IG Arena Match Day: Comparing Nearby Lunch Options

You've got tickets to an event at IG Arena — Nagoya's stunning new arena designed by Kengo Kuma — and you're trying to plan lunch before the game. You open Google Maps, find a few options near Yabacho and Sakae, and then the familiar question creeps in: "But will I actually be able to order without speaking Japanese?"

It's one of the most common hesitations foreign visitors face when planning meals at authentic local restaurants in Japan. And on a match day, when timing matters and you don't want to spend twenty minutes standing outside a place you can't navigate, that hesitation feels even more real. This article answers the questions you're most likely asking right now, specifically from the angle of language access and ordering confidence — so you can walk in, sit down, and enjoy your meal without a second thought.

Who This Is For

• ✅ Visitors attending events at IG Arena (Aichi International Arena) looking for a memorable lunch nearby
• ✅ International travelers who feel anxious about ordering at authentic Japanese restaurants without speaking the language
• ✅ Anyone wondering whether a specialty Japanese restaurant can genuinely accommodate non-Japanese speakers
• ✅ Foodies who want more than a chain restaurant on match day — and want to know exactly what to expect before they walk in
• ✅ First-time visitors to the Osu and Sakae area seeking practical, honest guidance on where to eat

What Are the Lunch Options Near IG Arena on Match Day?

IG Arena sits in the heart of central Nagoya, accessible from multiple subway lines. The surrounding area — particularly the Osu and Sakae districts — offers a broad range of lunch choices, from international chain restaurants to authentic local specialty shops.

On match days, chain restaurants near the arena tend to fill up quickly as crowds gather. If you're looking for something that won't have a long queue and won't feel like the same meal you could find back home, the Osu district — about a 10-minute walk or one subway stop away — is worth considering. It's one of Nagoya's most distinctive neighborhoods, with over 400 years of history and a character all its own.

Among the specialty lunch spots in this area is Itadaki, a small restaurant in Osu that opened in 2022 and has been featured on eight major Japanese TV programs, including NHK. It specializes in something genuinely rare: a lunch dish you cannot find anywhere else in Japan. But more on that shortly — because the first question most international visitors ask isn't about the food. It's about the language.

Can I Order Without Speaking Japanese? What Language Support Is Available?

Yes — and at Itadaki, the answer goes beyond a translated PDF someone printed out and taped to the wall.

Itadaki offers a fully printed multilingual menu in English, Simplified Chinese, and Korean. Each menu includes clear photographs of every dish, the price displayed in Japanese yen, and written explanations of each ingredient — including where it comes from in Aichi Prefecture. There's no guessing, no pointing at pictures without context, and no need to pull out a translation app just to understand what you're ordering.

What makes the experience particularly smooth is a section of the menu titled "How to Enjoy Rare Gyudon" — a five-step visual guide that walks you through the dish from the moment it arrives at your table. Step one: separate the raw Nagoya Cochin egg — the white goes into the miso soup, the yolk rests on top of the wagyu. Step two: taste the beef first, before mixing anything, so you can appreciate the rare-style texture on its own. The guide continues through mixing, adding condiments, and finishing with wasabi. It sounds specific because it is — and that specificity is exactly what makes the experience enjoyable rather than confusing.

For visitors with allergy concerns, the menu also notes which ingredients contain soy, wheat, or egg, and the egg topping can be removed upon request. Staff are welcoming to international guests, and translation apps work perfectly well in the restaurant if a conversation does come up.

"The lunch was the highlight of my Nagoya trip — I'm telling all my friends about it."

— Guest visitor to Itadaki

✓ Key Takeaways

• Itadaki's printed menu is available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Korean — with photos, prices, and ingredient details clearly laid out.
• A five-step visual guide called "How to Enjoy Rare Gyudon" is included in the menu, so you know exactly what to do when the dish arrives.
• Translation apps are welcome, and the restaurant staff are accustomed to serving international visitors.

What Is Rare Wagyu Gyudon — and Will I Understand It When It Arrives?

Itadaki was founded by Masayuki Goto, who spent 18 years in the food and beverage industry before asking a question that changed the direction of his career: why does Japan have premium versions of katsudon, oyakodon, and kaisendon — but not gyudon? The beef bowl had always been associated with fast food chains. Goto decided to change that.

The result is what Itadaki calls "The Original Rare Wagyu Gyudon" — a dish built around Horai Wagyu, one of Japan's most uncommon wagyu breeds. Only around 300 heads are raised annually, across just three farms in Aichi Prefecture. The cattle are fed on sake lees from Horaisen Sora, a respected local brewery, which contributes to a flavor profile that is lighter and more complex than heavily marbled wagyu you might have encountered elsewhere.

The "rare" texture — which gives the dish its name — is achieved through a proprietary two-stage cooking technique developed by Goto. The beef reaches above 70°C at the core, fully meeting Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare food safety standards, while still delivering a mouthfeel that feels closer to rare than well-done. This is not raw beef; it is a precisely engineered culinary technique that results in something genuinely unlike anything most visitors have experienced before.

When the bowl arrives at your table, the five-step guide in the multilingual menu makes sure you won't be left wondering what to do. Everything is laid out in sequence, and the complimentary tabletop condiments — pickled ginger, dried nori seaweed, chirimen jako, Itadaki's original 8-spice blend, and wasabi — are explained with notes on when and how to use them. The experience is designed to be intuitive for anyone, regardless of prior experience with Japanese cuisine.

"The English menu with clear serving instructions made the experience stress-free."

— International visitor to Itadaki

How Do I Get From IG Arena to Itadaki — and Is It Practical on Match Day?

Itadaki is located at 4-1-20 Osu, 2F, Naka-ku — a four-minute walk from Yabacho Station Exit 4 on the Meijo Subway Line. IG Arena (Aichi International Arena) is served by multiple lines in central Nagoya, and depending on your route, you can reach Yabacho in approximately 10 to 15 minutes by subway.

On match day, the practical consideration is timing. Itadaki is open for lunch only — 11:00 to 15:00 on its regular business days (Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday), with last order 30 minutes before closing. If you're attending an afternoon or evening event at IG Arena, lunch at Itadaki before the match is a natural fit. Arriving close to the 11:00 opening gives you the best chance of securing the Horai Wagyu option, which is limited to 10 bowls per day.

To find the restaurant, look for the sign reading 元祖レア牛丼 頂 (pronounced "Ganso Rea Gyudon Itadaki") at street level in Osu, then take the stairs to the second floor. The interior is relaxed, with sofa-style seating throughout — 18 seats total, including counter seats ideal for solo visitors and larger sofa tables for groups. It's a comfortable environment to settle into before a busy event day.

Please check the monthly business calendar before your visit, as irregular closures do occasionally apply.

Do I Need a Reservation, or Can I Walk In?

Walk-ins are welcome, and the Mikawa Beef Rare Gyudon is always available for guests who arrive without a booking. If you specifically want the Horai Wagyu version — the ultra-rare option limited to 10 bowls per day — a reservation via Tabelog Online is strongly recommended, especially on match days when the Osu area sees more foot traffic.

When reserving, you can write your booking notes in English on the Tabelog website. To specifically request the Horai Wagyu, copy and paste the following into the notes field: 鳳来牛希望. This tells the kitchen to hold a Horai Wagyu bowl for you.

Payment is accepted by credit card, and both Apple Pay and Google Pay are supported — so there's no need to worry about cash on match day.

What If I'm Visiting With a Group or Family?

Itadaki's 18-seat layout is flexible for different group configurations. There's a sofa table for five, one for four, and two tables for two — alongside five counter seats. Families with young children are welcome; the sofa seating is comfortable for extended meals, and past guests have used the larger tables for informal family lunches.

For groups who want the full restaurant to themselves, a full buyout for up to 18 people is available. This works particularly well for corporate groups, sports fan groups, or families celebrating around an event. Inquire via Instagram DM in advance to check availability.

Goto's passion for international travel and discovering unfamiliar food cultures is something he actively carries into how Itadaki welcomes visitors from abroad. The restaurant was designed from the beginning to be accessible to guests who don't speak Japanese — because the experience of discovering something genuinely new shouldn't require fluency in the local language.

Is This Worth Making Time for on a Busy Match Day?

If you're the kind of traveler who looks for one meal per trip that becomes the story you tell afterward — yes, without question. The combination of a dish that exists nowhere else in the world, a multilingual menu that removes all language anxiety, and an Osu neighborhood worth exploring before or after lunch makes Itadaki a natural match-day companion rather than just a convenient option near the arena.

Founder Masayuki Goto chose to open in Osu specifically to bring Aichi Prefecture's finest ingredients to a wider audience — including international visitors who might otherwise walk past a second-floor restaurant with a Japanese-language sign. The multilingual support isn't an afterthought; it's part of the original design. Every detail, from the five-step eating guide to the English reservation system, was built so that language would never be the reason someone missed this experience.

For our complete menu, access details, and store information, visit our official page at https://itadaki8.com/english/

Horai Wagyu is limited to 10 bowls per day, so if match day falls on one of our open days, we recommend securing your spot in advance. We'd love to be part of your Nagoya experience — before the first whistle blows.

Reserve Your Rare Wagyu Experience

Not sure which day we're open? Check Our Monthly Schedule on Instagram before you plan your visit.