means there’s good reason to return. If you’re looking for a meal on Miyajima that will become part of how you remember the trip — not just fuel between sights — this is the place.
My family’s personal highlight is always the view of the garden through the window. It changes with every visit, and we always end up planning our next trip before we’ve finished dessert.
If you’d like to explore more of Miyajima’s food scene, our guide to anago rice — the island’s most iconic local dish — is a great place to start.
Miyajima Island is famous for its floating torii gate and ancient shri...
Facility details, hours, and prices are subject to change. Please check the restaurant’s official website or contact them directly before your visit to confirm the latest information.
