Restaurant Chiho-no-ie — Restaurant in Takachiho

Had my very first flowing water noodle experience at this restaurant, and it was every bit as cool as it sounds. Located right next to the stunning Takachiho Gorge, it's the perfect spot to unwind after a bit of exploring. The restaurant seems to be a hit with visitors, given the signs instructing how to queue up.

I swung by post-lunch rush at around 2:30 pm, which turned out to be perfect timing as it wasn't too crowded. The menu was straightforward, offering the option of ordering items separately or going for a set at 1500 yen, which most patrons, myself included, opted for. The set included the unique noodle experience, a beautifully grilled fish, and a rice ball.

The whole concept of catching your noodles as they flow by in water is not just fun but also ensures that you're the only one touching your food - great for hygiene. And don't worry about your noodle-catching skills; any escapees are collected and served to you at the end, so nothing goes to waste. The noodles themselves were simple yet delicious, making for a light, satisfying meal.

All in all, it's a 5-star experience for me. The combination of a unique dining adventure, tasty food, and the beautiful setting by the gorge makes this a...

It’s touristy, so manage your expectations accordingly. It was fun trying to catch the noodles as it flows along the bamboo ‘stream’. It probably comes out in 3 batches per order. So meaning each person gets about 3 tries to pick your noodles. The remaining / ‘uncaught’ noodles will be brought to you in a separate basket. I went around 2pm+ and had to wait for about 15 mins as the restaurant was busy.

You can order the noodles as is (not enough for a meal) but they do come along in a set meal with a choice of vegetables (steamed pumpkin, konnyaku, rice ball, salad, tofu etc) or grilled fish (very salty). We also tried the beef udon and...

Fun experience of catching your soba flowing down through bamboo shoot in front of you. If you miss it, the soba will be collected at the end and passed to you later. Set meal comes with fish and rice balll. The fish however is small and there’s not much protein. Staff is polite and helpful. You will need to walk through the gorge to get to the restaurant, there’s no other way of getting...