When I planned my trip to Beppu, I knew I had to visit Kamesho Kurukuru Sushi (亀正くるくる寿司). This sushi-go-round restaurant is located in Kannawa Onsen district of Beppu, and my dream of dining there finally came true.
The restaurant is conveniently situated along National Highway Route 500, making it a great spot to stop by before or after visiting Jigoku Meguri (Hell Tour). If you’re traveling by car, it’s very accessible. For those using public transportation, it’s about a 30-minute walk from JR Beppu University Station. Alternatively, you can take a bus to Kannawa Onsen, but a 30-minute walk is still required.
One of the highlights at Kamesho Kurukuru Sushi is their blackboard menu, which showcases a variety of fresh seafood sourced from areas around Oita, such as Saga Seki, Ehime, Beppu, and Saeki. The prices are affordable, ranging from 130 to 360 yen per dish, making it popular with both locals and tourists.
The main reason I wanted to visit? They serve Seki Mackerel (Seki Saba) and Seki Horse Mackerel (Seki Aji), two highly sought-after local specialties, for just 360 yen per two pieces!
Ordering is simple: write your selections on the order sheet provided at your table and hand it to the staff. Although there were only a few staff members, they worked efficiently. A nice touch is the free refills of miso soup, which you can help yourself to. The soup, though light on ingredients, had a comforting, rich broth that warmed me up.
The first dish I ordered was Seki Horse Mackerel, as it’s known to sell out quickly. At 360 yen, it’s one of the pricier options, served on a gold plate to signify its premium quality. The fish was incredibly fresh with a delightfully springy texture.
And this is Seki Mackerel. It cost 360 yen, too. It’s fresh mackerel without marinated. The texture of fat was awesome. They had only 50 dishes of Seki-Aji and Seki-Saba each that day. So, if you want to eat those two Seki fishes, you’d better go there around the opening hour.
Next was the Seki Mackerel, also priced at 360 yen. Unlike traditional marinated mackerel, this was served fresh, with a rich, fatty texture that melted in my mouth. Due to limited availability (50 servings of each fish per day), it’s best to visit around opening time if you don’t want to miss out.
Another interesting dish was the Black Scraper dressed with its innards. Known as “Hage” in Kyushu, this common Japanese fish is locally caught in Beppu. While the flavor was a bit mild, the freshness made it enjoyable.
Last, it’s Ryukyu. Speaking of Ryukyu, you might imagine Okinawa. But in Oita, Ryukyu means roughly chopped fishes mainly horse mackerel marinated with sauce. Umm itself was good. But I ordered horse mackerel tataki (roughly chopped horse mackerel), too. And I couldn’t find the difference between those two sushi in its appearance and tastes. I expected Ryukyu is seasoned more strongly.
In Oita, Ryukyu refers to roughly chopped horse mackerel marinated in a flavorful sauce. While the dish was tasty, it didn’t differ much from the Horse Mackerel Tataki I also ordered. I had expected the Ryukyu to have a bolder flavor.
The Seki Mackerel and Seki Horse Mackerel were the standout dishes for me. Although getting there without a car can be challenging, I’d make the effort to visit Kamesho Kurukuru Sushi every time I’m in Beppu.
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Name Kamesho Kurukurusushi (or Kamesho Kurukuruzushi)
Open Day through night
Reservation Unavailable
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