Hotel Italiaken
Japan's oldest Italian restaurant, founded in Niigata in 1874, now operating as Hotel Italiaken under the NSG Group.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
Hotel Italiaken (ホテルイタリア軒) is a city hotel in Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, operated by Italiaken Co., Ltd. (株式会社イタリア軒) under the NSG Group. Its origins trace back to 1874 (Meiji 7), when Italian cook Pietro Migliore (known locally as Miora) opened Niigata's first Western food shop with the support of then-prefectural governor Masataka Kusumoto. After a fire in 1880, Migliore rebuilt on the current Nishibori-dori site and opened a full-scale Western restaurant named Italiaken in 1881, celebrated as "Niigata's Rokumeikan." It is regarded as Japan's oldest Italian restaurant and is said to be the birthplace of Japan's first meat sauce. The restaurant appears in Osamu Dazai's "Mimizuku Tsushin." From the 1970s the business expanded into hotel operations, and in May 1976 it began operating as Hotel Italiaken. The hotel has 82 guest rooms and 11 banquet halls, including the large banquet hall San Marco, and five food and beverage outlets offering Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine. It was affiliated with Hotel New Otani as an associate hotel from 2012. In 2014, after BSN (Niigata Broadcasting) withdrew from the business, the NSG Group acquired all shares and carried out renovations, reopening the first-floor restaurant Marco Polo and adding the Western cuisine restaurant Rosa. Under the concept "a base for transmitting food and culture," announced in 2018, the hotel promotes a return to traditional Western cuisine and collaboration with local ingredients from Niigata. The company was founded in July 1874, incorporated in October 1920, and opened the hotel in May 1976. Its headquarters is at 1574 Nishibori-dori Nanaban-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata City. The representative director and president is Takeshi Arai. Capital is 50 million yen, and the company had 91 employees as of the end of August 2021. The hotel also operates restaurants and shops at Niigata Racecourse and temporary stands at events such as professional baseball games at HARD OFF ECO Stadium Niigata and Albirex Niigata home games at Denka Big Swan Stadium.
History
Hotel Italiaken traces its origins to 1874 (Meiji 7), when Italian cook Pietro Migliore (known in Niigata as Miora or Miyora) arrived in Japan with the French equestrian circus troupe of Louis Surier. During a performance in Niigata, Migliore fell ill and was left behind by the troupe. The then-prefectural governor Masataka Kusumoto, as part of his civilization and enlightenment policies, provided funds for Migliore to open a beef shop. The shop prospered, expanding into Western food and milk delivery, but was destroyed in the great Niigata fire of 1880 (Meiji 13). Migliore then built a stylish two-story Western-style building on the current Nishibori-dori site and in 1881 opened a full-scale Western restaurant named Italiaken (later changed to Italiaken). The restaurant became highly popular and was praised as "Niigata's Rokumeikan." It is considered Japan's oldest Italian restaurant and is said to be where Japan's first meat sauce was served. The restaurant also appears in Osamu Dazai's "Mimizuku Tsushin." In 1906 (Meiji 39), Migliore sold Italiaken to a newly established company and temporarily returned to Italy, but came back to Japan the following year and lived in Niigata. In 1912 (Meiji 45) he returned to Italy again and died in Turin in November 1920 (Taisho 9). The company was incorporated in October 1920. In March 1923, a three-story reinforced concrete annex was completed on adjacent land. In July 1930, a fire destroyed the old building, which was restored and completed in August 1931. In March 1944, the company name was changed to "Nihonkai Kaikan Co., Ltd." and in June 1947 it was changed back to "Italiaken Co., Ltd." In July 1963, Niigata Broadcasting (BSN) acquired shares and management rights, making Italiaken part of the BSN Group. From the end of 1973, as part of business expansion, the company proceeded with conversion to a hotel, and in May 1976 it began operating as the current Hotel Italiaken. In April 1979, it signed a business tie-up with Hotel New Otani and became one of its group hotels (later designated as an associate hotel). BSN operated Italiaken for half a century, but by the fiscal year ending March 2013, sales were about 1.19 billion yen with an ordinary loss of 8 million yen, and as of November 2013 it had excess liabilities of about 700 million yen. BSN decided to withdraw from the business, and on January 14, 2014, it agreed to sell all 3.08 million shares it held to NSG Holdings, an investment company of the NSG Group, effective April 1, 2014. After NSG Group management took over in March 2014, renovations began with banquet halls, the top-floor restaurant bar was converted into a banquet hall, and a bridal salon was newly established. In April 2015, the second-floor Chinese restaurant and members-only bar were renovated; in July 2015, the first-floor Ristorante Marco Polo was renewed and reopened; and in September 2015, the Western cuisine restaurant Rosa opened on the second floor. The front desk and lobby were also renovated, completing a series of renewals. In April 2018, Masaki Ito became representative director and president, and in May 2018 the new concept "a base for transmitting food and culture" was announced, promoting a return to traditional Western cuisine and fusion with local ingredients while taking on the role of transmitting Niigata's food culture. Specifically, as a "food transmission base," the hotel offers menus collaborating with ingredients from Agano City, Sado City, Murakami City, Uonuma City, and others depending on the season, and a souvenir shop allows purchase of such regional ingredients and products.
- 2018
Masaki Ito becomes president in April; new concept "a base for transmitting food and culture" announced in May.
- 2015
Renovations continue: Chinese restaurant and bar in April, Ristorante Marco Polo renewed in July, Western cuisine Rosa opens in September.
- 2014
BSN sells all shares to NSG Holdings effective April 1; NSG Group management takes over in March.
- 2012
The hotel joins Hotel New Otani as an associate hotel in April.
- 2004
Retort pouch foods "Yanagibito Niigata Italiaken Monogatari" are released in August to commemorate the 130th anniversary.
- 1979
A business tie-up with Hotel New Otani is signed in April.
- 1976
The new building is completed and Hotel Italiaken opens in May.
- 1973
The main building is closed in December for new hotel construction.
- 1963
Niigata Broadcasting (BSN) acquires shares and management rights in July, making Italiaken part of the BSN Group.
- 1947
The company name is changed back to Italiaken Co., Ltd. in June.
Products and positioning
A historic city hotel and restaurant in Niigata, positioned as the birthplace of Japanese Italian cuisine and a base for transmitting Niigata's food culture.
Ristorante Marco Polo
First-floor restaurant serving buffet breakfast and Western-style lunch and dinner.
Chinese cuisine SHI-EN
Second-floor Chinese restaurant offering seasonal medicinal food fairs.
Kappo Hotaru
Sukiya-style annex across from the main entrance, serving Japanese cuisine.
Sushi Yanami
Sushi restaurant located on Furumachi-dori 8-bancho with 23 seats.
Large banquet hall San Marco
Third-floor large banquet hall.
Retort pouch foods
Curry, hashed rice, and meat sauce retort pouches sold in Niigata supermarkets and souvenir shops.
Sources5 sources
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