An exquisite lunch in Azumino. Luxurious menu with the best location.
Azumino has a peaceful rural landscape. Blissful time to enjoy the bountiful ingredients nurtured by the abundant spring water, on the terrace surrounded by fresh air or in a nostalgic old-fashioned house style space. Here are some recommended lunches where you can fully enjoy the flavors and spaces that invite you to take a trip to Azumino.
1Hanjiro Azumino
Formerly known in Yokohama as a restaurant specializing in soup curry that drew long lines, Hanjirou has maintained its popularity even after relocating to Azumino, where the owner's grandparents used to live, in 2013. It is a well-known store loved by locals and tourists alike. The healthy soup curry without flour or butter has remained unchanged since the Yokohama days. It is based on bouillon simmered for two days with fresh ingredients using groundwater from Azumino. No chemical seasonings are used and everything is handmade. Spices are added upon order.
Recommended dishes are the "Roasted Spiced Pork and Colorful Vegetable Soup Curry (limited quantity)" and "Bone-in Chicken and Colorful Vegetable Soup Curry". The meats are all tender, and the rich, spiced broth makes for an outstanding taste. The colorful vegetables are filled with large vegetables from Shinshu and Hokkaido, which not only add texture to the dish, but are also very satisfying. The rice is made from Koshihikari rice produced in Azumino and cooked to a fluffy consistency, which enhances the flavor of the soup curry.
Excellent location
Located along the river, Hanjirou is in a perfect location, surrounded by greenery and the sound of a murmuring stream when you sit on the terrace. The lodge house-style restaurant is built with the warmth of wood, and counter seats allow you to relax while enjoying the view of Azumino's nature. A take-out menu is also available, so we recommend eating outside when the weather is nice.
- Hanjiro Azumino
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4857-1 Hotaka, Azumino, Nagano MAP
20 min. walk from JR Hotaka Stn.
Thursday lunch only
11:30～14:30 (14:00 L.O.) *Close when soup is gone.
Monday - Wednesday, Friday - Sunday
0263-82-0688
Free of charge
Reservations are accepted.
In July 2024, "Hanjirou OneStyle" will open in Matsumoto (open Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun).
2La Felicita
Italian cuisine surrounded by the Azumino countryside. You can enjoy Roman home-style cooking that focuses on ingredients such as home-grown vegetables, local produce, and prosciutto ham and olive oil imported from Italy.
About 18 types of pasta are available, with a choice of homemade fresh pasta or dried noodles. The menu is always well-stocked with about 20 types of pizzas baked in a stone oven. The most popular of these pastas is the "Ortolana" pasta with bacon and seasonal vegetables in a vegetable garden style. With a tomato sauce base and plenty of seasonal vegetables, it is a very satisfying dish.
Along with pasta, another popular dish is Roman-style pizza. The dough is made from an original blend of water, flour, salt, and other ingredients, and baked in a stone oven at a high temperature of 400℃. The crispy texture and the perfect balance of crispy dough and ingredients will keep you coming back for more.
We recommend the lunch B course. If you share a pizza and pasta between two people, you can enjoy both of our signature flavors.
A place to relax in the countryside
In addition to the dining area, there are also private and semi-private rooms in the spacious restaurant, where you can spend your time as you wish. There are also many spaces where you can immerse yourself in the feeling of traveling, such as looking out the window at the peaceful countryside or spending time on the terrace surrounded by grape trellises.
The high-quality extra virgin oil from southern Italy used in the store is also available for weighing and selling. Since the restaurant is frequented by many locals, it is best to make a reservation during lunch time and on weekends.
- La Felicita
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- 40-1 Misato On, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
- 7 min. drive from JR Ichikaichi Station
- Monday-Wednesday 11:30-15:00(L.O.)
Thursday-Sunday 11:30-15:00(L.O.), 18:00-21:00(L.O.)
*Subject to change - Tuesdays (open if Tuesday is a national holiday)
*Subject to change - 0263-31-3199
- Free of charge
3Chakaiseki Shougetsu
Chakaiseki cuisine, which makes the most of Azumino's ingredients and nature, is served in a house tucked away in a small residential area in Ariake-Oiwake, at the foot of Mt. Chakaiseki begins with the selection of dishes to evoke a sense of the seasons. The ingredients that decorate the dishes include fresh eggs from chickens raised in the garden, handmade brown rice koji miso, wild vegetables and river fish picked by the owner himself, and other dishes that incorporate the seasonal flavors of the region.
The restaurant offers a hearty welcome from entrée to dessert, adhering to the basics of kaiseki cuisine, such as polishing and cooking rice in accordance with the time of the visitor. The dishes are all delicate, beautiful, and captivating, and are brought to you at just the right moment. When you put your chopsticks down, you will be even more impressed by the elegant flavors of the dishes. The meal ends with a cup of powdered green tea and tea cakes. The blissful experience of enjoying the wabi-sabi and beauty of Japan in both the dishes and the tableware continues until the last dish is served.
Heartfelt hospitality in the space
The hospitality of the space is also very attentive. The building is constructed using only natural materials, and even the tatami mats in the Japanese-style rooms are made of pesticide-free igusa (Japanese lignum). When you walk through the entranceway, you will be greeted by a faint aroma of incense, and even the hand towels are scented with aroma.
The restaurant has only two rooms, so reservations are required in advance.
- Chakaiseki Shougetsu
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- 8884-9 Ariake, Hotaka, Azumino, Nagano MAP
- 10 minutes drive from JR Ariake Station
- Lunch 12:00-14:00
Dinner 18:00-21:00
Only 2 groups for both day and night (reservation required) - Closed on weekends and holidays
- 0263-83-5405
- Free of charge
4Neapolitan Pizza TASUKU
The pizzas made by the owner, who has participated in the "Neapolitan Pizza Convention" in Naples, Italy, and passed the certification test of the local artisans' association, are authentic. The dough is made from freshly ground pesticide-free wheat and baked in a high-temperature oven, giving it a crispy surface and a fluffy, chewy interior. The pizza is topped with local seasonal vegetables such as Azumino apples, Nozawana greens, Shinshu mushrooms, and Italian mozzarella cheese. The pizza, with its exquisitely cooked dough, fresh ingredients, and plenty of cheese, is delicious enough to be eaten by women, even though it is hearty.
Of the 15 or so types of pizzas on the menu, the most popular is the "Pizza with Parma Ham and Azumino Arugula. The arugula is produced year-round by a local contract farmer, and its rich flavor accentuates the flavor of the prosciutto ham and cheese. Cheese lovers should also try the "Four Cheese Pizza". It is served with honey from Azumino.
Spacious old private house creates a luxurious atmosphere
The restaurant, which was converted from a 100-year-old old house, is a spacious place with the warmth of wood. It matches the peaceful atmosphere of Azumino. During the daytime, light streams in through the large windows, and at night, moonlight illuminates the atmospheric space, which has acquired a patina over the years.
One of the highlights is the kiln that the owner himself designed and built with bricks while learning from a plasterer. The peaceful moment of tasting pizza while relaxing in the atmosphere of an old private home with its own character and charm will make your heart warm.
- Neapolitan Pizza TASUKU
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- 3132-1 Horikane Karasugawa, Azumino, Nagano MAP
- 10 min. drive from JR Toyoshina Station
- Weekdays 11:00-19:00 (L.O.18:30)
Weekends and holidays: 10:00-10:00 - Closed irregularly (monthly calendar posted on Instagram)
- 0263-87-7729
- Free of charge
- Pasta is only available for lunch on weekdays.
Reservations for seats are valid only by phone.
Children under elementary school age are not allowed in the restaurant.
MAP
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Noe Inagaki Matsumoto Hai Kara Girl's Club
