Yamaji — Restaurant in Hakone

Tasty Local Soba in Cozy Hakone Spot

If you’re looking to try traditional Japanese soba in Hakone, this small local spot is a lovely choice. We tried the tororo seiro soba, a set that comes with cold soba noodles and grated yam (tororo)—a sticky, creamy sauce made from Japanese mountain yam. It might be a new texture for some, but it’s a classic pairing in Japanese cuisine and surprisingly refreshing!

We also tried the vegetable soba, which was warm, comforting, and perfect after a walk in the fresh Hakone air.

🍜 Small but Popular The restaurant is quite small—around 15 seats—so we had to wait a little before getting in. But the cozy atmosphere and homemade taste made it worth it.

👥 Service The staff was a mix of people, and some spoke very good English, which helped with ordering and made us feel welcome.

✨ Overall A great place to experience simple, local food in Hakone. If you’re curious about tororo, this is a nice...

Absolutely magnificent. To start off, there was already a queue when we reached, for people trying to get their dinner fix before the shop closes. Filled with locals and tourists alike, they had a well translated english menu with a large variety of options. One lady was serving the entire restaurant, which was impressive.

Food wise: Katsu Don - chicken is tender and tasty. Not too much sauce such that the don becomes soggy. The fried egg blended well together with the cutlet, making each bite more and more delicious.

Tamago Toji Udon - the soup warmed our stomachs and there was a good blend of vegetables and other stuff within the soup.

Cold Udon with Yam - udon was springy and well made! Together with the sauce, it was good. The yam is an acquired taste though, all of us didn’t like it but it felt like it may be...

This small and cozy restaurant in Gora, Hakone, is the perfect refuge from the chilly weather outside. The warm and kind service from the waitresses immediately made us feel welcome and comfortable.

For our mains, we ordered a katsu don and a chicken don, and the flavors were distinctively different from what we’re used to in Singapore. The pork was incredibly soft and fresh, while the chicken was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The eggs and sauce were perfectly marinated, creating a harmonious and delicious combination.

As an appetizer, we tried a dish made with konjac jelly, which was both unique and delightful—an interesting start to the meal!

This restaurant offered a wonderful dining experience, blending great food with warm hospitality. Definitely worth a visit if you're...