A must-see for chocolate lovers! A must-see new spot in the post town of Hokuto City , Yamanashi Prefecture
Itoma Chocolate & Ice Cream opened in the historic post town of Daigahara-juku in Hakushu Town, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. At this new and popular spot in the tranquil, historic post town, visitors can enjoy bean-to-bar chocolate made with cocoa sourced from around the world, as well as gelato crafted with ingredients from Hokuto City.
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It is located in the northwest of Yamanashi Prefecture, on the border with Nagano Prefecture. It is a vast area surrounded by 3,000m-class mountains such as the Yatsugatake Mountains, the Southern Alps, and Mt. Kinpu, and overlooking Mt. Fuji to the south. It is about a two-hour drive from Tokyo, about an hour from Mt. Fuji, and about an hour from Matsumoto, and is easily accessible, so many tourists visit throughout the year. It is also known as a "village of famous water," and three places have been selected as one of Japan's 100 famous water sources. This bounty of water is loved as natural water, and the area boasts one of the largest production volumes of mineral water in Japan. Sake is also produced from the pure water, and you can enjoy beautiful natural scenery and rich food.
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Table of Contents
- 1. A chocolate-focused destination opens in Hokuto City
- 2. Why we chose the historic post town of Daigahara-juku in Hakushu Town for our store
- 3. What is "Itoma"? | The view of time embodied in the store name
- 4. Single-origin chocolate from Yamanashi that lets you taste the unique characteristics of cacao
- 5. How to Enjoy | Gelato and Ice Cream from Chocolate
- 6. Recommended for Valentine's Day | A piece with a story that meets ingredients from Hokuto
- 7. Things to know before you visit | Information
- 8.Store Information
- 9. Summary of new attractions in Hokuto City that chocolate lovers should visit
1. A chocolate-focused destination opens in Hokuto City
A place worth visiting just to taste chocolate is currently gaining attention in Hokuto City , Yamanashi Prefecture .
Itoma Chocolate & Ice Cream opened on October 10, 2025, in Daigahara-juku, a historic post town along the old Koshu Road.
This isn't just a place to enjoy something sweet.
This is a place you'll want to visit to spend some time for yourself in a quiet setting, enjoying carefully crafted chocolate.
2. Why we chose the historic post town of Daigahara-juku in Hakushu Town for our store
Onizuka, the man behind Itoma Chocolate & Ice Cream, is originally from Hakushu Town , Hokuto City , Yamanashi Prefecture .
He says that it was only by leaving his hometown and experiencing the outside world that he was able to once again strongly appreciate the charm of the Hakushu area .
Clear water, fresh air, and a peaceful flow of time, a little distance from the hustle and bustle.
" If I was going to open a shop, I wanted it to be somewhere where time flows slowly, not somewhere that would attract people ."
For Onizuka, opening a store in Daigahara, a historic post town in Hakushu Town, felt like a very natural choice.
The historic post town of Daigahara-juku flourished as a post town along the Koshu Road during the Edo period.It was once a hub for travelers and merchants, and even today, streets dotted with traces of that time remain.
The pure water that symbolizes Hakushu, the village of famous water, the sake breweries with a long history, and the tranquil atmosphere that is an extension of everyday life despite being a tourist destination.
The scenery of Hara, which has a history of welcoming people as a post town and a tranquil atmosphere that is close to everyday life,
This quietly overlaps with Onizuka's desire to " cherish the time spent with chocolate ."
3. What is "Itoma"? | The view of time embodied in the store name
The store's name, "Itoma," is an old Japanese word that means spending time relaxing and doing nothing .
It only takes a few seconds for a chocolate to reach your mouth. Even in that short moment, we hope it will be a chance to gently release your mind from the busyness of everyday life and return to yourself . This is the hope that is embodied in the name.
The calm atmosphere in the shop and the relaxed pace of the customers will naturally slow your mind as you sip on the warm hot chocolate or slowly melting gelato.
All of these elements come together to form a place where you can experience time itself .
4. Single-origin chocolate from Yamanashi that lets you taste the unique characteristics of cacao
The core of Itoma's chocolate making is the idea of enjoying cacao as a unique product of its region , just like coffee beans or wine.
All of our coffees are single-origin , made using carefully selected cocoa beans from farms around the world , including Guatemala, Tanzania, Mexico, Peru, Haiti, and Venezuela.
The only ingredients are cocoa beans and sugar .
Because nothing unnecessary is added, the refreshing acidity reminiscent of fruit and the mellow richness of milk emerge surprisingly naturally.
While locally based bean-to-bar chocolates are on the rise across Japan, for a long time there were very few of them in Yamanashi Prefecture.
" This happiness should be found in this land too " - this idea is the starting point for Itoma's chocolate making.
You can also enjoy the chocolate you purchased in the store with hot chocolate or latte.
The coffee beans used in the latte are lightly roasted to bring out the delicate flavor of the chocolate. The mild flavor with reduced bitterness subtly complements the individuality of the cacao, allowing you to savor the aftertaste of each bean even more deeply.
Chocolate is the main focus, and even the drinks are carefully designed to support the moment. This meticulous attention to detail shows the craftsmanship of "Itoma."
![[2 hours from Tokyo] Winter trip to Hokuto City| 6 experiences to enjoy in Hokuto in winter - Part 1](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/200x2000/2026/01/06-254901.webp)
![[2 hours from Tokyo] Winter trip to Hokuto City| 6 experiences to enjoy in Hokuto in winter - Part 2](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/200x2000/2026/01/07-255036.webp)
5. How to Enjoy | Gelato and Ice Cream from Chocolate
In addition to gelato made with luxurious chocolate, the shop also offers craft ice cream made with chocolate and fruits and milk from Hokuto City.
Enjoying a cold bite while taking in the changing seasonal scenery of Hokuto Citygives you a special sense of tranquility that can only be experienced here .
6. Recommended for Valentine's Day | A piece with a story that meets ingredients from Hokuto
One chocolate you should definitely check out for Valentine's Day is "Kasane," which combines ingredients from Hokuto City and Yamanashi Prefecture .
"600,000-year-old salt" collected in Yamanashi Prefecture , which has no sea.
Hayakawa Town 's "hot spring salt" has been revived by students from Yamanashi Prefectural University.
And rich dried grapes grown at Aiyama Fruit Farm in Nirasaki City , Yamanashi Prefecture .
Each raisin is wrapped in chocolate made from Tanzanian cacao, creating a flavor that is completely different from regular raisin chocolate .
When you put it in your mouth, the crisp saltiness of the hot spring salt gently awakens your taste buds, followed by the fruity aroma reminiscent of fruit, unique to Tanzanian cacao.
The refreshing nuance of kaffir lime leaves appears as a thread between the two notes, gently connecting the two distinct characteristics of cacao and grapes and shaping the overall flavor.
Finally, the sticky, concentrated sweetness of raisins slowly rises and lingers in the mouth with a long aftertaste.
Rather than overwhelming with sweetness, the depth is created by the saltiness, aroma, and fruitiness overlapping over time.It is not just raisin chocolate , but can be said to be "a piece for adults" that is layered with the story of the land and the people .
This chocolate , born from the climate of Hokuto, is perfect for Valentine's Day and is perfect for enjoying quietly with wine or coffee, and for choosing for yourself too.
7. Things to know before you visit | Information
Genre (industry) | Cafe
Reservations | Not accepted
Multilingual menu | None
Multilingual support | English available
Free Wi-Fi｜None
Children allowed
Smoking | Not permitted (all seats non-smoking)
8.Store Information
Store name: Itoma Chocolate & Ice Cream
Address: 2196 Daigahara , Hakushu-cho, Hokuto Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
Business hours: 11:00-17:00
Business type: Open all year round
Closed: Monday to Wednesday
Payment method: Cash/Credit card
Seating capacity: 20 seats (pets allowed on terrace seats)
Access: Approximately 15 minutes by car from Nagasaka IC on the Chuo
Parking: Available (3 spaces)
*If the parking lot is full, please use the nearby free parking lot.
Take-out: Available
9. Summary of new attractions in Hokuto City that chocolate lovers should visit
Chocolate to express your feelings to someone.
And chocolate to treat yourself.
Spending time with each carefully crafted piece in the quiet post town of Harawill free your mind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, making for a special Valentine's Day .
The individuality of the cacao hidden Oku the sweetness, the slow flow of time, the luxury of adding nothing and taking nothing away.
Itoma Chocolate & Ice Cream is a new must- visit bean-to-bar chocolate spot in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture , and is a place that adults will want to savor and that will leave them with quiet memories.
![[Yamanashi/ Hokuto City] 4 Hot New Spots Opening in 2026](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/200x2000/2025/12/12-252747.webp)
It is located in the northwest of Yamanashi Prefecture, on the border with Nagano Prefecture. It is a vast area surrounded by 3,000m-class mountains such as the Yatsugatake Mountains, the Southern Alps, and Mt. Kinpu, and overlooking Mt. Fuji to the south. It is about a two-hour drive from Tokyo, about an hour from Mt. Fuji, and about an hour from Matsumoto, and is easily accessible, so many tourists visit throughout the year. It is also known as a "village of famous water," and three places have been selected as one of Japan's 100 famous water sources. This bounty of water is loved as natural water, and the area boasts one of the largest production volumes of mineral water in Japan. Sake is also produced from the pure water, and you can enjoy beautiful natural scenery and rich food.
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