10 Best Local Restaurants in Hakone

Hakone is both a hot spring resort and a foodie paradise with many famous local restaurants. There’s great variety here, ranging from renowned soba restaurants to hidden gems of restaurants and the superb Chinese eateries frequented by celebs.

With Sagami Bay nearby, it’s no surprise to find a great range of sushi restaurants and seafood-oriented izakaya and dining halls too. Hakone is also a treasure trove of soul foods. If you’re looking for an epicurean experience to remember, Hakone is the place for you.

1. Hatsuhana Soba Honten

A famous restaurant where a relaxing river breeze blows

Good for: Food

Hatsuhana Soba Honten was renovated in the Heisei era, but the atmosphere of the Showa era remains intact, and the river stream you see from the window only adds to the calming, old-fashioned vibe. The soba noodles here are made with Japanese yam, combining deliciously with the dipping sauce, and the thick soba-yu (hot water used for boiled buckwheat noodles) is also a delight.

With its Japanese style perfectly in sync with the Hakone atmosphere, it’s no surprise that this restaurant is always crowded with tourists both from Japan and abroad. You can order the famous tororo (grated yam) separately, and many other snacks are available too. The tempura is another great option.

Location: 635 Yumoto, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0311, Japan

Open: From 10 am to 7 pm (closed on Wednesdays)

Phone: +81 (0)460-85-8287

2. Mami Kitchen

Relax with a homey Japanese set meal or Japanese-style Western food

Good for: Food

Mami Kitchen is a casual restaurant with some charming retro touches. Though it offers a wide variety of typical Japanese dishes of Hakone such as tempura, set menus with seafood, soba noodles and yuba (dried tofu skin) rice lawn bowling, the menu also features homemade Japanese-style Western dishes such as ginger pork and beef stew, which are equally popular. Don’t forget to try the Sri Lankan curry, which really packs a punch with its unique blend of spices.

Accessible for families with children. This is a secret spot for those in the know.

Location: 1300-39 Gora, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0408, Japan

Open: From 11 am to 4 pm (closed on Mondays)

Phone: +81 (0)50-3467-6706

3. Takeyabu Hakoneten

Slurp some Michelin-awarded soba in Hakone

Good for: Food

Takeyabu Hakoneten is the Hakone branch of a soba restaurant from Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. Like the main restaurant, you can taste excellent soba either individually or as a multi-course meal in an artistic space that’s similar to a gallery or museum. Here you can enjoy the aromatic and authentic soba noodles made from buckwheat seeds grown on the Korohime Highland.

Takeyabu Hakoneten is also popular for its open-air terrace seating. Relax in the gentle breeze as you sample exquisite soba and candies.

Location: 160-80 Motohakone, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0522, Japan

Open: From 11 am to 4 pm (closed on Wednesdays)

Phone: +81 (0)460-84-7500

4. Yuzen

Local ingredients delicately prepared to create unique flavors

Good for: Food

Yuzen was opened in Hakone by a young chef from Kanagawa Prefecture. This cozy hideaway restaurant serves dishes and beverages made with local ingredients. It’s a special place where you can enjoy a relaxed dinner, with main courses and side dishes that go well with beverages.

Families with children are welcome, and there’s a great atmosphere here with an understated interior. You’ll love every bite of the elegantly presented seafood and meat dishes.

Location: 919-4 Sengokuhara, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0631, Japan

Open: Daily from 11.30 am to 9 pm

Phone: +81 (0)460-84-6777

5. Hakone Karaage KARATTO

Try a new type of fried chicken served on a single plate

Good for: Food

The popular Hakone Karaage KARATTO is a pet-friendly restaurant along Lake Ashi, run by the couple who own the restaurant. The herb-marinated and deep-fried chicken is served on a plated lunch along with salad, soup, bread, and fruits.

This is a great place for lovers of fried chicken. You can enjoy craft beer, Guinness, or wine with your choice. And there’s a takeout option too.

Location: 10 Motohakone, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0522, Japan

Open: From 11 am to 5 pm (closed on Thursdays)

Phone: +81 (0)460-83-5008

6. Sushi Miyafuji

Unique dishes prepared by a charming couple

Good for: Food

Sushi Miyafuji is famous for its unique aji-don (horse mackerel rice bowl) and torotaku rolls (tuna and pickled radish hand-rolled sushi). If this is your first visit, the Miyafuji Gozen meal, which includes these items, is the one to order. The simple dishes prepared by the head chef are created with great skill. The restaurant has been featured on many TV shows and you can understand why celebrities come here.

It’s also popular for its nigiri (hand-shaped sushi), maki (sushi rolls) and a variety of other tasty morsels. These tasty treats are designed to complement the excellent beverages menu.

Location: 310 Miyanoshita, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0404, Japan

Open: From 11.30 am to 2.30 pm and 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm (closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays)

Phone: +81 (0)460-82-2139

7. Yamahiko Zushi

Enjoy local fish at a sushi restaurant directly managed by a fishmonger

Good for: Food

Yamahiko Zushi offers sushi with fresh seafood carefully selected by the experts of the Yamahiko fresh fish shop. They select local fish from Sagami Bay every morning, so the freshness and quality is outstanding. Try the nigiri (hand-shaped sushi) and omakase (chef’s choice) menus featuring local fish to get a real taste of Hakone’s seasonal flavors.

It’s also known for its popular lunchtime-only kaisen-don (seafood rice bowl). Full of local seafood, including fresh shirasu (baby sardines), this dish is great value for money. In the evening, you can enjoy excellent sashimi (sliced raw fish) and broiled fish with some well-matched beverages.

Location: 635-1 Miyagino, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0401, Japan

Open: From 11.30 am to 2.30 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm (closed on Wednesdays)

Phone: +81 (0)460-87-1175

8. Taigen Chinese Restaurant

A famous Chinese restaurant where visitors are welcomed by a friendly owl

Good for: Food

Taigen Chinese Restaurant is a rare “Machi Chuka” (local Chinese eatery) in the tourist resort of Hakone. It’s long been popular with local regulars. The restaurant is on a hill with excellent views. There’s a shuttle bus, too, so no need for designated drivers here.

Besides the famous unpairoo (spicy boiled pork), the restaurant is also popular for its traditional stir-fried liver, mabo tofu (Sichuan-style bean curd) and kani tama (crab meat omelet). You’ll also find authentic Chinese dishes such as abalone stewed with soy sauce and braised shark fins. The restaurant’s mascot is an owl that’s very popular with younger diners.

Location: 1181-145 Sengokuhara, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0631, Japan

Open: From 11 am to 2.30 pm and 5 pm to 8.30 pm (closed on Thursdays)

Phone: +81 (0)460-84-5282

9. Yumoto Haikara Chinese Nisshintei

Get your fill of old-fashioned handmade noodles and fried wontons

Good for: Food

Yumoto Haikara Chinese Nisshintei serves various ramen dishes using handmade noodles, as well as side dishes like delicious fried wontons. Set menus are also available, which include your choice of ramen and dim sum or rice bowl. The kakuni (braised pork) ramen, available only in limited quantities, is a must-try for its tender meat.

With a relaxed atmosphere that only local restaurants can offer, this is a space where you can relax and feel right at home even though you’re in a tourist area. Kick back and enjoy a cold beer along with some local delicacies.

Location: 703 Yumoto, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0311, Japan

Open: From 11 am to 3 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)

Phone: +81 (0)460-85-5244

10. Hatsuhana Soba Shinkan

A quiet riverside restaurant that seems to have been there for ever

Good for: Food

If you want to experience the atmosphere of the Showa period, try Hatsuhana Soba Shinkan. It’s well known for its Hatsuhana soba, which is made with Japanese yam, and was born in this restaurant. The soba dipping sauce is also very tasty and adds a nice flavor to the simple soba noodles.

Try the hot yamakake soba (with grated yam) in winter and the cold teijo soba (with grated yam) in summer. Don’t miss the hearty tempura. The atmosphere is welcoming and children-friendly, and along with the main restaurant, this is one of Hakone’s major soba restaurants.

Location: 474 Yumoto, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0311, Japan

Open: From 10 am to 7 pm (closed on Thursdays)

Phone: +81 (0)460-85-5555

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