Yuba-gozen Sun Field — Restaurant in Nikko

Wow 😍😍what an amazing and special experience!!! I LOVE yuba and this place really made it extra special. I'm vegan and most of the time in Japan, it's impossible to get clear answers about what has dashi or bonito or gelatin in it. Here, they have a perfect display detailing what has what so vegans and vegetarians can beware. I haven't seen that type of consideration anywhere else in a small place like Nikko so that was so kind of them.

The yuba itself is so yummy. I loved all the different kinds of the ones I could eat. I loved the different textures and flavors. It was so fun to eat as well!! And the portion is satisfactory. I was happy.

Important to know it's cash only so come prepared and they do not offer take away! Do not ask if you can take leftovers, it is not acceptable. My sister couldn't finish hers but did her best. They also served a delicious cold tea, maybe a barley tea. It was so refreshing and nostalgic.

Also these ladies went out of their way to call a taxi for us. I'm traveling with my baby and she was tired and we just wanted to get home quickly without the wait of the train. But our phones were not working. We asked to borrow a phone to call the taxi but they did it for us, so nice!! Then when the taxi came she let us know and escorted is outside and spoke with the driver. Really above and beyond. Thank you ladies so much! We had a top notch...

Yuba-gozen Sun Field is a cozy, family-run restaurant. It specializes in yuba – delicate tofu skin, a signature ingredient of the Nikkō region. The restaurant opens at 11:00 a.m. and usually serves a single set meal, the Yuba Set priced at ¥2,200 (CASH ONLY).

The menu includes a dozen small dishes showcasing yuba in different styles – simmered, fried, seasoned with sesame or miso, and even turned into coffee jelly. An English menu is available, complete with detailed notes for vegetarians (some dishes use dashi – fish-based broth, and one dessert includes gelatin / animal collagen).

The interior is small and homely, with a counter and open kitchen where several women prepare meals in full view of guests. The staff are friendly and attentive, and even during busy hours maintain a calm rhythm typical of traditional Japanese establishments. There is often a waiting list posted at the entrance – customers write their names before entering, which adds to the local charm. Still, it’s absolutely worth the wait – a unique, peaceful, and very Japanese...

For all the yummy things you can find in Nikko, at its core its actually a tofu town. Its famous local delicacy and star ingredient is Yuba; the tofu-y skin that forms when soya milk is boiled. As versatile as tofu, it can be added to complement many dishes and actually pretty much all restaurants in Nikko have it on the menu in some form.

But arguably the best place to try Yuba is at Yuba-gozen Sun Field!

Located along the Nikko-kaido main road, it is efficiently run by an industrious but friendly group of older women who clearly take their Yuba very seriously. The whole setting somehow feels like it could have come out of a Ghibli movie 😁

For 2,200 yen, you can get a lovely set of what is essentially Yuba done in different ways. It has a nice, subtle sweetness and flavour that comes through, regardless of how it is prepared.

Overall, a very satisfying and delicious introduction to Nikko's beloved Yuba🙏🏻

*Do take note that payment is...