Local Guide
6 recommended lunch spots in the western and northern areas of Yamaguchi Prefecture

Exploring gourmet food is one of the best parts of traveling. Before a sumptuous dinner at your inn, why not go a little further and enjoy lunch? Yamaguchi Prefecture is full of unique restaurants, such as those boasting local specialties, restaurants that are the focus of attention in the area, and restaurants where you can enjoy the spectacular views of popular sightseeing spots. In this issue, we will introduce you to six restaurants scattered throughout the western and northern parts of the prefecture.

The scorch is also delicious! TAWARA-SOBA" - tea soba served on a hot kawara tile

KAWARA-SOBA,
KAWARA-SOBA," a dish with a large visual impact, for 1,320 yen per person (photo shows two servings).

Kawatana hot spring is famous for its tiled soba noodles, a specialty of Kawatana hot spring that is loved not only by tourists but also by residents of Yamaguchi Prefecture. The basic style of KAWARA-SOBA is to serve brown buckwheat noodles on a hot kawara tile and dip them in dipping sauce along with other ingredients and condiments.
The tea soba is made from Hokkaido buckwheat flour kneaded with stone-ground Uji green tea, which is drained thoroughly for an hour after boiling to further concentrate the flavor. The soba noodles have a chewy, aromatic texture and the crispy texture of the tiles that heat up the soba noodles is irresistible. The sauce, a secret recipe since the establishment of the restaurant, enhances the flavor of the chasoba even more, and goes perfectly with the local Shimonoseki "Yasuoka Negi" (green onion) as a condiment.

The original taste is exceptional! The birthplace of Kawatana hot spring specialty "KAWARA-SOBA

The
The "Kawatana Main Building" (photo), where you can relax with a view of the courtyard, and the "Kawatana South Building," which has a large hall and a souvenir corner, are adjacent to each other.

KAWARA-SOBA was invented by the restaurant's founder, Shinichi Takase, based on a historical anecdote about soldiers grilling meat and other items on a kawara tile during the Civil War. Although more and more restaurants in the prefecture are offering the dish, the taste of the "original" is exceptional, as various secrets have been preserved for more than half a century.
At the 120-year-old "Kawatana Main Building," you can enjoy the taste of the original while reminiscing about its history. Also, don't miss the souvenir corner in the "Kawatana Minami-Honkan". You can purchase a set of home-use kawara soba noodles to enjoy on a hot plate instead of a kawara.

Local Guide Comment
Unameshi (2,420 yen), the signature dish along with kawara soba, is also excellent. It can be served with yakumi (condiments) or "unacha" (eel tea) in a special broth, and is also recommended to be shared as it is large enough for three bowls of tea.
Ganso KAWARA-SOBA Takase Kawatana Honkan/Kawatana Minami Honkan
  • Address 5437 Oaza-Kawatana, Toyoura-cho, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approximately 45 minutes by car from the Shimonoseki IC on the Chugoku Expressway
  • Direction Take a train from JR Shimonoseki Station, get off at "Kawatana Hot Spring" and walk about 5 minutes.
  • Business hours Kawatana Honkan 11:00-15:00, Kawatana Minami-Honkan 11:00-20:00
  • Closed Kawatana Main Building: Monday - Friday (open on national holidays)
    Kawatana Minami-Honkan: Open all year round (with occasional holidays)
  • TEL 083-772-2680
  • Parking Free of charge

The mellow flavor is impressive. Freshly fried, hot and tender fried squid

Fried squid in season
Fried squid in season" 930 yen. You can enjoy the refined taste of squid and squid with a deep flavor as you bite into it (see photo).

This café on Omijima Island offers lunch with a view of the calm sea. You can enjoy a set meal of dried and fried fish produced at the adjacent Kimura Suisan. Nagato is also famous for its squid, and "Fried Squid in Season" is one of the restaurant's signature dishes. The restaurant's signature dish is the "Seasonal Fried Squid," which is mainly served during the summer season, and also includes bluefin squid, depending on the catch.
The fresh squid is of course delicious as sashimi, but fried squid is definitely recommended. In addition to the soft and fluffy texture of freshly fried squid, the sweet and mellow flavor is irresistible.

Container café by the sea with Fukagawa Bay in front of you!

You can enjoy the beautiful view of Fukagawa Bay from inside the restaurant. If the weather permits, the terrace seating on the wooden deck is recommended.
You can enjoy the beautiful view of Fukagawa Bay from inside the restaurant. If the weather permits, the terrace seating on the wooden deck is recommended.

Aomi Island in Nagato City, with its cliffs, caves, and numerous oddly shaped rocks, creates a "maritime Alps. In contrast to the rough seas on the Sea of Japan side, the southern side of the island, where the restaurant is located, along Fukagawa Bay, offers a tranquil scene of calm waves.
The restaurant offers a wide variety of Western-style set menus, such as the "Choshu Dori Chicken Cutlet Set Meal. Powdered ice cream is also recommended during the summer season. Dried fish, such as kiraki and mirin-boshi (dried fish with mirin), can be purchased as souvenirs. The flavor is deepened by the sake lees and the meat is soft and fluffy. Sometimes you can even taste sea bream or nodoguro (sea bream).

Local Guide Comment
Kimura Suisan is said to be the first in Yamaguchi Prefecture to serve dried fish with sakekasu (sake lees)! All the fish on the menu look so delicious that it is hard to resist. When you visit the restaurant, be sure to ask for recommendations. They will be able to tell you the best fish of the season.
Hamachaya Mitaka
  • address (e.g. of house) 733-20 Senzaki, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately 45 minutes by car from the Mine Interchange on the Chugoku Expressway
  • Business hours 12:00-15:00 *Only reservations are accepted in the evening.
  • Closed Closed on Wednesdays and the 3rd Thursday of the month
  • TEL 0837-26-3700
  • Parking Free of charge

Oversized buns with plenty of ingredients! The Kakunoshima Burger is a hearty burger!

The
The "Kakushima Burger" (1,320 yen) is available for take-out.

The restaurant is located on a small hill with a white triangular roof and offers a view of the Kakunoshima Bridge, one of the most scenic spots in the prefecture. The famous "Kakunoshima Burger" is a hearty burger, with a thick patty, fried squid rings, shrimp, and plenty of vegetables such as tomatoes on an oversized bun measuring 15 cm in length. The burger's flavor changes as you bite into it, and the fact that you can eat it in one bite is proof of the burger's deliciousness.
In addition, we recommend sharing the various pasta dishes, "Kakushima Curry," and other menu items, including the burger.

The best location overlooking the spectacular Kakunoshima Ohashi Bridge!

Everything in the restaurant has a special seat with a spectacular view. Enjoy the view of Kakunoshima Ohashi Bridge from the large windows.
Everything in the restaurant has a special seat with a spectacular view. Enjoy the view of Kakunoshima Ohashi Bridge from the large windows.

The restaurant is also a great place to eat or take a break during sightseeing in the Kakunoshima area, which is full of attractions, and is popular not only for lunch but also as a café. Don't miss out on the excellent pancakes, parfaits, and other sweets.
While many restaurants in the area close early in the evening, this café is open until 7:00 p.m. on weekends and even later during peak seasons such as summer and GW, which is another reason for its reputation for ease of use. In addition to the sunset, you can even enjoy a relaxing night view on certain days, although confirmation is required.

Local Guide Comment
Mochipekko" is an original sweet sold only at this restaurant group. Mochipekko is an original sweet sold only at this shop group. It is made of sweet bean paste and rice cake wrapped in pie dough and baked, and is popular as a souvenir. The "Mochipekko Soft Parfait" is also highly recommended.
Haru House
  • Address 2052-12 Kandatsukeno, Toyokita-cho, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approximately 60 minutes by car from the Shimonoseki Interchange on the Chugoku Expressway.
  • Business Hours 11:00-19:00
  • Closed Closed on a monthly basis via SNS
  • TEL 083-786-0123
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Hours of operation vary depending on the season (extended hours during the summer, etc.)

Patissier's specialty quiche on a lunch plate

The quiche plate is 1,320 yen, and you can add a drink for an additional 330 yen.
The quiche plate is 1,320 yen, and you can add a drink for an additional 330 yen.

This popular café is located in the countryside in the suburbs of Ube City. The terrace seating can be used with pets. Lunch attracts a lot of attention, especially among women. In addition to the famous "quiche plate," the café offers five different kinds of dishes, including a "shrimp mayo plate" and a "black vinegar-acid pork plate.
The quiche is richly flavored with four kinds of cheese, including Edam and Gruyere cheeses, and is very satisfying. The quiche is carefully handmade from the pie crust, and seasonal vegetables such as sweet potatoes, zucchini, and pumpkin are used for the filling.

Owner's patissier's excellent sweets are also a source of pride!

The restaurant is surrounded by satoyama and rice paddies, and there are few private houses. You can relax and enjoy the lush green scenery.
The restaurant is surrounded by satoyama and rice paddies, and there are few private houses. You can relax and enjoy the lush green scenery.

In addition to the delicious lunch, the owner's patissier's signature sweets are not to be missed. To enjoy them in the restaurant, customers can choose from the showcase next to the entrance. The colorful selection includes strawberries, melon, and other seasonal fruit cakes, chocolate tarts, tiramisu, cheesecake, and about 20 other varieties. In many cases, the cakes are so popular that most are sold out by 2:00 p.m., when the last orders for lunch are taken.
We recommend that you come in early, including for lunch, but you can also call to place a hold on cakes.

Local Guide Comment
The sweets and quiches made by the owner patissier, who honed his skills at a long-established hotel in Yokohama for 15 years, are exquisite! The showcase with all kinds of sweets is a spectacular sight shortly after opening.
LAUGH CAFE & BAKE
  • Address 331-1 Yajo, Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approx. 20 min. by car from Jumonji Interchange on Ogori Hagi Road
  • Business hours 11:00-18:00 (Lunch L.O. 14:00)
  • Closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays
  • TEL 0836-67-1725
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Closing hours may vary depending on the season, and temporary closings are announced on SNS.

Excellent hamburger steak of Choshu black beef served on a Hagiyaki plate

Choshu Kuroge Wagyu Beef Hamburger Steak Plate
Choshu Kuroge Wagyu Beef Hamburger Steak Plate" for 1,650 yen. One-plate lunches are served on flat Hagiyaki plates.

Hagi Castle Town is full of historical sites, cafes, and other attractions. This restaurant, where you can enjoy lunch while gazing at a Japanese garden, is one of the most popular spots. The "Nagahagi Black Wagyu Beef Hamburger Plate" uses Nagahagi Wagyu Beef and Mutsumi Pork, Hagi's specialty brand meat, and the special red wine sauce is exquisite. The plate is served with plenty of vegetables as an accompaniment, allowing you to enjoy a dish that has been prepared with a little extra care and attention.
Other menu items include the "Mutsumi Pork Nanban Katsulette Plate" served with Shibazuke tartar, and the "Local Fish Plate" with fried fish that changes daily.

Recommended with lunch! Coffee and homemade sweets are also available!

In addition to the spacious tatami room, there is a Western-style room with a coffee counter. You can also walk around the garden from the back of the building.
In addition to the spacious tatami room, there is a Western-style room with a coffee counter. You can also walk around the garden from the back of the building.

The owner is also a barista who honed his skills at a coffee stand in Tokyo for many years, and the homemade sweets that accompany the specialty coffees are not to be missed. The shop offers a wide variety of recommended sweets, such as "cheesecake," "green tea terrine," and "sweet summer marmalade cassata," which is unique to Hagi.
Also located at the entrance of the store is its sister store, Nero Bake, which specializes in takeout with home-roasted coffee and baked goods. The product lineup changes daily and is recommended for a stroll through the castle town or a snack at the inn, as well as for souvenirs.

Local Guide Comment
The store, which was renovated from a 70-year-old former residence of an amimoto, is full of sights, including a large garden. Despite the magnificent gate, you can easily enjoy a cup of coffee or a latte, and the stylish latte artwork is a must-see.
Hotoritei (Kurotei)
  • Address 62 Minamikatagawacho, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approximately 30 minutes from the Edo IC of the Ogori Hagi Road
  • Direction From JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station, take the "Express Super Hagi" bus. 10 minute walk from Hagi Meirin Center stop.
  • Business hours Hotoritei 11:00-16:00, Nero Bake 12:00-16:00
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • TEL 0838-22-1755（Hotoritei)
    0838-22-8644 (Nero Bake)
  • Parking Free of charge (for Hotoritei only; for Nero Bake use, go to the nearby toll parking lot)

Onyu's food and beverage building, where you can get in shape with food.

Nagato Chicken Rice
Nagato Chicken Rice" 880 yen, "Fresh Squeezed Soy Tofu" 450 yen

Across the street from Onyu is a Restaurant overlooking the Onshin River. The menu, centering on locally produced brand-name chicken "Choshu-dori" and handmade tofu, as well as fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables, and other ingredients, is well known as the perfect place to enjoy a hot spring bath.
One of the main dishes, Nagato Chicken Rice, is made with Nagato chicken steamed in sake and cooked tender. It is a popular dish consisting of white rice topped with the broth from the sake-steamed chicken, steamed chicken, and local vegetables. Fresh pressed soy bean curd, made from soy milk produced from the prefecture's soybeans, is a gem that highlights the rich, natural flavor of the soybeans. Local natural salt and organic olive oil enhance the sweetness of the tofu.

Original desserts made with the finest ingredients after a gourmet meal!

Soy Cream Parfait
Soy Cream Parfait" 850 yen. Mini size is 650 yen.

The same attention to detail is also applied to desserts. We recommend the enchantingly beautiful "Soy Cream Parfait. The smooth soy milk-based soft-serve ice cream is decorated with seasonal fruits. Other items such as "apricot bean cake" and "sweet rice cake" are hard to choose from, but take-out is also available.
Seating is available at tables, at the counter, and on the terrace. The seasonal views of the Onyu Plaza and the clear stream in front of the restaurant are also attractive. This is a great restaurant to visit for lunch, teatime, dinner, takeout, and various other occasions.

Local Guide Comment
In addition to "Nagato Chicken Rice," the main menu includes "Nagato Egg Chicken Rice" and "Yumoto Chicken Udon. In addition, look out for the seasonal menu using seasonal ingredients and new items.
On-yu food
  • address (e.g. of house) 2270-5 Fukagawa-Yumoto, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 10 min. walk from JR Nagato Yumoto Stn.
  • Business Hours 11:00-22:00 (L.O.21:00)
  • Closed Wednesday
  • TEL 0837-25-4333
  • Parking No parking (use Nagato Yumoto hot spring parking lot)
  • Memo Prices subject to change depending on time of day, takeout, etc.

MAP

Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
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The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.