Oshino Hakkai Food Guide: 16 Lunch Spots for Hoto, Yoshida Udon, and Soba Within Walking Distance or a Short Drive

For lunch at Oshino Hakkai, the usual choices are soba, hoto, and Yoshida udon. Oshino is known for its Mt. Fuji spring water, and some restaurants make soba with it or grill river fish over charcoal.

This guide divides lunch spots around Oshino Hakkai into 11 within walking distance and 5 a 5- to 10-minute drive away, so you can choose one that fits your route.

Checking the weather and live cameras for Oshino before you go makes it easier to decide what to wear and in what order to see the ponds.

Read More

Oshino Hakkai | Sacred Springs of Mt. Fuji’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Oshino Hakkai, located in Yamanashi Prefecture, is one of the cultural assets that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Mt. Fuji: Sacred Place and Source …

Read More

【Fuji Area】Oshino Village, Yamanashi – Live Cameras, Weather & X In this article, we introduce live cameras, weather forecasts, and X (formerly Twitter) updates for Oshino Village in Yamanashi Prefecture, home to the world…

How to Choose: Decide First Whether to Walk or Drive

Choose by what you want to eat
Hoto → Irori, Yayoian, Sengen Chaya, Sansai
Yoshida udon → Hikobee Udon, House
Soba → Ikemoto Chaya, Maruten, Menjo Biwa, Tenshoan, Co Sala
River fish → Ikemoto Chaya, Maruten Sakanaya

Hoto is served at Irori and Yayoian, and also at Sengen Chaya in Fujiyoshida and Sansai by Lake Yamanakako. For Yoshida udon, choose Hikobee Udon within walking distance or House, about a 5-minute drive away. For soba, Ikemoto Chaya, Maruten, and Menjo Biwa are within walking distance, while Tenshoan and Co Sala are a short drive away. For river fish, try Ikemoto Chaya, which grills fish over charcoal at the front of the shop, or Maruten, which serves it as a set meal.

The center of Oshino Hakkai has many restaurants you can walk to between ponds, and a 5- to 10-minute drive opens up options toward Fujiyoshida and Lake Yamanakako. Deciding based on where you are heading next makes it easier to narrow things down.

Many restaurants around Oshino Hakkai have short lunch hours. Deciding where to eat before you start, rather than looking after visiting all eight ponds, helps you avoid missing lunch.

11 Lunch Spots Within Walking Distance of Oshino Hakkai

These restaurants are within walking distance of the center of Oshino Hakkai, so you can stop for lunch between ponds without moving your car.

Irori: Piping-Hot Hoto Simmered at Your Table

For Yamanashi’s specialty hoto, try Irori, a Japanese restaurant about a 5-minute walk from Oshino Hakkai.

The hoto is simmered on a burner at your table, so the miso-based noodle stew with pumpkin and vegetables stays hot to the last bite, which is especially welcome in cold weather. Soba and udon are also on the menu, which helps when a group wants different things, and there are 12 free parking spaces.

Yayoian: Hoto Right by Okama Pond

Yayoian, right next to Okama Pond, is another convenient stop while visiting the ponds. Its miso-based hoto includes pumpkin, wild vegetables, and mushrooms, and soba is also available, so you can choose soba on hot days and hoto on cold ones.

The wooden deck under a wide roof overhang is a pleasant place to sit, and because it is a little away from the busy area around Nakaike Pond, it suits anyone who wants a quieter meal.

Hikobee Udon: Firm, Chewy Yoshida Udon

Open 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., closing early when the noodles sell out.
If Yoshida udon is your goal, go early rather than late.

For Yoshida udon near Oshino Hakkai, try Hikobee Udon. Yoshida udon is known for its thick, very firm noodles, served with meat and boiled cabbage.

The signature Hikobee Udon is a generous bowl topped with meat, egg, and chikuwa tempura, and a set with mixed rice is also popular. You can choose cold or hot noodles and adjust the flavor with the spicy condiment on the table, as locals do. At under 1,000 yen, it is one of the most affordable options in this guide. It is open for only about three hours at lunchtime and closes when the noodles run out, so go early if Yoshida udon is your goal.

Menjo Biwa: Soba in a Quiet Tatami Room

Open only 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
It is not suited to a late lunch, so go early.

If you would like soba away from the crowds, try Menjo Biwa, a house-style restaurant a few minutes’ walk from the center. All seating is on tatami, and some seats have a view of Mt. Fuji.

The fresh soba is boiled to order and rinsed in cold water, giving the thin noodles a smooth texture. The house chili blend on the table is popular, and some visitors buy it at the register as a souvenir. With only about three hours of lunch service, it is not suited to a late lunch, so consider stopping by before you visit the ponds.

Ikemoto Chaya: Spring-Water Soba and Charcoal-Grilled River Fish by Nakaike Pond

This thatched-roof restaurant stands right in front of Nakaike Pond in the center of Oshino Hakkai. It is the easiest choice if you want lunch without leaving the pond area.

The specialty is soba made with Mt. Fuji spring water from buckwheat ground on a stone mill in the waterwheel hut next door. Char and yamame are grilled over charcoal at the front of the shop, and you can order them with your soba. If you want a meal connected to the water that makes Oshino famous, soba and river fish are a natural pairing.

Maruten Sakanaya: River Fish with a View of Mt. Fuji

Maruten Sakanaya serves river fish dishes as well as soba and hoto. Set meals of salt-grilled rainbow trout raised in Mt. Fuji’s clear streams and carp sashimi let you sit down and enjoy river fish that is hard to eat on the go.

You can also see Mt. Fuji from the tatami seating, making it a good fit if you want your lunch to reflect Oshino’s water and river fish.

Hannoki Shokudo: Convenient for Sokonuke Pond and Away from the Crowds

If you plan to see Sokonuke Pond, Hannoki Shokudo on the grounds of the Hannoki Bayashi Museum is convenient. It serves hoto, chilled soba, and grilled fish, and its molokhia soba, made with locally grown molokhia, is a specialty.

From the terrace you can look out over the garden, the thatched-roof buildings, and a pond with carp. Even when the area around Nakaike Pond is crowded, the museum grounds are usually calmer, making it a good choice for lunch away from the crowds.

Hakkai Sakura: A Wide Range of Set Meals and Cherry Blossoms in Spring

Hakkai Sakura offers a wide range of set meals, including tonkatsu, tempura udon, and karaage, and its premium eel rice bowl with Japanese eel is also popular.

It is a little away from the center, so you can eat in a calmer setting, and the cherry trees in front of the restaurant are a highlight in spring.

Oshino Hakkai Nakanoyatei: Reservation-Only Set Meals 3 Minutes from Wakuike Pond

Oshino Hakkai Nakanoyatei is a reservation-only restaurant serving set meals made with seasonal ingredients. It is about a 3-minute walk from Wakuike Pond, and on clear days you can see Mt. Fuji from inside.

The menu includes ceramic-plate grill sets with plenty of local vegetables, and the restaurant accepts reservations for up to 130 people, making it convenient for group tours.

Tomishimaya: From Roast Beef Bowls to Light Bites, with Mt. Fuji from the Terrace

Tomishimaya serves everything from filling roast beef bowls to light bites such as roast beef hot dogs, and seasonal items such as shaved ice appear in summer.

On clear days you can eat on the terrace with a view of Mt. Fuji, and there is also a souvenir shop.

Fujinosuke Oshino Hakkai: Large Takoyaki to Eat While You Walk

For something quick, try Fujinosuke Oshino Hakkai. Its large takoyaki with octopus, shrimp, and bonito flakes are available to go, so you can eat them while you walk.

In summer, it also sells shaved ice made with white peaches chilled in Oshino Hakkai spring water.

5 More Lunch Spots a 5- to 10-Minute Drive Away

A 5- to 10-minute drive from Oshino Hakkai brings Fujiyoshida and Lake Yamanakako within reach. When the center is crowded, or if you are heading to Fujiyoshida or Lake Yamanakako next, choosing a restaurant along your route makes the day more efficient.

Sengen Chaya Fujiyoshida: Hoto and Torimotsu-ni, About 7 Minutes by Car

About a 7-minute drive away, Sengen Chaya Fujiyoshida serves Yamanashi home-style cooking in a traditional-style building. Pumpkin hoto is the main dish, and the menu also includes torimotsu-ni, simmered chicken giblets that are a Yamanashi specialty.

If you are sightseeing in the Fujiyoshida area, it is easy to fit in along the way.

Hoto Sansai: Hoto with a View of Lake Yamanakako, About 10 Minutes by Car

If you are heading to Lake Yamanakako after Oshino Hakkai, try Hoto Sansai, about a 10-minute drive away with a view of the lake.

Its hoto, made with house-made flat noodles simmered in a blended miso broth with pumpkin and pork, is well regarded. If you are driving on to Lake Yamanakako, you can eat here without going back to the center of Oshino Hakkai.

House: Authentic Yoshida Udon, About 5 Minutes by Car

About a 5-minute drive from Oshino Hakkai, House is a small standalone restaurant serving authentic Yoshida udon. The thick, very firm noodles come with classic toppings such as horse meat and cabbage.

It suits anyone who wants to get away from the tourist crowds and go specifically for Yoshida udon.

Tenshoan: Soba in an Old Farmhouse, About 5 Minutes by Car

About a 5-minute drive from the center of Oshino Hakkai, Tenshoan is a soba restaurant in an old farmhouse on a small hill. Its white, slightly thin soba has a firm texture, and the bukkake soba with a special sauce is popular.

You can eat in a relaxed setting while looking out at the seasonal scenery. It closes when the soba sells out, so go early.

Co Sala: Sarashina Soba in the Forest, About 10 Minutes by Car

About a 10-minute drive toward Lake Yamanakako, Co Sala is a soba restaurant in a quiet forest serving freshly made sarashina soba and tempura.

Seating is limited, so it is best to reserve before you go.

Summary

For lunch while visiting Oshino Hakkai, the restaurants within walking distance offer plenty of choice: Hikobee Udon for Yoshida udon, Irori or Yayoian for hoto, and Ikemoto Chaya, Maruten, or Menjo Biwa for soba. If you are visiting Sokonuke Pond, Hannoki Shokudo is another option.

If you are heading to Fujiyoshida or Lake Yamanakako afterward, the restaurants a 5- to 10-minute drive away are also good options. Many have short lunch hours, so deciding where to eat before you start visiting the ponds keeps the day relaxed.

Read More

Oshino Hakkai Street Food Guide: Kusamochi, Wagyu Skewers, Walking Route, Parking, and Where to S… As you walk around Oshino Hakkai, the street food stalls lining the ponds are likely to catch your attention almost as much as the clear water. Around Wakuik…