Local Guide
6 Delicious Eating & Take-out Gourmet in Hakone

Hakone is divided into many unique areas, from Hakone-Yumoto with its bustling shopping streets to Sengokuhara dotted with art spots. Each area has its own specialties that can be easily enjoyed and eaten on the spot or bought as souvenirs, which is one of the best parts of a trip to Hakone. Here we introduce some of the best gourmet restaurants that you can find on your stroll through Hakone.

Excellent roast beef made from carefully selected Wagyu beef, baked moist in the store.

Sold by the gram. Slices are available upon request.
Sold by the gram. Slices are available upon request.

The store is well known for its homemade taste and wide selection of items, including meat, bacon, sausage, ham, and even authentic side dishes such as meatloaf and stewed beef cheeks. One of the most well-known specialties is the Monjiro Roast Beef, invented by the second-generation owner, who has experience as a chef. The meat is tender and moist, with just the right amount of sashi, and its delicious flavor is concentrated in the beef. The carefully selected black Wagyu beef thigh is seasoned simply with salt and pepper, and then slowly roasted in a special roaster in the restaurant while being rotated.
The delicate flavor is achieved by the craftsman's careful monitoring of the heat according to the condition and size of the meat. This is a signature product that many fans come all the way from far away to buy.

Monjiro Roast Beef (100g) 993 yen

Aihara Butchery
  • Address 226 Sengokuhara, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction About 10 minutes by car from the Hakone Ropeway Togendai Station
  • Direction Take a bus from the Hakone Ropeway Togendai Station, Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station or Gora Station, and get off at the Sengokuhara Information Center.
  • Business hours 9:00-18:00
  • Regular holiday Tuesdays, Wednesdays once a month
  • TEL 0460-84-8429
  • Parking Free of charge

Inari Sushi, which has kept the taste of its predecessors

A perfect balance of sweet and spicy fried bean curd seasoned with secret sauce and vinegared rice.
A perfect balance of sweet and spicy fried bean curd seasoned with secret sauce and vinegared rice.

Thinly sliced fried bean curd that has been seasoned thoroughly and stuffed with mildly sour vinegared rice, this inari sushi is a popular souvenir. Two types are available: one with black sesame accented with a savory flavor, and the other with vinegared lotus root, which has a nice texture of crunchy lotus root pickled in sweet vinegar. The rice used for the sushi rice is purchased directly from a rice farmer in Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture, and the fried tofu is specially ordered from Gin Tofu, a long-established local tofu store, in a size suitable for inari sushi. The fried bean curd is stewed in the same sauce that has been used for more than 40 years, with seasonings added as needed, to maintain the same taste.
Inari Sushi is available not only for takeout, but also for eating in the restaurant. You can sit down and enjoy it with a cup of hot tea as well as nigiri and chirashi.

Product name and price: Secret recipe special inari (3 pieces with black sesame, 3 pieces with vinegared lotus) 600 yen

Kappei Sushi
  • Address 1143-49 Ninohira, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction 2 min. walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Kakkonomori Stn.
  • Direction From Hakone Tozan Railway Yumoto Station, take a bus.
  • Business Hours 10:00 - 20:00 (closes after 18:00 when sushi rice is sold out)
  • Closed Thursdays
  • TEL 0460-82-3278
  • Parking Free of charge (3 cars)

Limited-edition tofu that can be enjoyed freshly made on the spot

Tofu is made to be enjoyed freshly, so it is not sold for take-out.
Tofu is made to be enjoyed freshly, so it is not sold for take-out.

Located near Gora Station, this long-established tofu store has been in business for over 100 years. The third generation owner, who wanted customers to enjoy the taste of freshly made tofu, came up with the idea of offering "Shakuri Tofu," which has been available for more than 20 years. The tofu is made without any weight and heated in a hot water bath to maintain the freshness of the tofu. The flavor and sweetness of the soybeans can be felt and the smoothness of the tofu is exceptional. It is recommended to taste it without dipping anything in it first, and then pour soy sauce over it. It is so popular that it has become a specialty of Gora, sometimes selling more than 200 servings at a time. It is a must-visit item in the morning, as it is often sold out in the afternoon.

Product name and price: Shakuri Tofu 220 yen

Hakone Gin Tofu
  • Address 1300-261 Gora, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction Approximately a 2-minute walk from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway
  • Direction Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station, get off at Gora Station and walk about 2 minutes.
  • Business Hours 7:00 - 16:00 (close when sold out)
  • Closed Thursdays
  • TEL 0460-82-2652
  • Parking None

Large rice crackers with a freshly baked aroma

There are two shapes to choose from: heart and circle.
There are two shapes to choose from: heart and circle.

A specialty rice cracker store located on the street in front of Hakone-Yumoto Station. The specialty is "Yakitate Norimaki Sempei," a freshly baked Norimaki Sempei that is slowly baked over a charcoal fire, wrapped in crispy nori seaweed, and handed to you while it is still warm. It is popular for its savory aroma and soy sauce flavor. Each rice cracker is made with the equivalent of three servings of rice and is larger than the palm of a man's hand, making it a very satisfying snack.
The store always has more than 50 varieties of rice crackers for souvenirs, which can be purchased from a single piece. In addition to standard hard-baked rice crackers such as "Soyaki," "Soy Sauce," and "Black Sesame," the store also offers a wide variety of other varieties such as "Nure Senbei," "Mitarashi," and "Soft Salad with Pepper Cheese," making it a fun place to store.

Product name and price: Freshly baked Norimaki Sembei (1 piece) 300 yen

Teyakido Hakone-yumoto store
  • Address 704-7 Yumoto, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction About 2 minutes on foot from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station
  • Business hours 10:00-18:00
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • TEL 0460-85-6003
  • Parking None

Coffee-flavored soft-serve ice cream

Soft and delicate, it melts in the mouth and goes well with coffee.
Soft and delicate, it melts in the mouth and goes well with coffee.

Located on the street in front of Hakone-Yumoto Station, this coffee bean specialty store sells more than 1,000 units of "coffee milk soft serve" on most days. The original soft serve ice cream was created with the hope that customers will "enjoy the great combination with black coffee," and has an excellent balance between the bittersweet flavor of coffee and the mellow richness of milk. Its refreshing flavor with a moderate sweetness is popular among men as well.
Of course, coffee made from freshly ground beans (350 yen) is also available for take-out with the soft serve ice cream. If you wish to purchase coffee beans, you can choose from the green beans on display in the store and order them, and they will be roasted and packed in bags after receiving your order. Coffee lovers should definitely visit.

Product name and price: Coffee milk soft serve, 400 yen

Hakone Roasted Coffee
  • Address 702 Yumoto, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction About 2 minutes on foot from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station
  • Business Hours 10:00-17:00 (subject to change depending on season and weather)
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • TEL 0460-85-5139
  • Parking None

White, fluffy confections wrapped in bamboo bark

You can also enjoy the thrill of opening the bamboo wrapping.
You can also enjoy the thrill of opening the bamboo wrapping.

Standing at the entrance of "Yuba" in Hakone-Yumoto, this is a long-established Japanese confectionary store representing Hakone that has been in business for about 70 years. Yumochi," which has long been popular at this store, is an elegant confectionary kneaded with white bean flour made from domestic glutinous rice. The pure white rice cake, which is designed to resemble soft skin after a hot bath, has a smooth and elastic texture. The cubes of yokan that resemble rocks in the Hayakawa River and the subtle aroma of yuzu (Japanese citron) give the confectionery a Hakone-like flavor that will make you feel like you are on a trip. Each piece is wrapped in a bamboo wrapper, a visual feature that makes you want to take a picture of it. The wrappings can also be used as a plate on your hand, making it easy to eat while strolling around.

Product Name / Price】Yumochi 237 yen
Expiration date] 4 days

Chimoto Ekimae Dori Store
  • Address 690 Yumoto, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
  • Direction 7 minutes walk from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station.
  • Business hours 9:00-17:00
  • Regular holiday Closed on New Year's Day and irregular holidays
  • TEL 0460-85-5632
  • Parking None
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.