What Asakusa Imahan does

Asakusa Imahan (浅草今半) is a Tokyo-based premium Japanese beef restaurant and packaged food products company founded in 1895 and headquartered in the Asakusa district of Taito-ku. The company operates a flagship restaurant on Kokusai-dori specializing in sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, and other traditional beef dishes prepared using its proprietary warishita simmering sauce recipe. It is a certified Kobe Beef dealer (Registration #483) and holds exclusive supply contracts with named partner farms (Taniguchi Farm and Morimoto Farm), giving it secured access to premium-grade wagyu.

The company sells both experience-based dining and packaged retail products. Signature packaged items include beef tsukudani (produced since 1945), refrigerated and frozen bentos, gift sets, and retort convenience foods manufactured at its Funabashi factory. Distribution spans high-end department store counters (Daimaru, Mitsukoshi, Isetan, Takashimaya, JR-affiliated outlets), in-station retail (eki-naka shops), a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform, and a delivery service branded Asakusa Bento Kobo. The company is privately held and family-owned (Takaoka family) with a headcount reported in the 101-250 range.

Revenue is generated across multiple consumer channels with no single dominant B2B customer. The flagship restaurant operates on a high-ticket, reservation-driven model with course pricing up to approximately ¥33,000 and limited daily lunch seatings. Bentos and gift sets are sold at price points ranging roughly ¥1,080-¥3,996 through retail and online channels, targeting gifting and premium everyday-consumption occasions. The 2021 launch of Kirakutei, a casual-format restaurant inside the Isetan Shinjuku flagship, marked an explicit move downmarket into a more accessible customer segment without abandoning the premium positioning of the core brand.

Name

Asakusa Imahan

Legal name

IMAHAN Co., LTD.

Website

https://asakusaimahan.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Asakusa Imahan is a 131-year-old Tokyo-based premium Japanese beef restaurant and food products company specializing in sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, and beef tsukudani. It serves high-end diners at flagship and casual restaurants and distributes products via department stores and e-commerce nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Japanese Beef Restaurant and Wagyu Specialty Foods

NAICS

Meat Retailers (445240), Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (42447), Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (311930)

SIC

Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Shelf-Stable/Retort Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (AFANAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soy Sauce, Tamari & Asian Condiments Manufacturing (AFAKADAF), Butcher Shops & Meat Markets (CRAHAHAB)

Keywords

• Japanese beef restaurant
• Premium wagyu sukiyaki
• Beef tsukudani
• Japanese bento retail
• Kobe beef dealer

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Dining: Fine dining at Kokusai Street Head Restaurant and casual dining at Kirakutei (Shinjuku Isetan); table service with prix fixe courses ranging from ¥2,200 (lunch) to ¥33,000 (premium course); private room reservations with minimum spend requirements.
2. Bento Retail Sales: Fresh bento boxes sold at department store counters and station shops (eki-naka); delivery service through Asakusa Bento Kobo for office meetings and events; prices range from ¥1,080 to ¥3,996 per unit.
3. Beef Products and Tsukudani: Beef tsukudani (boiled down beef in sauce), dressed beef, roast beef, misozuke, hamburg steak, and retort packed foods sold as gifts and retail products; nationwide distribution through department stores and online shop.
4. Online E-commerce: Official online shop (asakusaimahan.com) selling full product range including limited edition items, seasonal gifts, and nationwide delivery.
5. Gift and Hamper Sales: Premium gift sets and hampers for oseibo (year-end gift), ochugen (mid-year gift), and special occasions sold through department stores and online.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Asakusa Imahan produces and sells premium Kuroge Wagyu and certified Kobe beef through two sukiyaki/shabu-shabu restaurants (Kokusai Street Head Restaurant and Kirakutei at Isetan Shinjuku), a nationwide bento and department store retail operation, and a direct e-commerce shop offering tsukudani, dressed beef, roast beef, miso-zuke, hamburg steak, bento and retort foods. Its taste identity is built on a proprietary warishita sauce recipe and direct supply contracts with Taniguchi Farm and Morimoto Farm in Hyogo Prefecture.

Product overview

Asakusa Imahan operates as a traditional Japanese cuisine specialist with a diversified product portfolio centered on premium Kuroge Wagyu beef. The core offerings include signature Beef Tsukudani (established 1945) for gift-giving, fresh Sukiyaki/Shabu-shabu dining at two restaurant locations (Kokusai Street Head Restaurant and Kirakutei), ready-to-eat bento products sold at department stores nationwide and ekinaka (station) locations, and a delivery service (Asakusa Bento Kobo). Additional products include Roast Beef, Beef Miso-zuke, Hamburg Steak, and Retort-packed convenience foods available through the online shop. The company celebrated its 130th anniversary in April 2025 and 131st in April 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sukiyaki and Shabu-shabu (Restaurant Dining) Traditional Japanese hot-pot dishes served at the Kokusai Street Head Restaurant and Kirakutei, featuring premium Kuroge Wagyu beef cooked in the restaurant's proprietary warishita sauce (sukiyaki) or dipped in ponzu broth (shabu-shabu). Available as lunch courses, kaiseki, and special Kobe beef courses for individuals, families and business entertainment.
• Kokusai Street Head Restaurant Flagship sukiyaki and shabu-shabu restaurant established in 1928 in Asakusa, serving premium Kuroge Wagyu and certified Kobe beef. Features multi-floor dining with tatami private rooms, VIP rooms and open seating, and offers lunch courses, gozen, kaiseki and Kobe beef kaiseki menus.
• Asakusa Imahan Kirakutei (Casual Dining Restaurant) Casual dining restaurant at Isetan Shinjuku 7F featuring Asakusa Imahan-style sukiyaki, steak and hamburg using carefully selected female Kuroge Wagyu. Includes counter seating (9 seats) and table seating (4-person x7, 2-person x2) for individuals and small groups.
• Beef Tsukudani (Gyuniku Tsukudani) Signature product since 1945 — premium Wagyu beef boiled down in the company's special warishita-based sauce. Sold as gifts, oseibo/ochugen seasonal items, and everyday consumption products through department stores and the online shop.
• Dressed Beef and Premium Meat Gift Sets Carefully selected Imahan Wagyu beef prepared in three styles — Sukiyaki, Shabu-shabu, and Yakiniku (steak) — and packaged as gift sets suitable for special occasions, sold through department stores and the online shop.
• Roast Beef Tender Wagyu roast beef prepared using traditional cooking methods and served with wasabi and additive-free soy sauce in Asakusa Imahan style. Versatile for special dinners, casual gatherings, and gift-giving.
• Beef Miso-zuke Premium Wagyu beef marinated in rich miso using a specialized method originating from the Genroku era for the Shogun family. Prepared only upon order to ensure optimal freshness; sold as a premium gift item.
• Hamburg Steak (Hamburg) Premium Wagyu beef hamburg steak blending Western and Japanese culinary traditions. Juicy with rich umami flavor, available with original Japanese sauce as a home dining and gift product.
• Retort Packed Foods Ready-to-eat convenience products including Beef Curry, Donburi toppings, and Maze-gohan (seasoned rice toppings) that bring Asakusa Imahan flavors to home dining and gifting.
• Gyuniku (Beef) Bento Most popular bento featuring premium Kuroge Wagyu beef simmered in the restaurant's signature warishita sauce over fluffy rice. Sold at department store counters, station shops and the online shop.
• Stacked Sukiyaki Bento (Kasanesukiyaki Bento) Premium bento using only shoulder loin beef ('kata rosu'), considered ideal for sukiyaki, with all ingredients carefully simmered in the signature warishita sauce.
• Gyutama Bento Customer favorite combining fluffy eggs and onions simmered in rich umami sauce with tender beef cooked in signature warishita, served over steamed rice. Winner of the 1st Japan Location Bento Awards Gold Award (2024).
• Asakusa Bento Kobo (Delivery Service) Delivery-only bento service offering signature Gyuniku-jyu and Sukiyaki bento, plus seasonal Shoka-do bento and various special occasion meals. Delivers within Tokyo 23 wards for orders over ¥20,000, targeting office meetings, events and corporate clients.
• Asakusa Imahan Online Shop Official e-commerce platform for purchasing Asakusa Imahan products including tsukudani, gift sets, roast beef, hamburg steak, retort foods, and seasonal items for nationwide delivery to consumers.
• Thin Rice Crackers 'Keicho' Asakusa Imahan Sukiyaki Flavor (Collaboration Product) Limited edition sukiyaki-flavored thin rice cracker developed in collaboration with Akasaka Kakiyama, sold at Asakusa Imahan retail counters and station shops starting April 2026.
• Gomi Shunsai (Five-Dish Beef Course) Restaurant-only five-dish beef tasting course launched at the Kokusai Street Head Restaurant in October 2024, showcasing diverse beef preparations in a single menu.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 赤坂柿山 (Akasaka Kakiyama)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Specialty senbei (rice cracker) maker; collaboration product 'Thin Crackers Keicho Asakusa Imahan Sukiyaki Flavor' launched April 2026; limited edition product combining beef expertise with traditional senbei craft.
• 株式会社メリーチョコレートカムパニーminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 November 2021Chocolate maker; collaboration on chocolate-infused beef recipes; executive chef Miwa contributed recipe development for 'Roast Beef with Chocolate Sauce' featured on Merry's Labo website.
• amadana株式会社minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2021Consumer electronics and lifestyle brand; crowdfunding collaboration for cast iron plate and wagyu fillet steak set; leveraged amadana's cassette stove design with Asakusa Imahan's beef expertise.
• 株式会社JHATminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 October 2020Hotel operator; 'Stay + Dining' packages at MONday hotel group properties; delivers Asakusa Imahan's Kobe beef sukiyaki to hotel rooms for in-room dining experience.
• 谷口牧場 (Taniguchi Farm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracted farm in Shiso City, Hyogo Prefecture; exclusive supply of Himeji Wagyu cattle for Asakusa Imahan; female cattle selected for consistent quality; long-term partnership for wagyu breeding and aging.
• 森本牧場 (Morimoto Farm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracted farm in Sayo Town, Hyogo Prefecture; supplies Kobe beef to Asakusa Imahan; exclusive partnership for premium wagyu cattle.
• 東京国立博物館minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural collaboration for limited edition gift packaging featuring museum artworks; Oseibo and Ochugen gift sets with ukiyo-e designs; leverages cultural heritage for premium positioning.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Yoshinoya: Largest mass-market beef bowl (gyudon) chain in Japan; broader incumbent in Japanese beef dining but operates at substantially lower price points than Asakusa Imahan's premium segment.
• S Foods: Major Japanese processed meat producer with prepared foods and gift products; broader incumbent with retail and gift distribution channels that overlap with Asakusa Imahan's beef tsukudani and gift set business.
• Prima Meat Packers: Major Japanese processed meat manufacturer with hams, sausages, and prepared beef products; broader incumbent with nationwide retail distribution channels overlapping with Asakusa Imahan's department store and bento retail strategy.
• NH Foods (Nippon Ham): Largest meat and processed food company in Japan with broad portfolio across fresh meat, processed products, and prepared meals; broadest incumbent providing a public-market benchmark for the Japanese beef and prepared meat industry in which Asakusa Imahan competes.
• Marudai: Processed meat company with ham, sausage, and prepared meat offerings; broader incumbent with retail distribution similar to Asakusa Imahan's national footprint across Japanese supermarket and department store channels.
• Yonekyu Corporation: Specialized Japanese processed meat and ham producer with strong retail gift presence; broader incumbent that competes in the prepared meat and gift set categories where Asakusa Imahan sells its beef tsukudani and gift products.
• Itoham Foods: One of Japan's largest processed meat manufacturers with hams, sausages, and prepared beef products; broader incumbent with retail distribution comparable to Asakusa Imahan's nationwide department store presence.

Direct peers

• Steak Land Kobe: Specialized Kobe beef steak restaurant in Kobe serving premium Japanese beef at comparable price points, directly comparable to Asakusa Imahan's Kokusai Street Head Restaurant premium sukiyaki/shabu-shabu dining experience.
• Kobe Beef Restaurant Mouriya: Premier Kobe beef restaurant chain operating multiple dining locations and product sales, directly comparable to Asakusa Imahan's premium Wagyu/Kobe beef dining and gift product strategy.
• Yamanaka Hida Beef: Specialty Hida beef producer and gift-product retailer in Gifu Prefecture, directly comparable to Asakusa Imahan's regional premium beef branding, tsukudani-style processed products, and direct-to-consumer gift distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/asakusaimahan
• Facebookfacebook.com/asakusaimahan
• Instagraminstagram.com/asakusaimahan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Asakusa Imahan