Did you know that I'm a huge fan of everything Japanese? You name it - from food, manga, anime, fashion, electronics, toys, robots, lifestyle, habitats, I simply adore their unique culture. And if there’s one particular obsession I can’t deny, it’s my laser-focused admiration for their traditional built environments.
Because of their unprecedented influence around the globe, I don’t need to travel to Japan to experience their incredible designs. One of the best places where I get to savor their distinctive architecture is at a Japanese-themed restaurant. They’re literally everywhere! And the Philippine island of Cebu is truly endowed to host one such marvelous establishment.
Not too long ago while wandering around The Mall at Nustar, I happened to dine at a luxurious Japanese restaurant called Kazuwa Prime within this colossal hospitality, shopping, and entertainment resort. This state-of-the-art complex hosts lots of interesting experiences leveled up to global standards. So, I highly encourage you to check out this remarkable destination, if not yet already.
From the entrance, visitors can immediately witness that Kazuwa Prime isn’t your ordinary kind of Japanese restaurant in terms of interior design. While standing in front of its massive floor-to-ceiling height glass panels, I already noticed a few familiar Japanese details such as a Cherry Blossom Tree (also known as Sakura) commonly grown in their country plus overhead lanterns engraved with Japanese inscriptions, to say the least.
However, as soon as I stepped inside this restaurant’s glamorous inner chamber, I was immediately transported to their land of origin due to the immense flood of conventional architectural elements usually found in their various landmarks. A virtual teleportation to Japan would probably be the ideal first impression to describe this instant revelation, if you will.
My initial glances were then drawn to an interesting corner where a long dining counter with half-rounded ends was wrapped around their structural columns. Above it was a large ornamental wooden light box that added to its aesthetic value. This space was on the left side. Acting both as a bar top and eating table, it was equipped with an open inner enclosure where food attendants stood to directly serve guests. Surrounding this large built-in contraption were classy green dining chairs supported by medium-toned wooden legs.
Wood finishes were definitely the most dominant construction material used throughout the restaurant, clearly respecting their classic style of organic motifs. The tried and tested warmth of wood evokes a sense of genuine hospitality and the Japanese are well-known to adhere to this design principle because of their close affinity to the natural world.
Moreover, there were special function rooms for private events and gatherings situated on the second floor as accessed by a dedicated staircase on one side. They were all cladded in the same wooden material and enclosed by Shoji paper, special translucent screens that are usually installed in Japanese houses to efficiently divide their interior spaces. Overall lighting was subtle, not too intense, and was just enough to provide the correct illumination for that ideal dining experience.
As my eyes continued scanning the other restaurant sections, I also noticed more groups of open seating areas that directly faced another massive floor-to-ceiling glass wall where the visually appealing seacoast was situated. These loose pieces of furniture were well-organized and were lit by overhead Japanese lanterns . This particular spot was certainly my favorite setting because I could appreciate the exterior seascape while enjoying my culinary delights. Thus, I made sure to reserve an available table before I continued reviewing the rest of the place - before more guests would arrive. You wouldn’t want to miss this fantastic opportunity, wouldn’t you?
Additionally, the right side of the restaurant was spaciously divided into an open seating area and another counter-style dining setup wrapped around a structural column, mimicking the designs on the restaurant’s left side.
The entire flooring layout was covered in light marble tiles at the middle portion and bordered by dark brown marble tiles with artistic grain patterns. Its eye-catching color was still related to the wooden decors and emitted an organic glow that diffused the overall atmosphere to a comfortable level.
And as I walked closer to one interesting nook, I was delighted to be welcomed by their heartwarming staff, all dressed in traditional Japanese costumes. Aren’t they gorgeous? They were stationed at a special standard-height counter used for receiving orders from customers and processing payments. The counter also functioned as a food serving platform for guests who preferred a more intimate dining activity.
Behind this area was a massive vertical stone wall with a decorative wave-like surface, a central green marble accent, and overhead Japanese lanterns adorned in blue and white patterns. The whole arrangement portrayed a majestic ambiance due to the high floor-to-ceiling clearance.
At the back of this restaurant section was another small bar area where traditional drinks and other beverages were served. Because it was concealed from the other restaurant spaces, it was also meant for more intimate experiences or lovely dates.
As a tremendous bonus, guests were also allowed to venture outside the restaurant to taste the captivating scenes surrounding the estate. With direct access to the outdoor decks, I didn’t miss the chance to immerse in the mesmerizing vistas of Cebu City, Mactan Island, and the surrounding seacoasts. It was already late in the afternoon, and as the sun was approaching the golden hour, I stood at the floor deck’s edge to sensually capture the remaining daylight and welcomed dusk. Oh, what an exhilarating moment it was!
It was an architectural adventure that I couldn’t forget! And although it was only a quick exploration, Kazuwa Prime was absolutely one of the most amazing Japanese environments I’ve encountered. I ended my interesting tour with a satisfyingly sumptuous dinner until the late hours of the evening.
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