Local Guide
7 Excellent Lunch Spots in Hakone (Hakone-Yumoto, Miyanoshita, and Kowakudani)

Hakone, with its long history as a hot spring resort and its many villas, has a sophisticated and high-level culinary culture. In particular, the area from Hakone-Yumoto to Miyanoshita is packed with famous restaurants that will make even the most discerning food connoisseur swoon. Hakone has a strong mountain image, but the Port of Odawara, a 10-minute drive away, offers fresh fish. Here are seven great lunch spots where you can enjoy the ingredients, cooking methods, and rich scenery that only Hakone can offer.

Specialty "Hayakumo Tofu" and other tofu/yamato courses are sure to please your taste buds.

Yam dim sum
Yam dim sum" for 1,900 yen, which also includes "Sayaun Tofu.　Yams can be replaced with jinenjyo (Japanese yam) if desired (+250 yen).

Not far from Hakone Yumoto Station, this charming restaurant stands at the foot of Yumoto Bridge, which spans the Hayakawa River. If you visit, be sure to try their original dish, "Hayakumo Tofu," which was inspired by vegetarian cuisine. It is made by warming cotton (momen) tofu in kombu (kelp) broth and topping it with yam made with Hida Takayama's country miso (bean paste). The traditional tofu with a strong bean taste, which is purchased from a local tofu store that has been in business since the Edo period, is a perfect match with the gentle taste of the smooth yam. The "Yam Dim Sum" is a popular course that includes not only "Soun Tofu" but also "Tuna Yamakake," "Tororo and Barley Rice," "Soup," and "Koso" (pickles).

Relaxing restaurant with a nostalgic atmosphere

A restaurant where you can feel the good old Japanese culture
A restaurant where you can feel the good old Japanese culture

The first floor of the building, which was built by the owner's grandmother as a villa in the early Showa period (1926-1989), was once used as a hot spring resort, and the restaurant retains traces of its past in many places. On the entrance side, there is a large table with an iroori (a traditional Japanese fireplace), creating a nostalgic atmosphere. The restaurant is well-known for its high rate of repeat customers, as you will be able to enjoy the warm and hearty hospitality and the nourishing cuisine of tofu and yams in the clear air along the Hayakawa River.

Tofu and Yam Cuisine Shikajiya
  • Address 640 Yumoto, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction 5 min. walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station
  • Hours of Operation 11:00-15:00 (L.O. 14:15), 16:30-19:30 (L.O. 18:45), Wednesday - 15:00 (L.O. 14:15)
  • Closed Thursdays (open if Thursday is a national holiday)
  • TEL 0460-85-5751
  • Parking Free of charge

The tai gohan (rice with sea bream) is both flavorful and photogenic.

Shokado with sea bream rice
Shokado with sea bream rice" (3,780 yen) Shokado with seasonal small bowls, tofu, red miso soup, and dessert

Located across from the important cultural asset "Kanreidomon" (Kanrei-domon), the restaurant is marked by its vermilion walls. The owner, who trained at such famous restaurants as "Hyotei" at Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto, is well known for his delicate cuisine. The signature dish, "tai gohan (rice with sea bream)," is made by cooking rice in kelp broth using natural water from the outer rim of Hakone and mixing it with sea bream caught at Odawara Port, which is then grilled with natural salt from Ako. The fluffy texture is full of flavor, and the more you take a bite or two, the more the deliciousness spreads. It is served in a red sea bream bowl, which is a delight to both the eyes and to take pictures of.

Enjoy a heart-warming lunch while gazing at the beauty of the valley

Tai gohan bento is available at YOURAKU TERRACE along the Hayakawa River
Tai gohan bento is available at YOURAKU TERRACE along the Hayakawa River

In addition to the main course of tai gohan, tai chazuke (rice with sea bream) is also available, which is also highly recommended. Outside the windows of the tables, you can enjoy a panoramic view of cherry blossoms, green leaves, autumn leaves, and other seasonal scenery, as well as the Chitose Bridge. The "tai gohan bento" and "yui" match-making bento (limited to 10 servings per day) purchased inside the restaurant can also be eaten on the terrace facing the mountain stream.
The name of the restaurant, "Irod" refers to an ornament used in India in the past as an ornament for aristocrats and as a Buddhist altar. The concept of the restaurant is to create a gorgeous and graceful cuisine and restaurant that lives up to its name.

Yoraku
  • Address 84 Tonozawa, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction 5 min. walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Tonosawa Station
  • Direction Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station, get off at "Tonosawa" and walk about 1 minute.
  • Hours of Operation 11:30 - 14:30 (L.0.), Friday - Sunday 11:30 - 14:30 (L.0.), 17:30 - 19:00 (L.O.)
  • Regular holiday Wednesdays (inquire if Wednesday is a national holiday)
  • TEL 0460-85-8878
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Private rooms are available for children under junior high school age for a fee. Inquiries and reservations required in advance.

Beef lovers can enjoy the high quality of the meat at lunch time.

Lunches include
Lunches include "Kuroge Wagyu Sirloin Lunch" for 5,000 yen and "Teppanyaki Steak Lunch" for 3,500 yen (tax not included)

This steakhouse has been in business for about 50 years and is attached to the Yoshike Ryokan in Hakone's Yumoto hot spring resort area. The restaurant is so popular that some guests come from other inns to enjoy the steaks. The reason for its popularity is its "style that allows you to enjoy the meat itself to the fullest. The meat is carefully selected from Okinawa and Miyazaki prefectures, and is grilled in a classic way, with only a light touch of salt and pepper to finish. Three different courses are available at lunchtime, and the "Teppanyaki Steak Lunch" offers an elegant-tasting Japanese beef fillet steak at a reasonable price.

Served counter style with the chef grilling right in front of you

A total of 18 counter seats overlook the Japanese garden.
A total of 18 counter seats overlook the Japanese garden.

The counter style of the restaurant allows diners to enjoy the experience with all five senses: listening to the sound of the meat cooking in front of them, being filled with the fragrant aroma, and admiring the craftsmanship of the chefs. The "Kuroge Wagyu Sirloin Lunch" is A4 grade Kuroge Wagyu beef with a good balance of lean meat and sinew. The "Special Kuroge Wagyu Sirloin Lunch" offers A5-rank beef with excellent sashi, allowing you to enjoy a blissful moment when your stomach is filled with the best steak.
A one-day trip to Yoshiike Ryokan is half-price when you spend 3,000 yen or more at the steakhouse, so a visit to the hot spring is also recommended.

Steak House Yoshiike
  • Address 1F YOSHIIKE RYOKAN, 597 Yumoto, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction 7 minutes walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station.
  • Hours of Operation 11:00-15:00 (L.O. 14:30), 17:30-21:30 (L.O. 21:00), Saturday, Sunday and holidays 11:00-21:30 (Lunch L.O. 14:30, Dinner L.O. 21:00)
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • TEL 0460-85-5714
  • Parking Free of charge

Light, savory and exquisite pizza baked in a maki oven

Margherita
Margherita" 1,480 yen, "Funghi" 1,780 yen, etc. (tax not included)

This glass-walled Italian restaurant stands along a path about a 1-minute walk from Hakone-Yumoto Station. The restaurant with an open kitchen is always crowded with people. The menu features pizzas such as "Margherita," "Siciliana," and "Funghi" (mushroom), all of which are based on traditional Italian cuisine and make use of ingredients produced in Hakone in a simple yet brilliant way. The dough is made with natural Hakone water and fermented slowly for a long time under the restaurant's own temperature and humidity control, resulting in a light and airy texture. It is so delicious that even a woman can easily eat a slice.

The pizza's flavor is enhanced by the Neapolitan master craftsman's maki oven.

Watching the fire in the maki oven raises expectations for a delicious pizza.
Watching the fire in the maki oven raises expectations for a delicious pizza.

The signature maki kiln is handmade by Naples' best kiln makers, who use seawater when kneading the clay. A trace amount of salt oozes into the kiln, which enhances the flavor of the baked product. In addition to pizzas, the restaurant also offers a variety of other satisfying dishes, such as wild game dishes of Ezo sika deer and sweets made with soy milk that is purchased every morning from a long-established local tofu store.
The name of the restaurant is a combination of a number that the owner has in mind and the Latin words for "mountain (Mons)" and "sea (Mare). You can feel and enjoy both the mountain culture of Hakone and the sea culture of Odawara.

808 Monsmare
  • Address 1F 698-10 Yumoto, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction 1 minute walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station
  • Hours of Operation 9:00-21:00 *Orders stop for pizza and makiyaki dishes from 16:00-17:00 on weekdays.
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 0460-83-9098
  • Parking None

Fresh and colorful "Ajisai-don" rice bowl

Ajisai-don
Ajisai-don" (with a bowl, a small bowl, and oshinko): 1,280 yen

Just off Miyanoshita Station, a small store with a warm wooden exterior is a landmark. Inside the restaurant, the view of Hakone's mountains spreads out the window, giving you a refreshing feeling as if you are dining in the middle of a forest. A popular lunchtime dish is the "Ajisai-don," a bowl of rice topped with fresh horse mackerel caught in Sagami Bay and seasonal local fish, served with cucumber, radish, and Shibazuke pickles for a refreshing taste. The flavor of the horse mackerel and the crunchy texture of the cucumber and radish add a unique flavor to this innovative menu item.

Enjoy Kanagawa Prefecture brand ingredients in a casual set meal

The restaurant is filled with the warmth of wood, blending in with the scenery outside.
The restaurant is filled with the warmth of wood, blending in with the scenery outside.

In addition to fresh fish from Odawara, set menus using prefectural ingredients such as "Soshu beef" and "Sagami Ayase pork" are also attractive. The "Sagami Ayase Pork Kakuni Donburi" features tender pork stew so tender you can cut it with a spoon. The "Wagyu Beef Suki-nikomi Udon" is a perfect combination of sweet and sour seasoned Soshu beef and firm handmade udon noodles. Oden, stewed with drinks and Odawara chicken broth, is also available for takeout. Both locals and tourists from Japan and abroad can enjoy a casual meal while enjoying the surrounding nature, and the restaurant's friendly hospitality is appealing.

Miyanoshita Ajisai-zaka-ue Mori Meshi
  • Address 404-13 Miyanoshita, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction A short walk from Miyanoshita Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway
  • Direction Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station, get off at "Miyanoshita" and walk about 4 minutes.
  • Hours of Operation Open 11:30-15:00, 17:00-21:00
  • Closed Tuesdays
  • TEL 0460-83-8886
  • Parking None

Seafood purchased directly from fishermen and homemade pasta are the charm of this Italian restaurant

Lunch course (appetizer, pasta, soup) 1,650 yen
Lunch course (appetizer, pasta, soup) 1,650 yen

This Italian restaurant and gelato store is located along Route 1, down the hill from Miyanoshita Station. The owner, who trained in Italy and Tokyo, opened the restaurant in 2013 because he wanted to open a restaurant in Hakone, which is close to both the sea and the mountains. For lunch, be sure to try the delicious appetizer and pasta course using local fish from Sagami Bay, which is delivered daily by a contracted fisherman. The fettuccine and orecchiette pastas, handmade in house using "Shonan wheat," are superb and intertwine well with the sauces. Both appetizers and pasta for lunch are available in a choice of four to five varieties.

Authentic Italian gelato is also recommended after your meal.

Gelato: 1 type 350 yen, 2 types 450 yen, 3 types 500 yen. Take-out is also available.
Gelato: 1 type 350 yen, 2 types 450 yen, 3 types 500 yen. Take-out is also available.

For dessert after lunch, try the gelato, which is also sold in the store. It is made by Cremamore, a globally popular manufacturer from Italy, and has a light yet moist texture in the mouth and a rich, rich aroma of ingredients. There are six flavors to choose from, including vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and matcha.
The interior of the store has a stylish atmosphere, with old wood used at key points and Italian red accents. The store is open until late in the evening, making it an easy place for a late lunch or café.

Sora Anna
  • Address 105 Miyanoshita, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction Approximately a 3-minute walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Miyanoshita Station.
  • DirectionTake a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station, get off at "Miyanoshita" and walk about 1 minute.
  • Business hours 11:30-17:30
  • Closed Mon.
  • TEL 0460-83-8016
  • Parking Free of charge

The "Original Horse Mackerel Bowl" with freshly caught horse mackerel and sauce

Original horse mackerel rice bowl
Original horse mackerel rice bowl" 1,620 yen (large portion is 1,836 yen)

Fujiya is a famous aji-don restaurant located near the Fujiya Hotel. It was founded in 1963, but started making aji-don about 25 years ago. The owner got the idea for the dish from fishermen's cooking. Horse mackerel, which is purchased from Odawara Port every morning, is quickly dredged in sauce and served on top of vinegared rice upon order. The freshness of the horse mackerels and their plump texture make the chopsticks irresistible, and the extravagance of using two to three horse mackerels per serving is surprising. The fatty taste is exceptional.

The owner and his wife, who has inherited the taste of vinegared rice, run the restaurant as a three-person team.

In addition to the counter, there are also table seats and a small tatami room where you can relax.
In addition to the counter, there are also table seats and a small tatami room where you can relax.

The supporting role that enhances the flavor of fresh horse mackerel is the homemade sauce. The sauce is based on bonito broth and is slightly sweet, giving it a very mild flavor. The owner's mother used to make the sushi rice in the beginning, but now his wife has inherited the taste. The at-home atmosphere created by the smiling couple is one of the reasons the restaurant is thriving.
In addition to the horse mackerel bowl, the "Miyafuji Gozen," which includes the original sushi roll "Miyafuji-maki," a "mini horse mackerel bowl," and a torotaku roll, is also popular. The "Omakase Sushi of the Day" is a nigiri sushi dish featuring seasonal ingredients.

Sushi Miyafuji
  • Address 310 Miyanoshita, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction 9 minutes walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Miyanoshita Station.
  • Direction Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-yumoto Station, get off at "Hotel Mae" and walk about 3 minutes.
  • Hours of Operation 11:30-15:00 (L.O.14:30), 17:30-20:00 (L.O.19:30)
  • Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
  • TEL 0460-82-2139
  • Parking Free of charge
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.