Your travel destination starts with choosing a restaurant. Awards Ceremony Report on “Destination Restaurant List 2026,” where local gastronomy comes together | We went

Hello! I’m Hirakawa from SUNNY SIDE UP.

Have you traveled anywhere recently?A long time has passed since the COVID-19 pandemic settled down, and now the era has returned in which many people can enjoy traveling, whether within Japan or abroad.

So, what criteria do you use to decide where to travel?

“Because it has famous sightseeing spots,” “Because I want to relax in hot springs”—those may be common reasons.

However, a major new trend is emerging: “gastronomic tourism,” a new way to enjoy travel that focuses on savoring food nurtured by local climate and culture—ingredients, customs, traditions, history, and more—and experiencing the region’s food culture.

“I go there to eat this dish at this restaurant.” There are chefs who face each plate every day to create that very reason, and who lead their regions with extraordinary passion and resolve.

Today, PR representative Hirakawa brings you an on-site report from “Destination Restaurant List 2026,” where the passionate convictions of these professionals who “move the world with the power of food” came together!

What is Destination Restaurant List 2026?

This project was launched in 2021 by The Japan Times, Japan’s oldest English-language newspaper founded in 1897, as a list that selects restaurants scattered across regional Japan that are worth visiting.

This project selects 10 restaurants each year, and in 2026 it marks its sixth year; with this announcement, a total of 60 restaurants have been listed.It was planned with the intention of “pinpointing the selected restaurants on a map of Japan to bring the outline of a new national landscapeinto view, and creating a ‘new map of Japan’ through gastronomy.”

At an event held to raise awareness of Destination Restaurant List, SUNNY SIDE UP handled PR and communications work centered on media relations. Through media outreach, interview coordination, and press support on the day, we helped amplify information about the event.

An awards ceremony filled with passion

On the day of the event, surrounded by a beautiful floral display and in a glamorous atmosphere, the awards ceremony began.

Top chefs selected from across Japan gathered at the venue, and each took the stage to share their thoughts on receiving the award.From their struggles up to this point, their deep love for cooking, and every word they spoke, their passionate spirit came through, making it a wonderful ceremony that moved the entire venue.It was especially memorable to see family members watching from the audience, gazing at the chefs’ proud moment with gentle yet unwavering eyes.

The resolve and passion behind each plate. The list of award-winning restaurants and chefs—highly recognized for that essential value—is as follows.

And the Restaurants of the Year for 2026 are!

This year, the restaurant selected as “Restaurant of the Year 2026” is “Kesennuma KUROMORI” in Miyagi Prefecture.

Chef Kuromori moved to Miyagi after the 2011 earthquake and has been there for 14 years, saying he “cut off any retreat and committed fully to a course consisting only of shark fin.”

He also said he had concerns such as, “Is it really okay for our restaurant to win?” given that shark fin is an ingredient that tends to carry a negative image globally.

“Even if we only communicate serious reasoning—like Kesennuma’s sustainable shark fishery—I feel the world won’t change. After all, what matters most is having people think, ‘It’s delicious,’ and ‘I want to eat it.’” His passionate resolve to take on the world through the power of cuisine came through clearly.

Kesennuma is a small city, ranking 17th in Miyagi by population. Chef Kuromori’s strong sense of mission to shape the region’s future and his powerful commitment to regional revitalization moved the audience.

PHOTO: TAKAO OHTA

Which restaurant would you like to visit?

The restaurants of these wonderful chefs introduced here are sure to become “travel destinations worth going out of your way for,” creating a reason in your life from here on out to say, “Let’s go to that town to eat this dish.”

Please check out the appeal of the listed restaurants and consider adding them to your own “travel destination list I want to visit someday.”A single plate of food is sure to make your next trip something truly wonderful.

At SUNNY SIDE UP, we handle PR and communications for a wide range of products and services.

What can be achieved through the power of communication? We welcome consultations starting from such questions. Please feel free to contact us using the “CONTACT” button below.