Ontaya — Restaurant in Nakatsugawa

We had such a wonderful stay backpacking at Magome juku, as we prepared to hike the next morning to Tsumago juku.

As most of the restaurants are closed in the evening, you will need to either buy some food with you for dinner, or prebooked some places over there. We were recommended to try out Ontaya, simple little shop that serve local produce and serve a lot of foreign tourist and locals there.

They do have booking QR code available at the restaurant but do remember that is for same day booking.

As usual, we over ordered with no regrets LOL we started off with local beef sushi, that is served on a cracker, when I was back in Takayama, I had tonnes of this, the best part there is no trash because you can eat up the plate itself & when there is the savoury & sweet beef sauce dripped on it, you will polish it in no time.

We ordered Hida beef coroquettes, that was freshly fried, go so well with a ice cold beer even on a cold winter night. Follow by a claypot rice with local produce, it comes filled with generous amount of edible ferns and chestnut, the sweetness comes with it and the mochi Japanese rice, add some salt on it, I feel like I am done for the night.

The sukiyaki that most people order was good but not the best, but again comes with generous portions & it is on the saltier side. After a big dinner like this, walk around the area, it gives off such a different feel with the dim street lamps, and remember, look up in the sky too, chances is you will see really beautiful...

This was the only place which served Dinner of weekdays in Magome juku so we tried it. Overall the food was delicious. The soba is one of the best we had till date and the grilled chicken rice miso set was very nice. The flavor, portion size and taste was very nice. Location is amazing too. Only one suggestion was that dinner chicken set was too expensive for what the value was- at 1400 yen for grilled chicken is still okay and by Japan standard it should come with rice by default. Not paying extra 400-500yen for rice and miso was a very bad thing. Just not...

We dined here on two evenings. The meatless menu has four options, all good for vegans. The food has a wild mountain theme, so lots of mushrooms and chestnuts, very different and authentic. I really liked the meatless sukiyaki, which is vegetables, tofu and noodles served over a burner. Vegetable ramen is also very good and is pretty! Generous portions. You order using a QR code, it's a very efficient system, when you get used to it! A must try restaurant when in Magome for...