Da terra

The story

Da terra: Michelin-Starred Italian Restaurant in Asuka, Nara, Japan

In the ancient village of Asuka, where Japan's original rural landscape still endures, Da terra offers Italian cuisine rooted in the land. The name means "from the earth" in Italian, and that philosophy guides everything here.

The restaurant occupies a meticulously renovated farmhouse over a century old. The spacious, relaxed interior contrasts with the modern precision of the kitchen. The chef, who grew up in this area, opened Da terra in March 2020, committed to his home region.

The menu is a full-course affair — roughly nine dishes at lunch — built around the vegetables grown in the restaurant's own garden. Over 100 varieties of fresh produce appear throughout the year, complemented by carefully selected seafood and meat. The cooking is Italian, but the soul is local: seasonal ingredients from Asuka's fields and surrounding waters, paired with wines and Nara's own sake.

This approach has earned Da terra a Michelin star every year since 2023, alongside the Michelin Green Star for sustainability — a recognition of the kitchen's deep connection to its garden and the land. The awards are a natural extension of the restaurant's daily work: sowing seeds, tending plants, and letting the harvest speak through each plate.