Hida Beef: What It Is, Prices and How to Order
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JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc. (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)
Hida beef is a certified Japanese Black beef brand from Gifu Prefecture. It is not a name for every beef dish served in Takayama, and it does not have to be grade 5: meat-quality grades 3, 4 and 5 can qualify.
For a first taste, Ajikura Tengoku near Takayama Station lists a three-cut platter for one at ¥3,520, including tax. This guide explains how to identify Hida beef, compare cuts and plan a meal.
Contents
- Three-cut tasting platter
- Short rib, lean beef and beef cubes; for one person
- Four-cut premium assortment
- Loin cut, premium short rib, premium loin and beef cubes; for two to three people
- Lean beef
- Round and shoulder
- Short rib
- Belly cut
- What makes Hida beef Hida beef?
- Hida beef grades and the certification label
- Hida beef prices: a real menu to compare
- How to choose and order Hida beef
- Where to plan a Hida beef meal in Takayama
- Hida beef questions
1. What makes Hida beef Hida beef?
The Hida Beef Brand Promotion Council’s definition requires all of the following:
- The cattle are Japanese Black.
- A producer certified and registered under the council’s system has fattened the cattle for at least 14 months.
- Gifu Prefecture is where the cattle spent the longest part of their rearing period.
- The carcass receives a meat-quality grade of 3, 4 or 5.
The council checks the conditions before certifying the beef. When reading a menu, look for dishes specifically identified as Hida beef rather than assuming all beef served in Takayama carries the designation. The council also provides a designated-shop and restaurant search.
Hida beef is protected under Japan’s Geographical Indication system. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries register lists Gifu Prefecture as the production area, so the designation is not limited to Takayama city.
2. Hida beef grades and the certification label
Grade and cut answer different questions. Grade 3, 4 or 5 describes the meat-quality classification; names such as short rib, sirloin and fillet tell you which part you are ordering. Consider the cut and cooking style as well as the grade.
The council’s Hida beef label includes the quality grade, producer details, individual identification number and certification date. For packaged beef, enter the individual identification number in the official traceability search to look up meat-quality grade information.
The search makes information available for up to two years after certification. If the package shows only a lot number, ask the seller about the product instead: the search requires an individual identification number. At a restaurant, ask staff which dishes are Hida beef and what information they can provide about the cut or grade.
3. Hida beef prices: a real menu to compare
The examples below are from Ajikura Tengoku’s official menu, checked on November 8, 2026. Prices include tax. These are dish prices, so allow for any rice, drinks or other items you add.
| Menu item | Cut or ordering condition | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Three-cut tasting platter | Short rib, lean beef and beef cubes; for one person | ¥3,520 |
| Four-cut premium assortment | Loin cut, premium short rib, premium loin and beef cubes; for two to three people | ¥13,380 |
| Lean beef | Round and shoulder | ¥2,310 |
| Short rib | Belly cut | ¥1,480 |
| Diced steak | Includes rump, aitchbone and inside round | ¥2,880 |
| Fillet steak | Fillet | ¥6,600 |
| Loin cut | Sirloin | ¥9,290 |
| Special loin | Rib roast and sirloin | ¥4,360 |
| Special short rib | Kurashita, a shoulder-loin cut | ¥4,280 |
| Shabu-shabu | Top blade and shoulder loin; minimum two portions | ¥4,820 per person |
The three-cut platter is a practical choice for one diner who wants variety. The four-cut assortment is intended for two to three people, so compare its price as a shared dish rather than as a single serving. For the special short rib, the restaurant names the cut kurashita; a meat supplier describes kurashita as shoulder loin.
For shabu-shabu, the two-portion minimum means ¥9,640 for two portions, before additional orders. Ask about accompaniments when ordering. The menu does not list weights for the tasting platters; if portion size will decide your order, ask staff.
A weekday lunch option
Ajikura also lists weekday-only lunch sets. Its Hida beef short-rib set is ¥2,190 and includes rice, miso soup, beef shigure, pickles, salad and dessert. The three-cut tasting set is ¥4,220 with the same listed accompaniments. These are useful choices when you want a more complete meal rather than a separate plate of beef.
4. How to choose and order Hida beef
Start with the meal format:
- For a solo tasting: Choose the three-cut platter to try short rib, lean beef and cubes in one order.
- For a particular cut: Order lean beef, short rib, fillet or sirloin separately. Ask staff which cuts are richer or leaner if you have a preference.
- For sharing: The four-cut assortment is listed for two to three people.
- For a hot pot: Choose shabu-shabu if your order meets the two-portion minimum.
Ajikura’s menu has Japanese, English and Chinese dish names. You can point to an item, say how many portions you would like and ask whether rice or other sides are included. For example:
“Is this Hida beef? How many portions should we order?”
If you have dietary restrictions, tell the restaurant before ordering and ask about sauces and accompaniments as well as the beef.
5. Where to plan a Hida beef meal in Takayama
Ajikura Tengoku is at 4-308 Hanasato, Takayama, Gifu, about a one-minute walk south of JR Takayama Station, according to its official access page. The restaurant also has parking.
| Planning detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Lunch | 11:00–14:30; last order 14:00 |
| Dinner | 17:00–21:30; last order 21:00 |
| Regular closures | Tuesdays and the second and fourth Wednesdays |
| Telephone | 0577-37-1129 |
| Meat-sales counter | 11:00–15:00 |
| Meat cut to order | Telephone in advance |
For a table, call with your date, preferred time and party size to ask about availability and reservations. Check the restaurant’s news page for exceptional opening days and reservation arrangements. Arrive before the relevant last-order time, not just before closing.
For a larger group, the menu says banquet courses require advance reservations for at least four people. Group set meals are available for parties of at least ten, with reservations required at least three days ahead. Ask the restaurant about the arrangements for your visit.
Getting there from Nagoya
By train: Take the JR Hida limited express from Nagoya to Takayama. Ajikura’s access page gives an approximate journey time of 135 minutes. From Takayama Station, walk south to the restaurant.
By highway bus: The Nohi Bus Nagoya–Takayama route lists a journey time of about 2 hours 40 minutes and a one-way fare of ¥3,600. Seats require a reservation; book by phone or through the operator’s linked booking site. A ¥3,300 web-discount fare is listed for bookings through an eligible Japanese-language site. Check the timetable for your travel date before planning your meal.
6. Hida beef questions
Does Hida beef have to be grade 5?
No. Meat-quality grades 3, 4 and 5 are eligible when the cattle also meet the breed, rearing and certification requirements.
Is Hida beef limited to Takayama?
No. Its registered production area is Gifu Prefecture. Takayama is one place to try it, but the designation is not restricted to the city.
How much does Hida beef cost?
Prices depend on the restaurant, cut and meal. At Ajikura, the menu examples above include ¥1,480 for short rib, ¥3,520 for a one-person three-cut platter and ¥6,600 for fillet steak. Shabu-shabu is ¥4,820 per person, with a minimum of two portions.
Can a solo traveller order shabu-shabu at Ajikura Tengoku?
The menu requires an order of at least two portions. A solo traveller who wants to sample several cuts can choose the three-cut platter, which is listed for one person, or call the restaurant to discuss the order.
How can I check packaged Hida beef?
Enter the individual identification number from the label or package in the council’s traceability search. If only a lot number is shown, contact the seller instead.
Do all restaurants have the same prices or booking rules?
No. The prices above are Ajikura’s menu examples. Check the menu, opening days and reservation arrangements for the specific restaurant you plan to visit.
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