10 Great Restaurants in Hakone

Itoh Dining by Nobu presents teppanyaki cuisine in a luxurious setting. While à la carte menus are available, the charm of this restaurant can only be fully appreciated by tasting the set course menu. This way, you can fully savour the flavours of the season along with Japanese Black beef finely grilled and served just as you like it.

Whether you choose a table by the window or a seat at the counter in front of the teppan (hot steel plate), each space has its own unique qualities and will make your trip to Hakone a pleasant one. Lunches are popular for the excellent value they offer.

Sakana Ryori Daimasa Honten is located conveniently close to Hakone Sekisho, a sightseeing spot. It serves a wide variety of simple donburi (bowls of rice topped with other ingredients) and set menus. The most popular dishes include donburi topped with a mound of seafood from Sagami Bay and fresh, crispy fried wakasagi (Japanese pond smelt) from Lake Ashi.

The convenient location makes it easy to stop by during a sightseeing tour. Prices are reasonable, so you can fill up without worrying about the bottom line. The atmosphere is friendly, too, and welcoming to families with children.

Woody is a café close to Hakone Open-Air Museum that offers a relaxing space with the warmth of wood, hence its name. The wide-ranging menu includes hamburgers, Naporitan (a Japanese spaghetti dish made with ketchup), and pizzas.

The hamburgers and other items like palm-sized, hot fried pizzas are ideal as takeaway options. Daytime beers and cocktails also add to the travel experience.

Gyoza Centre is located between Gora Station and Chokoku-no-mori Station, attracting a lot of attention for its unique gyoza in a pleasant café-style setting. In addition to the typical yaki-gyoza (baked dumplings) and sui-gyoza (boiled dumplings), a variety of different kinds of gyoza filling are available, such as chicken wings, chicken skin, natto (fermented soybeans), and cheese.

The gyoza stuffed with seafood, such as shrimp and scallops, are also tasty. Get a set meal set that includes rice, miso soup, and pickles if you’re feeling hungry. There are always queues of people waiting to get in, so be prepared to wait.

Gora Brewery & Grill is the sister restaurant to Itoh Dining by Nobu. Its craft beer, made with natural Hakone water, has won numerous awards at international beer competitions. The beer is delicious on its own, but the flavour is further enhanced when paired with food. The many grilled dishes are delicious and authentic, cooked over charcoal and in stone ovens.

With a high ceiling bar space designed by a famous architect, a stone garden over the open kitchen, and a footbath space unique to Hakone, there are plenty of inventive touches to make guests feel relaxed and comfortable.

Takeyabu Hakoneten is a branch of a Michelin-starred soba restaurant (the main branch is in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture). Its omakase (chef’s choice) menu includes soba noodles using buckwheat carefully grown in the fields of the Kurohime Highlands, with a full flavour and rich aroma. Make a reservation by phone if you want to try the evening menu.

The uniquely decorated interior has an open terrace where you can dine while appreciating the Hakone scenery. This includes soba noodles as a single dish, as well as sweet dishes, but make sure you get here early to avoid disappointment.

Kinosuke is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) located in front of Hakone-Yumoto Station that mainly serves fish dishes. It offers seafood from Sagami Bay and locally-grown vegetables grilled over charcoal using high-grade Binchotan charcoal. Other delicacies include branded Sagami Ayase Pork and tofu made from Mt. Yusaka’s spring water.

The restaurant's speciality, hand-opened himono (dried fish), is a must-try. Fresh shirasu (baby sardines) and various fried dishes are also getting rave reviews. It’s rare to find a casual bar like this in Hakone. With tatami room seating, this is also a great place for families and groups.

Yuba-don Naokichi is a yuba (soy-milk skin) restaurant close to Hakone-Yumoto Station. The yuba is made using Hime no Mizu (“Princess Water”), the famous water of Ohiradai, for a thick texture and gentle, warming taste. Besides the famous yuba-don (a bowl of rice topped with yuba leaves), yuba-sashi (raw slices of yuba leaves), hime-tofu (soft tofu), and genkotsu-age (deep-fried ball of fish paste) are also popular for their healthy and delicious taste.

Many people come here just for the sweet dishes on offer. The unusual yuba zenzai and tofu zenzai (sweet red-bean soup) deliver a sumptuous contrast to the sweet, grainy bean paste.

Salon de Thé Rosage is a café directly operated by Hotel de Yama overlooking Lake Ashi. It offers an elegant teatime experience with a wide selection of authentic black teas made from tea leaves produced in famous tea gardens. When the weather’s good, you can spend a relaxing time on the terrace enjoying the breeze.

Many special seasonal desserts are also available. The Rosage traditional hot & cold apple pie with vanilla ice cream, with a stunning fruit sauce, is popular with Instagrammers and foodies alike. The French toast and scones are also big hits.

Steak House Yoshiike is a time-honoured teppanyaki steak restaurant next to Yoshiike Ryokan. You can look forward to a stunning performance of Japanese Black beef being flambéed right in front of you. The quality and volume of the food will never disappoint. Many regulars visit this restaurant every time they come to Hakone.

As well as steaks, excellent hamburgers and seafood such as fried shrimp are also on the menu. With its great value for money, Steak House Yoshiike is also a top lunch option.