Free setup and monthly fees were the deciding factors in choosing this reservation ledger. Its ease of use and attentive support system are a real plus. (Nikumabushi Specialty Restaurant Mare)
Tucked away in a hidden back alley of Kyoto’s Gion district is “Nikumabushi Specialty Restaurant Mare,” a restaurant specializing in hitsumabushi made with Japanese Black wagyu beef. The luxurious wagyu sirloin is pleasantly chewy and delicious, the dashi broth is authentic, and the savory aroma wafting from the meat as it’s grilled on the teppan in front of the counter really whets your appetite.
Nikumabushi Specialty Restaurant Mare introduced the Respo reservation ledger in October 2021, and they say it has become an indispensable service for managing online reservations.
This time, we spoke with the manager, Mr. Nishimura, about why they decided to implement the Respo reservation ledger, how easy it has been to use after implementation, and his impressions of the support.
Creation date: 2023年8月27日
Update date: 2026年2月26日
Table of contents
Zero initial costs and referral fees were the deciding factors for implementation
— Could you tell me about your shop?
The reason I opened this restaurant goes back to an experience at a long‑established sukiyaki restaurant in Mie Prefecture that uses Matsusaka beef. At the end of the course meal, they served a beef hitsumabushi, and that was the trigger. I was so moved by how delicious it was that I wanted to offer a hitsumabushi made with wagyu to customers in my hometown of Kyoto as well, so I opened this restaurant in 2018.
When we first opened, we also had menu items using domestic beef other than Japanese Black (Kuroge Wagyu), but because we wanted our customers to enjoy even more delicious meat, we now specialize in “niku-mabushi” made with carefully selected cuts of Kuroge Wagyu beef.
— What kind of customers use your services?
We have many customers in their twenties. Most people make a reservation before coming to the shop.
Of course, you’re welcome to visit us directly without a reservation, but thanks to our many customers, we do sometimes become fully booked. For that reason, we think it will be smoother for you if you make a reservation before coming.
— What prompted you to start using the Respo reservation ledger?
In the past, most of our customers made reservations either through other companies’ gourmet-site booking services or by calling the restaurant directly. We were paying more than one million yen a year in fees for those reservation services, so we were really struggling to find a way to reduce those costs.
Amid all this, a sales representative visited our store and that’s how we learned about the Respo reservation ledger. We were drawn to the fact that there were no initial setup costs and that the monthly fee was free no matter how much we used it, so we decided to introduce it.
The fact that it’s a system where customers can easily make reservations and the store can manage customers as well as reservations also encouraged us to introduce it.
The ease of use and extensive support are also very reassuring.
— Currently, roughly how many of your customers are actually making reservations online?
For example, last month, out of 203 reservations, 195 were online bookings made through AutoReserve’s website.
When you click the reservation button on our official website, it is set to redirect you to the store page on AutoReserve, and many people are making reservations online.
— Has the Respo reservation ledger been smoothly adopted by your staff?
Yes. We usually operate with a staff of four to five people, and since it’s easy to use, everyone quickly learned how it works and is using it.
––– Thank you very much for all the requests and suggestions you’ve given us so far regarding system features and other aspects.
The support staff are very considerate, so it’s easy to communicate our requests, and they come up with various ideas to make things better, which has been a great help.
We’ll continue to fully support you! Going forward, do you plan to consolidate all your booking management into the Respo reservation ledger?
Right now, including handling flexible, case-by-case reservations, we still have no choice but to manage the final checks on paper. Going forward, we want to consolidate all reservation management into the Respo reservation ledger and operate more efficiently.
While making use of the Respo reservation ledger, we aim to expand to multiple locations in the future.
— Could you tell us about any goals you have for your shop?
Kyoto is, after all, a major tourist destination, so we often have many customers visiting from outside the Kyoto area. Looking ahead, we’re considering opening locations in other regions such as Tokyo. By doing so, we hope that, for example, people who live in the Kyoto area will also have opportunities to visit us when they travel to other regions.
Kyoto is, after all, a major tourist destination, so we often have many customers visiting from outside the Kyoto area. Looking ahead, we’re considering opening locations in other regions such as Tokyo. By doing so, we hope that, for example, people who live in the Kyoto area will also have opportunities to visit us when they travel to other regions.
— Do you plan to use the Respo reservation ledger at the new store as well?
Yes, absolutely! I’m hoping to use the Respo reservation ledger to manage bookings smoothly while expanding the business.
I’m really looking forward to it. When I visit Kyoto for fun, I’d love to stop by your shop!
Yes, I’ll be waiting! Please be sure to make a reservation with AutoReserve before you come (lol).
Store Information
Rare Meat Mabushi Specialty Restaurant
Address: 1st Floor, Gion Kawanaga Building, 338-1 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture
Phone number: 075-531-0777
Store details:https://autoreserve.com/restaurants/PeQ6LreoZSiFZG2BrrTt
Phone number: 075-531-0777
Store details:https://autoreserve.com/restaurants/PeQ6LreoZSiFZG2BrrTt
