1
Hanjiro Azumino Branch

Hanjiro was known as a soup curry specialty shop in Yokohama with an endless line of customers. Even after moving to Azumino in 2013, where the owner's grandparents lived, its popularity remains strong. It is a famous shop loved by locals and tourists alike. The soup curry is healthy, made without flour or butter, just as it was in the Yokohama days. It is based on a bouillon simmered for two days using fresh ingredients and Azumino's groundwater. Everything is handmade without chemical seasonings. Spices are added to finish the dish only after an order is received.
Recommended dishes include the "Roasted Fragrant Pork and Colorful Vegetable Soup Curry (limited quantity)" and the "Bone-in Chicken and Colorful Vegetable Soup Curry." The meat is incredibly tender, and it pairs perfectly with the rich, spice-infused soup. The colorful vegetables include large chunks of produce from Shinshu and Hokkaido, providing not only a great texture but also a satisfying meal. Furthermore, the fluffy, cooked-to-perfection Koshihikari rice from Azumino enhances the flavor of the soup curry.

Local
Supporter

Hanjiro is a soup curry restaurant that every Matsumoto local surely knows. Many people line up every day, but it is delicious enough to be worth the wait.

A location with an outstanding setting

Hanjiro is located along a river, and sitting on the terrace surrounded by greenery offers a perfect location where you can hear the murmuring of the stream. The lodge-style interior has a warm, wooden feel, and the counter seats allow you to relax while gazing out at the nature of Azumino. They also have takeout menus, so on nice days, we recommend enjoying your meal outside.

Hanjiro Azumino Branch

• 4857-1 Hotaka, Azumino City, Nagano PrefectureMAP
• Approx. 20-minute walk from JR Hotaka Station
• Thursday lunch only
  11:30–14:30 (14:00 L.O.) *Ends when soup runs out
• Monday–Wednesday, Friday–Sunday
• 0263-82-0688
• Free
• Reservations accepted
  "Hanjiro OneStyle" opened in Matsumoto City in July 2024 (open Monday–Wednesday, Friday–Sunday)
  

2
La Felicita

An Italian restaurant surrounded by the countryside of Azumino. You can enjoy Roman home-style cooking that focuses on quality ingredients, including home-grown vegetables, local produce, and prosciutto and olive oil imported from Italy.
There is a wide selection of menu items at all times, with about 18 types of pasta to choose from, including homemade fresh pasta and dried pasta, and about 20 types of pizza baked in a kiln. Among them, the most popular is the "Bacon and Seasonal Vegetable Garden-style (Ortolana)" pasta. It is a highly satisfying dish with plenty of seasonal vegetables in a tomato sauce base.
Just as popular as the pasta is the Roman-style pizza. The dough is made with an original blend of water, flour, and salt, and is baked in a 500°C high-temperature stone kiln. In addition to the crunchy texture, the balance between the crispy dough and the toppings is exquisite, making it hard to stop eating.
We recommend the Lunch B Course. It includes your choice of pasta or pizza, a salad and appetizer platter, a dessert platter, and a drink. If two people share a pizza and a pasta, you can enjoy both of our signature flavors.

A relaxing place standing in the countryside

The spacious interior features a dining area as well as private and semi-private rooms, allowing you to spend your time as you please. Another charm is the many spaces where you can immerse yourself in the travel atmosphere, such as gazing at the idyllic rural scenery spreading outside the window or spending time on the terrace surrounded by grape trellises.
In addition, the high-quality extra virgin olive oil from Southern Italy used in the restaurant is also sold by weight, so please consider it as a souvenir. Since it is also frequented by many locals, it is recommended to make a reservation for lunch time and weekends to ensure a smooth experience.

Local
Supporter

A popular local Italian restaurant. Both the fresh pasta and pizza are chewy and delicious. The lunch course is a great value and highly recommended!

La Felicita

• 40-1 Misato-otari, Azumino City, Nagano PrefectureMAP
• Approx. 7-minute drive from JR Hitoichiba Station
• Mon/Wed 11:30–15:00
  Thu–Sun 11:30–15:00, 18:00–21:00
  *Subject to change
• Tuesday (Open if it is a public holiday)
  *Subject to change
• 0263-31-3199
• Free

3
Napoli Pizza TASUKU

The pizza made by the owner, who participated in the "Naples Pizza Competition" in Naples, Italy, and passed the local artisan association's certification exam, is authentic. By baking dough made from freshly ground, pesticide-free wheat in a high-temperature oven, you can enjoy a texture that is crispy on the outside and fluffy and chewy on the inside. The pizza is topped with local seasonal vegetables such as Azumino apples, nozawana (pickled mustard greens), and Shinshu mushrooms, along with Italian mozzarella cheese. With its perfectly baked crust and generous amounts of fresh ingredients and cheese, the pizza is hearty yet so delicious that even women can easily finish a whole one.
Among the roughly 15 pizza menu items available at any given time, the most popular is the "Prosciutto and Azumino Arugula Pizza." The arugula is sourced year-round from local contract farmers, and its rich flavor serves as an accent that enhances the taste of the prosciutto and cheese. Also, for cheese lovers, we highly recommend the "5-Cheese Pizza," which is served with Azumino honey drizzled on top.

A spacious traditional folk house creates a luxurious time

The restaurant, a renovated 100-year-old traditional folk house, is a spacious area where you can feel the warmth of wood. It matches the tranquil atmosphere of Azumino. During the day, light streams in through large windows, and at night, moonlight illuminates the charming space that has gained character over many years.
The oven, which the owner designed himself and built by stacking bricks while learning from a plasterer, is also a highlight. Relaxing in a space that exudes the style and charm of a traditional folk house while savoring pizza is a peaceful experience that will warm your heart.

Local
Supporter

The classic Margherita is a favorite that I always order when I visit. The stylish and calm interior is very comfortable, but please note that children under elementary school age are not permitted.

Napoli Pizza TASUKU

• 3132-1 Horigane-Karasugawa, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Toyoshina Station
• Weekdays 11:00–19:00 (L.O. 18:30)
  *10:00– on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
• Irregular holidays (Monthly calendar posted on Instagram)
• 0263-87-7729
• Free
• *Pasta is served only during weekday lunch
  *Seat reservations are accepted by phone only
  *Children under elementary school age are not permitted

4
Tea Kaiseki Shogetsu

Nestled quietly in a small residential area at Ariake Oiwake, at the foot of Mount Ariake, is a private house where you can enjoy tea kaiseki cuisine that makes the most of Azumino's ingredients and nature. Tea kaiseki begins with the selection of tableware to evoke the feeling of the season. The dishes, which adorn the tableware, feature local seasonal flavors such as fresh eggs from chickens raised in the garden, handmade brown rice koji miso, and wild vegetables and river fish gathered by the owner themselves.
By milling and cooking the rice according to the guest's arrival time and adhering faithfully to the fundamentals of kaiseki cuisine, the host provides a heartfelt meal from the appetizer to the dessert. Each dish, brought out at the perfect moment, is delicate, beautiful, and captivating. Upon taking a bite, you will be further moved by the elegant flavors. The meal concludes with a serving of matcha and a tea sweet. The blissful time, where you can fully enjoy the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi and beauty through the tableware and cuisine, continues until the very last dish.

Local
Supporter

A hidden gem of a restaurant that you'll want to visit on a special day. The delicate kaiseki cuisine, which incorporates seasonal ingredients, is both beautiful and delicious.

Experience heartfelt hospitality in our space as well

The spirit of hospitality extends to the space itself. The building is constructed entirely from natural materials, with even the tatami mats in the Japanese-style rooms made from pesticide-free rush grass. Upon entering the entrance, you are greeted by a faint scent of incense, and the hand towels are scented with aroma, reflecting the thoughtful care felt everywhere.
As there are only two rooms in the restaurant, reservations are required in advance.

Tea Kaiseki Shogetsu

• 8884-9 Hotaka-Ariake, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Ariake Station
• Lunch 12:00–14:00
  Dinner 18:00–21:00
  *Limited to 2 groups for both lunch and dinner (reservation required)
• Irregular holidays
• 0263-83-5405
• Free

5
CHILLOUT STYLE COFFEE

A cafe where you can be soothed by the rural landscape viewed from large windows and specialty coffee. The highly recommended coffee is the "single origin," which is crafted with meticulous attention to bean selection, roasting, and extraction. Beans from regions such as Ethiopia and Kenya are selected, with three to four varieties available at all times. Each one offers distinct characteristics and individuality in the balance of aroma, sweetness, and acidity. Sinking into a plush armchair at the counter seat facing the window to savor your coffee is a blissful time that will help you unwind.

Accompanied by sweets from a popular local shop

A generous serving of coffee is poured into a large mug so you can enjoy how the flavor changes as the hot coffee cools down. Pair that deep-flavored coffee with our homemade bagel sandwiches or original sweets. Our baked goods, in particular, are well-received, with chocolate brownies and cookies from a popular shop in Azumino on the menu.
Although the location is only accessible by car, this cafe has a charm that makes you want to visit again and again.

Local
Supporter

When you gaze idly at the scenery, you'll easily lose track of time. It is recommended for when you want to relax alone.

CHILLOUT STYLE COFFEE

• 3293-1 Hotaka Ariake, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 8 minutes by car from JR Hotaka Station
• 9:00–18:00 (10:00– from December to March)
• Thursdays, 3rd Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
• 0263-87-7663
• Free

6
Cafe VARIE

A cafe, accessory, and general goods shop located at the foot of the mountains in Hotaka, Azumino. The owner, who served as a chef at a resort hotel in Hakuba, treats guests to plate dishes that allow you to fully enjoy Shinshu vegetables. Seasonal vegetables sourced from local farmers' markets are prepared simply, lightly cooked to ensure the natural flavors are not lost. The bread served with the plate dishes is also baked fresh daily. The view from the second-floor seating makes the moment you enjoy these blissful flavors even more special. From the cozy interior with its warm wooden accents, you can look out over the soothing, idyllic rural landscape.

Beef stew and homemade sweets are also popular

The menu offers four plate options: "Hamburg Steak (subject to change)," "Curry," "Seafood Bouillabaisse," and "Beef Stew." Among them, the recommended dish is the domestic beef stew, simmered for two days. The beef is so tender it falls apart, and the sauce, infused with the umami of the meat, is exceptionally delicious. The sweets are also handmade. We always have a wide selection of 15 to 16 varieties, including fruit tarts, cheesecakes, and parfaits. Our most popular item, the "Fluffy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Soufflé," has a soft texture that is addictive. You can choose from two flavors: plain or matcha.
It is a cafe where both the food and the scenery are so satisfying that it is easy to see why locals keep coming back.

Local
Supporter

The food, desserts, and coffee are all delicious, and you can tell they are prepared with care. Workshops such as chalk art are also held on Tuesdays, which are regular holidays, and on Saturday evenings when the shop is open.

Cafe VARIE

• 8177-1 Hotaka Ariake, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 23 minutes on the sightseeing bus (seasonal) from in front of JR Hotaka Station, get off at "Art Hills" and walk for about 2 minutes
• 11:30–16:30 (Meal L.O. 14:00, Light meals/tea/sweets L.O. 15:30)
• Mondays and Tuesdays (Open if Monday is a public holiday, closed if Tuesday is a public holiday), temporary closures may occur
  
• 0263-84-5520
• Free

7
cafe&zakka Nanakagetsu

A cafe and general goods shop where you can fully enjoy the idyllic atmosphere of Azumino, surrounded by orchards and forests. The natural interior, which seems to blend into the surrounding nature, also makes you feel comfortable. On the covered terrace seating, you can enjoy a tea time that doubles as a forest bath while being blown by a pleasant breeze.

The general goods booth near the entrance features works and products from local artists and craftspeople, including household goods, clothing, and jam. You will encounter wonderful items so lovely you will want to reach out and touch them.

Refreshing original blend coffee

At the cafe, take a relaxing break with freshly brewed coffee, dripped to order. The aromatic coffee is a specialty blend using beans from "Coffee Kobo Omino," which has its own roasting workshop in Azumino. It is free of impurities, with a light mouthfeel and a clean aftertaste.
For sweets, try the "Tororin Pudding" made with local eggs, or the "Pudding Parfait" topped with soft-serve ice cream. Other offerings include chiffon cake fruit sandwiches and limited-quantity lunch menus.

Local
Supporter

The lunch plate is voluminous, and I'm happy that the side dishes are full of vegetables! It has a very warm atmosphere where you can relax.

cafe&zakka Shichikagetsu

• 7348-16 Hotaka-Ariake, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 15 minutes by car from Hotaka Station (approx. 10 minutes by car from Azumi-Oiwake Station)
• 11:00–17:30 (L.O. 17:00)
• Thursdays and Fridays (Open if a public holiday), temporary closures and irregular winter holidays may occur
• 0263-84-5520
• Free