9 excellent & blissful lunches in Hakone (Gora, Sengokuhara, Ashinoko area)
Gora, Sengokuhara, and Lake Ashinoko are rich in nature and scenic beauty in the Hakone area. There are many hole-in-the-wall restaurants where you can enjoy a stylish meal while admiring the heart-warming scenery, and lunch in particular is a high-level battleground. When you travel to Hakone, you want to enjoy the local ingredients and views. Here is a selection of recommended lunches that will meet your expectations.
＜Gora Area
1Kaiseki Cuisine Hanadan
Authentic kaiseki courses served in an elegant building associated with the imperial family
Gora Hanadan is a luxury hot spring hotel located on the site of the former Kannin-no-Miya villa. The Restaurant, located in a classical Western-style building on the premises, offers a beautiful kaiseki lunch. The restaurant's extraordinary attention to quality ingredients is reflected in the taste, with fresh seafood from Sagami Bay and Suruga Bay, as well as from all over Japan, being procured. The menu changes monthly, and all the dishes are wonderfully sophisticated, with an awareness of the "firsts, seasons, and lasts" of the ingredients. There are six types of kaiseki dishes to suit every taste and budget. There is also a "children's set meal" featuring hamburgers, fried shrimp, and other dishes, making it a perfect place to visit for family anniversaries.
A space that exudes elegance and invites a glamorous mood.
The building was built in the early Showa period (early 20th century) as a summer residence for Prince Kotohito of Kanyinomiya. The exterior is in the half-timber style, which retains the atmosphere of medieval Europe, and the interior is in the Art Deco style of the early 20th century. The dining room, where dinner parties were held in the past, and the mansion's various private rooms are filled with elegance and grace. The greenery and autumn leaves outside the windows are like a picture in a painting, enhancing the charm of the seasonal dishes.
Located close to the Sculpture Forest Museum, this restaurant is a must-visit before or after sightseeing.
- Kaiseki Cuisine Hanadan
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1300 Gora, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
3 min. walk from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway
Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station, get off at Gora Station, and walk about 3 minutes.
11:00-15:30 (L.O.14:30), 17:30-21:00 (L.O.19:30)
Closed on weekends and holidays
0460-82-3333
Free of charge
2GORA BREWERY (Brewery) & GRILL
Happy Lunch with Grilled Dishes and Craft Beer
The Brewery Restaurant opened in 2017 and has become very popular. Lunch and Happy Drink Hour from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. offers the same menu as dinner, but if you are visiting with more than two people, you can enjoy the stone oven-baked Date chicken, pork loin, and other dishes. If you are visiting for two or more, be sure to try the stone-oven-baked Date chicken, pork loin, and wild shrimp. The dishes are served on photogenic wood-grain platters, so everyone can enjoy sharing. Rolls such as California rolls are also recommended.
Wooden interior that blends in with the natural beauty of Gora
The mellow craft beer brewed in-house is also on the menu, along with the food, and among the four types of beer available, we recommend the "Amber," which has won gold in international beer competitions. Its beautiful golden color, fine bubbles, and fruity flavor go perfectly with the food. It is also nice to know that all drinks, including beer, are only 500 yen at lunch time.
The building and stone garden with its wood textures were designed by a leading Japanese architect. You will find a special atmosphere and cuisine that will make you want to visit again.
- GORA BREWERY & GRILL
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- 1300-72 Gora, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
- 5 minutes walk from Gora Station on Hakone Tozan Railway
- Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station, get off at Gora Station, and walk 5 minutes.
- 13:00-16:00 (L.O.15:30), 17:00-21:30 (L.O.20:30)
- No holidays
- 0460-83-8107
- Free of charge
3Yamahiko Sushi
Kaisendon," a bowl of rice topped with a variety of fresh local fish, is served at the restaurant directly managed by a fresh fish restaurant.
Located between the popular tourist destinations of Miyanoshita and Sengokuhara, this sushi restaurant is tucked away in an alley off Route 138. The restaurant was opened in 2002 by a local fresh fish restaurant that has been in business for about 70 years, and the fish items are outstandingly fresh. The recommended lunch-only menu item is the "Kaisen-don," a bowl of rice topped with about 10 different types of fish. You can enjoy a full bowl of local fish, including freshly caught whitefish and bluefish landed in the morning at the local Sagami Bay. If you prefer nigiri, try the "Yamahiko Nigiri," an eight-piece dish that includes tuna toro and conger eel. Quantities are limited, so we recommend coming early.
Relax on the tatami mats in the cozy atmosphere.
Other dishes on the menu include maki rolls and a la carte dishes such as "kamayaki tuna. The sushi and dishes are prepared by the chef, who trained in Tokyo and other cities and has 35 years of experience in this field. It is a pleasure to sit at the counter with a sunken kotatsu and enjoy your meal while watching the chef's skillful knife work. There are six seats at the counter and four tables in the tatami room. You can take off your shoes to sit at either table, making you feel at home.
The restaurant also sells dried fish, making it a great place to purchase delicious souvenirs while enjoying your lunch.
- Yamahiko Sushi
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- 635-1 Miyagino, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
- 8 minutes walk from Gora Station on Hakone Tozan Railway.
- Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station or Gora Station, get off at Miyagino Station, and walk about 1 minute.
- 11:30 - 14:00 (L.O. 13:30), 17:00 - 21:00 (L.O. 20:15)
- Wednesday
- 0460-87-1175
- Free of charge (2 cars)
＜Sengokuhara Area
4Hakone Retreat Fore WOODSIDE dining
French courses at a Restaurant in the Forest for local production for local consumption.
The Restaurant is located in the Hakone Retreat Foret, an accommodation Property in the forest of Sengokuhara. The chef, a former chef of a famous restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo, prepares a stylish and creative French course, arranging fish, meat, vegetables, and other ingredients from the Suruga area. The course begins with a salad, followed by soup, a main dish of meat or fish, dessert, and coffee. The homemade natural yeast bread is as delicious as the food. Specialty coffee, an original blend imported from Kyoto, is served freshly ground one cup at a time.
Nature, cuisine, and art are a trinity, creating a wonderful lunch time!
The lively open kitchen has a wood-fired grill where you can watch the local ingredients being cooked live. The building is domed with glass walls, giving it a high ceiling and a great sense of openness. The interior makes use of the texture of the wood to make you feel at one with the forest, which changes its expression from green in spring and summer, to autumn leaves in fall, and snow in winter. Artistic paintings adorn the walls, creating a sophisticated space. Enjoying the cool air and scenery along with art and local delicacies, this is a place where you can fully enjoy the feeling of a highland resort.
- Hakone Retreat Foret WOODSIDE dining
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- Hakone Retreat Foret, 1286-116 Sengokuhara, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
- Approximately 14 minutes by car from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway
- Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-yumoto Station or Gora Station, get off at Tawaraseki/Hakone Glass Forest Mae Bus Stop, and walk 5 minutes.
- 7:30-10:00 (L.O. 9:30), 11:30-14:30 (L.O. 14:00), 18:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:30)
- No holidays
- 0460-83-9090 (Representative)
- Free of charge
Reservation priority
5Yozen
Hitsumabushi, a Japanese beef steak with tender and satisfying meat
The restaurant is a hideaway in Sengokuhara, a neighborhood dotted with art spots. A must-try for lunch is the "Japanese Beef Steak Hitsumabushi," a dish that is both original and delicious. The meat is purchased directly from a contracted meat wholesaler. The key to the juiciness of the meat is to let the juices settle by steaming it for about five minutes. The meat is then steamed for 5 minutes to let the juices settle, which is the key to its juiciness. The steak is first served with homemade Tosa soy sauce, and finally with ochazuke (rice with green tea) in ichiban dashi (Japanese soup stock). It is an excellent dish to enjoy the deliciousness of steak meat in a Japanese style.
Delicious lunch in a renovated old private house
There are three other lunch options on the menu: "Japanese Beef Sukiyaki-style" served hot in a pot, "Pickled Tuna Bowl" with hot spring egg on top of red tuna, and "Tempura of Sea Eel and Seasonal Vegetables". There is also a wide selection of alcohol, including Kanagawa Prefecture's locally brewed sake and other Japanese sake and wine. Dinner is a course with a choice of main dish.
The modern Japanese-style restaurant, renovated from an old private house, has sunken kotatsu seats and table seats made of a single piece of wood, allowing you to spend a relaxing time.
- Yuzen
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- 919-4 Sengokuhara, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
- Approximately 12 minutes from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway by car.
- Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station or Gora Station, and get off at Kawamukai Hoshi no Ojisan Museum Mae Bus Stop.
- 11:30 - 14:30 (L.O. 14:00), 18:00 - 20:00 (L.O.)
- Open irregularly (mainly on Sundays)
- 0460-84-6777
- Free of charge
6SOLO PIZZA
A pizzeria offering a variety of dishes using authentic Italian and Hakone ingredients
A popular pizzeria in Sengokuhara. You can enjoy authentic pizza made with Italian flour and cheese. The dough is slowly fermented for two days and baked in a high-temperature wood-fired oven, resulting in a crispy surface and chewy ears. The most popular item is the Margherita, topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. In addition, a total of nine types of pizza are available, including the "Verdura" topped with a pile of leafy greens such as green curls and sunny lettuce.
Side dishes such as "oven-roasted chicken" and "bagna cauda" roasted in the pizza oven are also recommended.
A secluded Restaurant in the forest of Sengokuhara
The restaurant is located in a hideaway-style house in the middle of a forest. The owner, who is also a fashion designer, designed the interior, giving it the feel of an old Italian house. The antique furniture, fireplace, wine stocker, terra cotta flooring, thick pillars, and paintings are all from the owner's collection of antiques from overseas antique markets.
There is also a terrace where you can enjoy nature, and on a fine day, dining while bathing in negative ions is exceptional. Wisteria trellises spread out overhead, and beautiful flowers can be enjoyed from early to mid-May.
- SOLO PIZZA
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- 999 Sengokuhara, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
- 15 minutes drive from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway
- Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station or Gora Station, get off at "Sengokuhara Elementary School" and walk 7 minutes.
- 11:30 - 15:00, 17:00 - 21:00 (Sun., Mon. - 20:30)
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday noon
- 0460-85-2884
- Free of charge
- Take-out is available only by reservation on the day of visit (must be confirmed before coming).
<Ashinoko Area
7Auberge Au Miradeau
The best French cuisine in Japan, created by an extraordinary attention to ingredients
This famous Restaurant was the first auberge in Japan and has been visited by many celebrities from all walks of life. Lunch based on the dinner menu is served in a gorgeous atmosphere. The chef's classic "short course" begins with a beautiful amuse bouche full of ideas and taste, followed by an appetizer, a main course of meat or fish, dessert, and a café. Throughout the course, you will be drawn into the chef's deep French world. The view of Lake Ashi and the bounty of nature make this a wonderful French course that can only be found in Hakone.
Enjoy a luxurious moment away from everyday life at a restaurant in a house.
All dishes are prepared using local ingredients. The owner-chef has built a relationship of trust with the producers by visiting their farms in Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture, which is adjacent to Hakone, to bring in vegetables, fresh fish from Sagami Bay and Suruga Bay, and Amagi Gundori (Amagi chicken) from Izu, which is the best available. For lunch, special soups and cheeses can be ordered in addition to the course.
The owner-chef is a recipient of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' "Culinary Meisters" award. The flavors of one of Japan's best French chefs will add wonderful color to your trip to Hakone.
- Auberge Au Miradeau
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- 159-15 Moto-Hakone, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
- Approximately 33 minutes from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station by car.
- Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station and get off at "Kojiri Sanjido" or "Oishishita" bus stop.
- 11:40 - 14:00 (L.O.) 17:30 - 21:00 (L.O.)
- Thursdays
- 0460-84-7229
- Free of charge
8La Terrazza Ashinoko
Savory oven-baked pizza with a spectacular lakeside view
The Italian restaurant is located in "Ashinoko Terrace" near the sightseeing boat pier on Lake Ashinoko. The location offers a wonderful view of the lake, the surrounding mountains, and even the torii gate of Hakone Shrine. The most popular item among guests is the wide variety of pizzas baked in a large Italian oven. The dough made from Neapolitan flour is crispy on the surface and chewy on the inside. Tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese are also imported from Italy to ensure the authentic taste. In addition to the popular Margherita and Quattro Formaggi, you can also enjoy other flavors that make the most of local ingredients such as cherry salmon.
The restaurant's glass-walled atrium gives you a great sense of openness.
As well as pizza, we recommend the appetizers and pastas made with Hakone Nishi-Foothill Mishima vegetables grown in a field overlooking Mt. Fuji and seafood from Odawara and Numazu ports. The restaurant also offers a selection of desserts, and the same menu items are available for lunch as for dinner.
Pets are welcome on the large covered terrace.
The "Toyoo Tamamura Life Art Museum" of the essayist, painter, and winery owner is also located in the "Lake Ashinoko Terrace," so you can enjoy a rich time of experiencing art with your meal.
- La Terrazza Lake Ashinoko
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- 61 Moto Hakone, Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture MAP
- Approximately 25 minutes by car from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station
- From Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station, take the bus. 1 minute walk from Hakone Shrine Iriguchi Bus Stop.
- Please refer to the official HP for business days and hours.
- 0460-83-1074
- Free of charge
9Odakyu Yamanohotel Japanese Restaurant Tsutsuji no Chaya
Mini kaiseki" featuring the delicacies of spring, summer, fall, and winter is popular.
This Japanese restaurant is located in the Odakyu Yama-no-Hotel, built on the site of the former villa of Baron Koyata Iwasaki, an industrialist from the Taisho and Showa periods. The name of the restaurant is derived from the name of the tea ceremony room that existed during the time of the Baron's villa. Lunch includes authentic kaiseki cuisine prepared with seasonal ingredients selected from all over Japan. The "mini kaiseki," a seven-course menu that includes appetizers, sashimi, simmered dishes, and grilled dishes, is a beautiful way to enjoy the tastes of the four seasons in Japan.
The chef, who has trained at various ryotei (traditional Japanese-style restaurants), is in charge of the cuisine. The dishes are traditional but with a touch of glamour.
A wide variety of menus to suit every occasion, such as family trips and special gatherings.
For meat dishes, we recommend the "Japanese Steak Gozen," which includes a six-course appetizer and beef loin. It is grilled to your liking on the teppan and served hot. Since Hakone Shrine is located nearby, many people visit the restaurant for celebratory occasions, and the restaurant also offers a variety of anniversary menus such as "Celebration Set" and "Special Kaiseki. Two courses of children's dishes are also available.
The view of Lake Ashi, the mountains of Hakone, and even Mt. Fuji on a clear day is outstanding, and around May, the vast garden is filled with colorful azaleas and rhododendrons, creating a postcard-perfect scene.
- Odakyu Yamanohotel Japanese Restaurant Tsutsuji no Chaya
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- 80 Moto-Hakone, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashita-gun, Kanagawa MAP
- Approximately 25 minutes by car from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station
- Take a bus from Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone-Yumoto Station, get off at "Moto Hakone Port" and walk about 11 minutes.
- 7:30-9:30 (L.O.), 11:30-14:00 (L.O.) *May: ~14:30 (L.O.), 17:30-20:30 (L.O.)
- Closed during winter season from Feb. 17 to 19
- 0460-83-6321 (Mountain Hotel Representative)
- Free of charge
MAP
- ＜Gora Area
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- ＜Sengokuhara Area
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- <Ashinoko Area
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Kawai, Tetsuyu A chef you can count on
Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
Kanagawa-ken Sengokuhara hot spring- Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara
- Guest rooms overlooking the magnificent nature are all equipped with Outdoor hot springs. Encountering works of art stirs your inner desire to express yourself.
Hakone-Yumoto hot spring, Kanagawa- Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone
- Hot spring ryokan where you can experience "Hakone Gokochi" and enjoy the charms of Hakone to the fullest!