Kamikochi, Mt. Fuji, Shirakawa-go, and More! A Guide to All There Is to See in Nagano, Gifu, and Yamanashi! Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: May 26 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Kamikochi, Mt. Fuji, Shirakawa-go, and More! A Guide to All There Is to See in Nagano, Gifu, and Yamanashi!

As little as 2 hours by train or high-speed bus from Tokyo, the prefectures of Nagano, Yamanashi, and Gifu are great spots for a quick day-trip during a stay in Tokyo. You can visit the famous sightseeing spots, Kamikochi, Mt. Fuji, and Shirakawa-go among many others, in an area that's popular with tourists from both Japan and abroad. Here are some recommendations for great restaurants to stop by in the region, where you can indulge in many local specialty dishes.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Nagano, Yamanashi, and Gifu.

1. Popular Sightseeing Spots in Nagano

Kamikochi is a popular sightseeing spot in Nagano at the moment. At an elevation of 1,500m above sea level, the picturesque mountainous scenery of this area, Japan's first mountain resort, has been designated a National Cultural Asset. For those who enjoy shopping and leisurely walks around town, try going to the famous Karuizawa, known for its outlet malls and the historical Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza. In winter, you can enjoy winter sports at Hakaba as well!

2. Specialty Gourmet Foods of Nagano

Nagano is known for the dish Shinshu soba (buckwheat noodles). Much of Shinshu has nutrient-poor soil due to cold weather, producing favorable conditions for growing delicious buckwheat to make soba. This is why Shinshu has the highest concentration of soba shops in Japan. This dish is a must-try when you visit Nagano. Apart from soba, Shinshu Alps Beef and Shinshu salmon are famous as well.

Kosuge (Nagano / Udon and Soba)

Kosuge is a soba restaurant where you can enjoy the exquisite taste of Nagano's soba. Jazz music plays in the restaurant which has an interior made of wood and a warm atmosphere. The buckwheat flour used for the noodles is of high quality, and the dashi (broth) is made from carefully selected kombu (kelp), bonito flakes, and vegetables. The [Shinano Dipping Soba] (850 JPY) has gained high reputation from soba connoisseurs and has a sweet flavor with a pronounced chewiness. From February on, the soba is exposed to the snow and the icy wind, making it a must-try!

Sobashunsaikosuge

Open: [Sunday,Tuesday - Saturday,Holidays,Day Before Holidays] 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm (last order 9:00 pm) / Lunch 11:30 am - 1:30 pm (last order 1:00 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 1390-1, Kitaishido-cho, Nagano city, Nagano

Suehiro (Nagano / Japanese Cuisine)

Suehiro is a restaurant that serves local dishes grilled on charcoal hearths. You can spot it by the red curtain with modern Japanese design that hangs at the entrance. You can enjoy cuisine made with local specialties like Shinshu Alps beef and Shinshu Fukumi chicken in a calm and chic atmosphere. The 2.5cm thick [Seared Beef Filet with Andes Rock Salt and Wasabi] (1,780 JPY), is grilled slowly over binchotan (high-grade charcoal), making the meat crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

Suehiro

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: 5,000 JPY
Address: 1358, Suehiro-cho, Nagano-shi, Nagano

Kawakami An

Kawakami An is a popular spot that stands by the entrance of Karuizawa Ginza. Along with artisanal bowls and paintings decolated, this restaurant has a calm, relaxing interior from which you can admire seasonal scenes of nature. The [Tempura Seiro] (dipping soba and tempura) (1,940 JPY) comes with soba that goes down extraordinarily smoothly and huge shrimp and vegetable tempura. Another recommended dish is the [Morning-Picked Local Vegetable Salad] (1,070 JPY), made with ten types of vegetables directly procured from a contracted farmer. There is an extensive offering of sake (Japanese alcohol) as well, with a focus on ji-zake (local sake).

Kawakami An

Open: From 11:00 am (L.O 9:00 pm) (L.O. 10:00 pm during busy seasons)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY
Address: 6-10, Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kita Saku-gun, Nagano Map
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3. Popular Sightseeing Spots in Yamanashi

You can't miss out on seeing the symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji. From mid-October to the end of February, you can see "Diamond Fuji" from Lake Yamanaka. This refers to a phenomenon where the sun sets behind the summit of the mountain, creating a diamond shaped glow. Another great spot is Oshino Hakkai, which refers to ponds where the headwaters of Mt. Fuji's underground waterways spring. Here, the sunlight illuminates the clear, tranquil water, coloring the water a radiant blue like an ocean.

4. Specialty Gourmet Foods of Yamanashi

One of Yamanashi's specialty foods is houtou, which is a dish prepared with thick, flat noodles simmered raw so that the broth becomes thick while the noodles stay warm until the last bite. Yamanashi is also known as Japan's Vineyard, with more than 80 wineries located in the prefecture, including several that are recognized internationally.

Cueillet

Cuillet is a restaurant that looks like it could be in the French countryside. With Mt. Fuji in front, the Yatsugatake Mountains to the north, and the southern Japanese Alps to the west, this restaurant offers a beautiful panorama of natural scenery and is peacefully situated in the middle of their vineyard. Cuillet offers authentic French cuisine, with vegetables sourced from contracted local farmers and Wine pork. The [Wine Pork and Foie Gras Pâté with Eagle Fern Marinade] is highly recommended, as is the [Koshu Wine] that pairs well with French cuisine.

Cueillet

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Sunday, Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Dinner 6:00 pm - (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,000 JPY
Access: From Nirasaki Interchange, head toward Shosenkyo Gorge, turn right at the Nirasaki Interchange Kita, and the restaurant will be 600 meters ahead on the right.
Address: 1129 Hosakamachi Mitsusawa, Nirasaki, Yamanashi (Map)
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Izakaya Hokkai

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In front of Lake Yamanakako is Izakaya Hokkai. This restaurant is a great place to satiate your appetite after a hard day of playing because it is surrounded by several golf courses and recreational areas. With a kind owner and upbeat crew, this restaurant is constantly buzzing with energy. Enjoy their special method of preparing kushiyaki skewers; you may pick your preferred skewer from a refrigerator of unroasted skewers and let it roast. In this way, you may also take pleasure in the aroma of the meats and the crackling sound of the fat during roasting.

Izakaya Hokkai

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before Holidays] 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: Driving from Lake Kawaguchiko to Lake Yamanakako on National Route 138, it is on the right side. Driving from Shizuoka side to the direction of Lake Kawaguchiko on National Route 138, it is on the left side.
Address: 226 Yamanaka, Yamanakako-mura, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Map

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Sumibi Yakiniku Himawaritei

The restaurant's specialty is a rich, opulent piece of beef tongue. The tongue's thickness, brittleness, and spread-out fat inside the mouth could be too alluring. Additionally, they provide freshly harvested, premium black-haired Japanese beef that has been properly selected, and the kimchi, tare (sauce), and dressing are all handmade. They do their utmost to offer generous quantities for a reasonable price in an effort to delight their clients. Menus for courses start at a very affordable 2,000JPY!

Sumibi Yakiniku Himawaritei

Open: [Monday/Wednesday-Sunday/Holiday/Day before holiday] Normal hours 17:00 - 00:00 (last order23:15)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: Three minute drive from Kawaguchi-ko IC.
Address: 7364-2 Funatsu , Fuji kawaguchiko Machi, Minami Tsuru-gun , Yamanashi Map

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5. Popular Sightseeing Spots in Gifu

Shirakawa-go, located in Gifu, is a popular destination and a World Heritage Site. More than a hundred traditional gasho-zukuri buildings, built in a Japanese architectural style that uses an A-frame thatched roof, can be found here, creating a beautiful scene reminiscent of old Japan. Every year, the houses are romantically illuminated in January and February (reservations required). Another great spot is Magome Juku, a historic inn town. With water wheels, stone-paved streets, old-fashioned cafes and general stores, you can enjoy the blending of the new and the old on a leisurely walk around town.

6. Specialty Gourmet Dishes of Gifu

Gifu is known for its Hida beef. With a quality of A3, B3, or higher, Hida beef is beautifully marbled and has an exceptionally soft texture due to its moderate amount of fat, and its thin grain. Hida steaks are a must-try. Another recommended local dish is Takayama ramen, prepared with Japanese-style dashi (broth), soy sauce flavored soup, and thin noodles that go great together.

Steak House Kitchen Hida (Takayama / Steak, Hamburg Steak, Curry)

With a history spanning over fifty years, this famous steakhouse specializes in preparing Hida beef. With a retro ambiance, this restaurant lets you enjoy carefully selected cuts of Hida beef raised on natural pastures. Two highly recommended dishes are the [150g A5-Grade Hida Ribeye Steak], known for its thin grain and wonderful fragrance, and the [100g A4 Grade Hida beef Filet Steak], which uses a rare cut of beef.

Steak House Kitchen Hida

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm (L.O. 2:45 pm) / [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm (L.O. 7:45 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,500 JPY
Access: 10 minutes walk from Takayama Station, Takayama Main Line
Address: 1-66 Hommachi, Takayama , Gifu Map
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Hida Beef Steak & Hamburger Steak LE MiDi

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This steakhouse, which has been featured in the media, is located by the popular sightseeing spot, Hida Takayama, and has a stylish atmosphere. The chef trained at a highly-acclaimed restaurant in France and strives to make a wide array of dishes that maximize the flavors of the ingredients. The most popular of these is steak made from Hida beef that has been aged for two weeks. For dessert, the [3-Star Kabocha Pudding] (350 JPY), is highly recommended as a fantastic end to an exceptional meal.

Hida Beef Steak & Hamburger Steak LE MiDi

Open: [Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm (L.O. 3:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm) [Monday - Wednesday, Friday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Dinner 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Thursday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,000 JPY
Access: A 10-minute walk from JR [Takayama Station]
Address: 2-85 Honmachi, Takayama, Gifu (Map)
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Yayoi Soba Main Branch

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This restaurant serves up old-school Chinese-style ramen. With a counter and tables each made from a single piece of wood, and chairs made from tree stumps, the interior is filled with the warmth of wood. The ramen broth is made from a base of chicken bones, bonito flakes, and other ingredients, and the homemade noodles are thin and wavy. The simple yet deep taste of the ramen is extremely popular. With items such as the classic [Regular Size Chinese Ramen] (750 JPY) and [Char Siu Noodles] (noodles with roast pork) (1,050 JPY), there is a wide range of dishes available.

Yayoi Soba Main Branch

Open: *Main branch [Monday, Wednesday - Friday] 11:00 am - 2:00 pm [Saturday, Sunday] 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

This has been a quick rundown of popular spots and delicious foods in Nagano, Yamanashi, and Gifu. The next time you're in Tokyo, why not take a day trip to one of these fantastic places? You won't regret it.

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.