Michelin awarded three stars to the Nakashima restaurant in Hiroshima in its inaugural guide to the city and neighboring parts of western Japan.

Five establishments got two stars: Ajiyoshi, Kodama, Sazanka, Tenko Honten and Tokaan. Another 24 restaurants won a single star.

The inspectors said cooking standards in Hiroshima were high and based on top-quality ingredients.

"Their travels enabled them to discover gastronomy that is rooted in Japanese tradition as well as local culinary specialties like 'anago' (salt-water eel) and 'okonomiyaki' (Japanese crepe)," Michelin said Friday in an emailed release.

Michelin is generous with its stars in Japan, with Tokyo outstripping Paris for three-star establishments. The new guide follows separate volumes for the Tokyo and Osaka regions.

Three stars mean exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey; two are for excellent cooking, worth a detour; one denotes a very good restaurant in its category.

The tire maker has produced restaurant and hotel guides since 1900. They were originally intended for chauffeurs and included motoring tips.