Enjoy Nikko yuba with your trip. Introducing recommended spots from Experience to gourmet food.
Yuba is a specialty of Nikko. In Kyoto, it is called "yuba" and in Nikko, "yuba" is written differently. The difference is the way in which the film that appears on the surface of the soymilk is pulled up after it is boiled down. The yuba of Kyoto is made by pulling up the membrane in a single layer, while the yuba of Nikko is made by folding it in two and pulling it up in two layers.
There are many stores that produce and sell Nikko yunami, a specialty of Nikko, as well as restaurants that offer creative cuisine, and we will introduce some of them here, including spots where you can enjoy the experience of making yunami.
1Ebiya Chozo
Long-established yuba shop that has been around since the Meiji era (1868-1912)
Founded in 1872, this yunami manufacturing and sales store has been in business for nearly 150 years. In 1975, a local restaurant decided to serve kaiseki cuisine using yunami, and the "Sashimi Yunami" was invented as one of the dishes. The smooth texture and moderately thick layers of yunami are filled with craftsmanship. Another popular item is "Maki Yunami Fukumase-ni". The yunami, rolled up tightly and densely, is once deep-fried and then simmered in a light broth of bonito and kelp.
Attractive old-fashioned package design
In the past, there was an imperial villa in Nikko, to which the restaurant's yunami products were offered. The elegant packaging is suitable for gift-giving. In addition, if you need to carry the products for a long time on a sightseeing trip, you can rest assured that refrigerated products are available in a refrigerated bag and with refrigerant (for a fee). Made with carefully selected domestic soybeans and high-quality water from the source of Mt. Onomine in the Nikko mountain range, and without using defoaming agents, these high-quality yuba are ideal as souvenirs.
- Ebiya Chozo
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948 Shimobachiishi-cho, Nikko, Tochigi MAP
A 15-minute walk from Tobu Nikko Station on the Tobu Railway Line
9:00-18:00
Wednesdays (subject to change)
0288-53-1177
Free of charge
2Nikko Yuba Manufacturing Plant Nikko Yuba Place
Enjoy a wide variety of yunami
At the "Nikko Yuba-Dokoro," a direct sales store attached to the Nikko Yuba Manufacturing Corporation's Nikko factory, you can purchase various types of yunami, from freshly made to processed. Among them, we recommend the "raw yuba for sashimi. It is a gem that can be tasted because the store sells directly from the manufacturing plant. The thick and soft texture is exceptional. For those who prefer a slightly firmer texture, frozen yuba is recommended.
The popular "raw yuba for sashimi" and "yose yuba" are available, so why not taste them for yourself?
*The shelf life of "raw yuba for sashimi" is 5 days.
The only "Yuba Making Experience" in the prefecture
In addition to observing the production of yunami at the manufacturing factory, this is the only place in Tochigi Prefecture where visitors can experience pulling up yunami. You can eat the fresh yunami on the spot, so be sure to taste the freshly made yunami.
The experience takes about 30 minutes, including the factory tour, and reservations are required at least one week in advance.
- Nikko Yuba Production Factory
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- 3589 Akabori, Nikko, Nikko, Tochigi MAP
- 10 minutes drive from JR Shimono-Osawa Station
- 9:00-17:00
- Sundays, national holidays (Wednesdays are irregularly closed)
Only the direct sales store is open on Sundays and national holidays. 
Experience such as pulling up yuba (yuba): 500 yen and up (please inquire)- 0288-26-4890
- Free of charge
3Nikko Yunamaki Zen ZEN
Rediscover the taste of YUBA with creative cuisine
Zen" is a creative Nikko yuba restaurant located about 15 minutes' walk from Tobu Railway Nikko Station along the main street leading to Nikko's shrines and temples. The main menu item is the Nikko Yunamaki Gozen. It features seven items, including Nikko Yunamaki, a yunamaki of Tochigi brand wagyu beef wrapped in yunamaki, and home-made Nikko specialty Tamarizuke (pickles). The young chef, trained in French and Japanese cuisine, has created delicious Nikko ingredients.
Nikko yunami is raised from the center when it is pulled up to lock in the flavor and thickening inside, resulting in a thick yunami. The popular "Nikko Yunamaki" wrapped in the Yunamaki is served with a special dipping sauce made from soy milk, which makes it even juicier.
Stylish interior with the aroma of wood
The interior of the restaurant, which was renovated from an old private house, is stylish and relaxing. Designed with Nikko's climate in mind, a dynamic Nikko rock is placed behind the entrance on the first floor. Indirect lighting is used to create a view through the glass. The second floor is a modern Japanese space with the warmth of wood.
There are three types of menu items: "Nikko Yunamaki Gozen" (Nikko Yunamaki Roll Gozen), "Yunamaki Roll" with Tochigi Wagyu beef, local vegetables and seafood, and soy milk-based "Nama Yunamaki Zenzai" (fresh Yunamaki Zenzai). English-language menus are also available.
- Nikko Yunamaki All ZEN
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- 1007 Kamibachiishi-cho, Nikko-shi, Tochigi MAP
- Approx. 17 min. walk from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Railway Tobu Nikko Station.
From Tobu Nikko Station, take the Tobu Bus bound for Chuzenji-ko (Lake Chuzenji). 5 minutes from the bus stop, get off at "Kamihashi" and walk about 3 minutes.- 11:00 - 15:30, 17:00 - 21:00
Dinner time is by reservation only. - Tuesdays
- 0288-53-3470
- Free of charge
4Fudaraku Honpo Ishiya-cho
Yubamusubi, Nikko's specialty for a quick taste of yunamaki
Yubamusubi, which has become a Nikko specialty, is sold at Hidaraku Honpo. Yubamusubi" is a unique delicacy that can only be tasted at Fudarakuhonpo. Seasoned okowa rice made from glutinous rice produced in Tochigi Prefecture is wrapped in a semi-raw Nikko yunami (seaweed). The smooth texture of the yuba, the taste of the "dashi" (Japanese soup stock), and the chewy texture are in perfect balance. A few seats for eating and drinking are also available.
*Because it is made from semi-raw yunamis, it is only sold in stores and limited to 50 packs per day.
You can also eat it inside the restaurant.
At the Ishiyacho store, you can also purchase them in the store and eat them at a table in the back. As a Japanese confectionery, not only yunami products, but also "Hodaraku Manju" (a sweet made with red bean paste), the largest monaka in Japan "Ookuri-Manchu/Yamagube," and Nikko's specialty "Water Yokan with Chestnuts" are attractive.
- Fudaraku Honpo Ishiyacho Branch
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- 406-4 Ishiya-cho, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
- 5 minutes walk from Tobu Nikko Station on the Tobu Railway Line.
- 9:00-17:00
- No holidays
- 0288-53-4623
5Original Nikko Yuba Cuisine Kappo Ebisuya
Enjoy the traditional taste of yunami cuisine in a course at a famous yunami restaurant.
Ebisuya is a long-established restaurant that has been in business for 100 years. Open only during lunch hours (11:00 - 14:30), the menu offers a choice of three different course meals featuring Nikko yuba in a variety of flavors. Recommended is the "raw pulled yuba sashimi," available in Courses A and B. Course A includes six yunami dishes, including raw yunami sashimi and flat yunami tempura, rice, soup, pickles, and dessert.
All of Ebisuya's yunami are freshly purchased from a long-established local yunami store. You can enjoy various types of yuba dishes, such as "fried rolled yuba," which is yuba that has been fried once and then drained of its oil to give it a rich finish, "fresh pulled yuba," which has a strong soybean flavor, and "flat yuba," which is dried.
*The dishes may change slightly depending on the season.
Spend a relaxing time in a 44-tatami Japanese-style room.
The spacious tatami room seating area makes it safe to bring children. There is no children's menu, but furikake (sprinkles) are provided.
It is recommended to make a reservation in advance because it is crowded during the season of autumn leaves and holidays.
- Original Nikko Yuba Cuisine Kappo Ebisuya
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- 955 Shimobachiishi-cho, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
- A 15-minute walk from Tobu Nikko Station on the Tobu Railway Line
- From Tobu Nikko Station, take the Tobu Bus bound for Chuzenji Onsen or Yumoto Onsen, get off at Nikko Goudo Center-mae and walk about 2 minutes.
- 11:00～14:30 (L.O.)
- Mainly Tuesdays
- 0288-54-0113 (reservations and inquiries)
0288-54-0323 (car navigation system input number) - Free of charge
6fudan Kaiseki Kazumichaya
Kaiseki lunch with beautiful colors is popular among women.
Walking west from Nikko Station along the bustling Nikko Kaido Road for about 15 minutes, you will see a stylish, retro-style building on your left. A local couple runs the restaurant, and their "Yuba Kaiseki Lunch," which is renewed monthly, is very popular. The yuba is a must-try when you visit Nikko, and the yuba is a must-try for its exceptional taste. The use of Mashiko-yaki and Kasama-yaki pottery to complement the colorful dishes of the four seasons is also noteworthy.
Retro interior of a former apothecary's shop
The interior of the restaurant shows signs of its former use as an apothecary, with old medicine cabinets placed inside. The space that used to be a store was renovated into a table seating area, and the living room and kitchen were renovated into a tatami room with a view of a small garden from the tatami room. The wooden tables and chairs were handmade by the owner's father and add warmth to the space. The restaurant is also a 10-minute walk from Nikko Toshogu Shrine, and is recommended as a lunch spot before or after visiting the shrine.
- fudan kaiseki wamichaya
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- 1016 Kamihachiishi-cho, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
- Approximately a 20-minute walk from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Railway Tobu Nikko Station.
- 11:30-15:30 (L.O. 14:30)
- Wednesday
- 0288-54-3770
- Free of charge
7san field
Many repeat customers are satisfied with the taste and size of the sweet boiled yunami!
This white-walled restaurant stands about a 15-minute walk from JR and Tobu Railway Nikko Station in the direction of Jimbashi. The restaurant has a very large number of repeat customers, and the "Yuba Gozen" is what the people waiting in line are looking for. The sweet yuba is a diagonal slice of fried yuba, called "lotus yuba," and is a very satisfying size. When the owner was young, he saw it while helping with the "Gohanshiki" ceremony at Rinnoji Temple on Mt. Nikko, and began purchasing and making it from the same yunami manufacturer as Rinnoji Temple. It is seasoned with only sugar, mirin, soy sauce, and salt, and it takes four hours of cooking before it is ready to be served. You can enjoy the original richness and soft texture of yuba.
Bright and casual atmosphere with lots of sunlight
The restaurant opened as a coffee shop in 1982. The restaurant has a wide variety of beverages on the menu, a vestige of its past. A cup of hand-drip coffee in the brightly lit restaurant will relieve travel fatigue. The aforementioned "Yuba Gozen" includes aromatic coffee and yuba-arranged coffee jelly for dessert. It is the owner's special touch that is typical of a former coffee shop.
