A Flavor Loved by Lord Shingen! Guide to Popular Hoto Noodle Restaurants Around Lake Kawaguchiko

Hoto is a traditional local dish from Yamanashi Prefecture.
According to legend, it was a favorite of Takeda Shingen, the famous warlord of the Sengoku period, and today it remains one of the region’s most iconic foods.

If you’re visiting Yamanashi, tasting authentic hoto is an experience you simply can’t miss.

In this article, we’ll introduce 5 highly recommended restaurants near Lake Kawaguchiko Station, all offering delicious bowls of hoto.
Each spot has its own unique charm, so use this guide to find the perfect place to enjoy this hearty dish.

Houtou Fudou Kawaguchiko Ekimae Branch

Just 1 minute on foot from Lake Kawaguchiko Station, this restaurant is always bustling with visitors.

The warm, welcoming interior makes it perfect for families and friends to relax and enjoy a meal together. Seasonal dishes and set menus are also available, so you can look forward to new flavors with each visit.

Its signature dish is the Fudou Hoto (¥1,320 including tax), made with chewy homemade noodles simmered in a miso-based broth and packed with pumpkin, wild vegetables, and more.

What elevates the flavor even further is their secret spicy seasoning, rich in aroma and carefully crafted to balance the deep broth and hearty ingredients. Be sure to try it for a unique twist!

Brown Sugar Inari Sushi

Another recommendation is the Brown Sugar Inari Sushi (¥550 including tax), an original recipe with a subtle sweetness from the brown sugar—one of the restaurant’s most popular side items.

【Houtou Fudou Kawaguchiko Ekimae Branch】

Kijitei

About 10 minutes on foot from Lake Kawaguchiko Station, Kijitei is the only specialty restaurant in the Fuji Five Lakes area where you can enjoy pheasant dishes.

Pheasant meat is low-calorie, low-fat, and high in protein, making it a healthy alternative to chicken.

The signature Kiji Hoto Hotpot (¥1,950 including tax) is made with a delicate broth simmered from pheasant bones and seasoned with white miso. It’s packed with pheasant meat and seasonal vegetables, offering a refined, light flavor.

Stone-Grilled Pheasant
quote：https://map.yahoo.co.jp/v2/place/CvDxmzizbRE/review

Another standout is the Stone-Grilled Pheasant (¥4,300 including tax), cooked on lava plates from Mt. Fuji. The far-infrared heat locks in the meat’s flavor, enhancing its juiciness and aroma with every bite.

【Kijitei】

Sanrokuen

About 15 minutes on foot from Lake Kawaguchiko Station, Sanrokuen is a 150-year-old traditional Japanese house where you can dine around a sunken hearth (irori).

Their wide noodles are simmered in a miso-based broth with seasonal ingredients, creating a rich and hearty dish.

For a luxurious experience, try their most popular course, Fuurinkazan (¥22,000 including tax). It includes appetizers, spiny lobster, king crab, five types of skewers (including char and Koshu beef), hoto noodles, and dessert.

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quote：https://kawaguchiko-sanrokuen.com/

You can also order additional skewers, such as Vegetable Skewers (shiitake mushrooms and green onions, ¥330) or Abalone Skewers (¥1,870). Highly recommended is the Koshu Beef 60g (¥1,950 including tax), grilled slowly over charcoal to enhance its flavor and aroma.

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【Sanrokuen】

Koshu Hoto Kosaku Kawaguchiko Branch

Kosaku operates 9 branches across Yamanashi, specializing in local cuisine.

Their hoto noodles are known for their chewy, resilient texture that holds up perfectly even after simmering. The restaurant also uses its own original miso, bringing out the dish’s full flavor.

The most popular choice is the Pumpkin Hoto (¥1,400 including tax), featuring generous chunks of pumpkin simmered into the broth. The sweetness of the pumpkin blends beautifully with the chewy noodles, making it ideal for colder seasons.

Motsuni

Another must-try is Motsuni (¥550 including tax), a local Yamanashi specialty made by simmering chicken offal in soy sauce and sugar until tender. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth dish packed with savory depth.

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【Koshu Hoto Kosaku Kawaguchiko Branch】

Hoto Cooking Experience – Fujiya (Fujiyoshida Kawaguchiko Branch)

This is a unique place where you can make your own hoto from scratch and enjoy it fresh.

The dish includes pumpkin, potatoes, leeks, and about six other ingredients, making for a hearty and satisfying meal. Learning to prepare hoto here allows you to recreate this traditional home-cooked dish in your own kitchen later on.

They also offer more than 60 varieties of Fujiya’s original “Suridane” spices, which pair perfectly with hoto and can also be used in ramen, hot pots, oden, yakisoba, and many other dishes. These versatile spices make excellent souvenirs as well.

【Hoto Cooking & Indigo Dyeing Experience – Fujiya (Fujiyoshida Kawaguchiko Branch)】

Summary

We’ve introduced five fantastic places near Lake Kawaguchiko Station where you can enjoy authentic hoto noodles.

Each restaurant offers a unique flavor and dining experience, so why not visit several and discover your personal favorite?

At JAPANOPIA FUJI +, you’ll also find recommendations for cultural experiences around Lake Kawaguchiko—don’t miss the chance to explore more!

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