Tonkatsu Imai — Restaurant in Karuizawa

In the resort town of Karuizawa, Tonkatsu Imai sits inconspicuously by the roadside, making amazing tonkatsu dishes.

The tonkatsu gozen (ヒレカツ御膳) is juicy and rich, with a fluffy and crisp outer crust perfectly prepared. The rice is delivered in a beautiful donabe (土鍋) stoneware pot, steaming and fresh. The tonjiru (豚汁) soup is filled with sliced pork and vegetables, a meal all by itself.

Imai’s other tonkatsu dishes are excellent, as well. Tonkatsu curry (カツカレー) is spicy and slightly sweet, balancing beautifully with the Katsu served on a bed of rice.

This visit was in November as the weather cooled and the veranda was enclosed to keep in the heat. I am looking forward to visiting again in the spring or summer when the deck is fully open and the breeze can be felt while enjoying this...

The hirekatsu lunch set was 3,300 yen which is not cheap but everything was very good. The rice is cooked in a pot for each order so it takes a bit of time but ends up great. The meat was soft and juicy. The tea was particularly good and served in a beautiful cup. It is located on a terrace, which had curtains due to the cold but the view is probably nice in...

The best Tonkatsu set we have ever had. The pork is very tender and the portion is very big. Even though we are full, we still try to finish it as it is very tasty. We came here twice even though we only stayed in the nearby hotel for 3 nights. Definitely recommend for anyone who is a fan...