1. Nara Michelin two-star restaurant.
2. Conveniently located near Nara JR Station.
3. The head chef once worked in New York and the UK before returning to Nara to establish a restaurant with his own unique style.
Shiro is a Japanese restaurant situated in the ancient capital of Nara. Its name embodies a variety of ideas that have combined to form its current meaning. In Japanese, "Shiro" is often pronounced "shilo," a kanji character that encompasses meanings such as "purity," "clarity," "sacredness," and "a state of mind of nothingness." Therefore, the choice of this kanji imbues the restaurant with a simple and pure image. Furthermore, "tsukumo," meaning ninety-nine, appeals to the widely revered essence of Japanese culture: the beauty of imperfection. "One hundred" evokes a sense of completeness; perfection. "Ninety-nine," on the other hand, comes very close to completion and perfection, but not quite. At Shiro, we strive for perfection every day, but there's always room for improvement; we never quite reach 100%. This is a cherished concept in Japanese culture, one that demands humility in our daily lives.
Chef Saito Masato previously worked in New York and the UK. In 2009, he became the first executive chef of the shojin ryori restaurant "Kahi," completing a 3-year tenure. During this period, he was selected as a Rising Star Chef in the US in 2010, and the restaurant earned two Michelin stars in both 2011 and 2012. In 2012, he was invited to participate in the three-day Madrid Fusion gastronomy summit. Those invaluable experiences abroad have profoundly influenced his current culinary creations, which retain distinct Japanese characteristics while showcasing unique cultural craftsmanship.