[2 hours from Tokyo ] 8 recommended trips to enjoy fermented and spiced cuisine in Hokuto City , Yamanashi Prefecture , a town known for its pristine water.

• Table of Contents
• What is Hokuto City , Yamanashi Prefecture ? A town of pristine water and fermentation culture.
• 1. Enjoy traditional fermented dishes at a sake brewery restaurant - Daimin -
• 2. A café run by a sake brewery - NOBU SAKAGURA Cellar Door -
• 3. FARM TO RESTAURANT - Farmers Restaurant Orto -
• 4. A cafe that soothes you with carefully selected ingredients and spices - HALENOBON -
• 5. Enjoying HEALTY JUNK FOOD - CAFE&DINER Mount Yatsugatake Roulette -
• 6. Koji seasonings and lovingly prepared gut-healthy home cooking - Natural Diner Cocoro -
• 7. A cafe and select shop where you can taste and choose –  Yatsugatake Select Sennoya –
• 8. A roadside station where you can encounter locally produced fermented foods and the pure water of the Minami Alps - Michi no Eki Hakushu -
• Summary

What is Hokuto City , Yamanashi Prefecture ? A town of pristine water and fermentation culture.

Located in the northwestern part of Yamanashi Prefecture, Hokuto City is a region rich in nature, surrounded by the Minami Alps and Yatsugatake mountains. It is known as one of Japan's leading areas for pure water . This pure water has nurtured the fermentation culture of sake, miso, koji, and other products, and has supported the region's food culture .

In recent years, in addition to the wisdom of fermentation , the number of unique restaurants and cafes that utilize spices and the bounty of nature has been increasing. Why not explore sake brewery restaurants, farmer's restaurants, and cafes, and enjoy the unique food culture of Hokuto along with " gut-health" gourmet food that nourishes your body from the inside out?

This time, we'll introduce eight fermentation and spice shops that you can enjoy in Hokuto City.

Let's explore more of the charms of Hokuto City , Yamanashi Prefecture !

1. Enjoy traditional fermented dishes at a sake brewery restaurant - Daimin -

This sake brewery restaurant is run by Yamanashi Meijo Co., Ltd., a long-established sake brewery founded in 1750. It was created with the desire to "deliver the traditional taste to visitors of the brewery." The menu features dishes that utilize the power of fermentation , such as salmon marinated in sweet koji and beef marinated in miso. You can enjoy a leisurely meal with sake in a warm, woody space that reuses materials from the early Meiji period.

📍2289 Daigahara, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
☎ 0551-35-5111
🕐 Lunch 11:30 -- 15:30 *Reservations only available for 11:30
Dinner 17:00 -- 20:30 *Dinner is by reservation only, course menu only, for groups of 5 or more. Reservations must be made by 17:00 the day before.
📅 Closed on Tuesdays / New Year's holidays *Please check the website for details.

Check out the Taiwanese website now!

At the adjacent Shichiken , you can also take a tour of the sake brewery and experience Japanese sake culture more deeply. *Limited availability, reservations required.

2. A café run by a sake brewery - NOBU SAKAGURA Cellar Door -

This cafe and dining establishment is run by Takenoi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., a sake brewery founded in 1865. Based on the concept of " Cellar Door," the entrance to the sake brewery, it was created as a place to introduce people to sake. Popular items include gut-healthy lunches that utilize sake lees , a blessing from sake brewing, as well as menus that support beauty and health with plenty of dietary fiber, and sake tasting sets . It's a place where you can easily experience sake brewery culture.

1450 Minowa, Takane-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi
☎ 0551-47-5963
🕐 Shop 9:00 -- 17:00 Cafe Corner 11:00 -- 16:00
📅 Shop: Closed January 1st-3rd and August 15th. Cafe Corner: Closed Tuesday-Thursday.
*Please check our website and Instagram for details.

Check out the NOBU SAKAGURA Cellar Door website right now!

Check out NOBU SAKAGURA Cellar Door's Instagram right now!

Nearby is the Sandai Kousha Fureai no Sato , a tourist facility renovated from a former elementary school, where you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing in the spring. Visiting both will allow you to appreciate the scenery and culture of Hokuto more deeply.

3. FARM TO RESTAURANT - Farmers Restaurant Orto -

This farmer's restaurant welcomes you with views of its own farm and the Minami Alps . Based on the theme of " FARM TO RESTAURANT ," it offers dishes that showcase the appeal of vegetables from its own farm and local ingredients . From pasta made with 100% tomatoes grown on their own farm to dishes incorporating fermentation, such as homemade Choucroute and cider-infused ingredients , the menu is full of delightful flavors. Each dish, imbued with the bounty of nature , gently nourishes the body.

📍4869-1 Kobuchizawa-cho , Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
☎ 0551-45-8545
🕐 Lunch 11:30 -- 14:30 Dinner 17:30 -- 20:30
📅 Closed on Wednesdays. *Please check Instagram for details.

Check out Farmers Restaurant Ortho's Instagram right now!

With the Kobuchisawa roadside station nearby, this is a convenient place to stop by at the beginning or end of your trip.

4. A cafe that soothes you with carefully selected ingredients and spices - HALENOBON -

This cafe is located within the GASBON METABOLISM art complex. Here you can enjoy South Indian-style spice curries and baked goods made with carefully selected ingredients such as fiber- Toyotomi spelt flour and rice flour. The dishes, which combine wholesome ingredients and spices, provide a light and satisfying experience. The Yatsugatake mountains and the Minami Alps stretch out outside the window, and the cafe is adorned with works by various artists. Surrounded by nature and art, this is a place where you can spend a relaxed time unique to Hokuto .

📍12 Asao Shinden, Akeno-cho, Hokuto Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture (Inside Gasbon Metabolism)
☎ 0551-30-4090
🕐 11:00 -- 17:00
📅 Closed Tuesday through Thursday. *Please check Instagram for details.

Check out HALENOBON's Instagram right now!

Nearby are Heidi's Village and the venue for the Hokuto City Akeno Sunflower Festival, held in the summer, making it a great place to stop by for a coffee break after enjoying nature.

5. Enjoying HEALTY JUNK FOOD - CAFE&DINER Mount Yatsugatake Roulette -

This cafe diner is themed around " HEALTHY JUNK FOOD ." It offers a diverse menu that includes dishes incorporating koji-based seasonings, as well as game meat , vegan , and gluten-free options . Each dish, combining the umami of fermentation with spices, highlights the natural flavors of the ingredients, and the ability to choose freely according to your mood and physical condition is another appealing aspect. It's a place that caters to a wide range of eating styles.

📍2969-1 Kobuchizawa-cho , Hokuto City Yamanashi Prefecture
🕐 Monday/Tuesday 11:00 -- 14:00 Wednesday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday 11:00 -- 17:00
📅 Closed on Thursdays
*Please check our website and Instagram for details.

Check out the CAFE&DINER Mount Yatsugatake Roulotte website right now!

Check out CAFE&DINER Mount Yatsugatake Roulotte's Instagram right now!

Nearby, you'll find Risonare Mount Yatsugatake , a resort facility where nature and design blend seamlessly, and Michi-no-Eki Kobuchisawa, a roadside station offering local produce and specialty products. Visiting these places together will allow you to enjoy the charm of Hokuto's food and lifestyle even more deeply.

6. Koji seasonings and lovingly prepared gut-healthy home cooking - Natural Diner Cocoro -

This diner uses plenty of safe and secure local vegetables and offers home-style cooking themed around koji seasonings and love . The dishes, which bring out the deliciousness of the ingredients, have a gentle flavor, and you can enjoy a meal that feels somehow nostalgic and comforting. The dishes are served in generous portions that spill over the tray, and the satisfaction of being able to enjoy plenty of vegetables is also a major attraction. It is a restaurant that is kind to the body and nourishes the soul, typical of Hokuto .

📍8240-8127 Nishiide, Oizumi-cho Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
☎ 050-1726-0770
🕐 Lunch 11:00/12:30/14:00 (3 sittings) Cafe 15:00 -- 16:00 *Reservations preferred 📅 Closed Sunday to Thursday
*Please check Instagram for details.

Check out Natural Restaurant Kokoro's Instagram right now!

Nearby is the breathtaking Toryu Falls, where the delicate streams of water cascading down from between the rocks, along with the moss-covered landscape, create a refreshing atmosphere. After being soothed by the tranquility of nature , it's also recommended to visit for a leisurely lunch.

7. A cafe and select shop where you can taste and choose –  Yatsugatake Select Sennoya –

This select shop with an attached cafe was created with the desire to not only let customers choose delicious items, but also to let them actually taste and feel the flavors with their bodies . At the cafe, you can enjoy a monthly changing lunch menu made with fermented seasonings such as miso sold in the shop, along with locally sourced ingredients. The appeal lies in being able to taste the dishes and choose what you like. The shop is lined with items that will help you take home the memories of your trip, including miso from Hokuto City, as well as sake and wine from Yamanashi . We recommend stopping by during your travels and picking up some traditional Japanese fermented foods as souvenirs.

📍8240-1804 Nishiide , Oizumi-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
☎ 0551-30-9224
🕐 Shop 11:00 -- 16:30 Lunch 11:00 -- 13:30
📅 Closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays
*Please check our website and Instagram for details.

Check out the Yatsugatake Select Sennoya website right now!

Check out Yatsugatake Select Sennoya's Instagram right now!

Nearby, nestled in the Mori, is Yatsugatake Club Gallery & Cafe, where you can relax and enjoy the changing seasons and art. Visiting both will allow you to more deeply appreciate the rich experience unique to Hokuto.

8. A roadside station where you can encounter locally produced fermented foods and the pure water of the Minami Alps - Michi no Eki Hakushu -

This roadside station is located in the Hakushu area, known for its pristine water from the Minami Alps. The direct sales store offers locally grown vegetables as well as regional fermented foods such as miso, rice koji, and natto. You can also enjoy coffee brewed with the famous spring water and light meals, making it a perfect place to take a break during your travels. It's a popular spot where you can experience the abundant water and food culture of Hokuto .

📍1308 Shirasu, Hakushu-cho , Hokuto City , Yamanashi Prefecture
☎ 0551-20-4711
🕐 Farmers Market 9:00 -- 18:00 Kamoshika Restaurant Weekdays 11:00 -- 15:00 Weekends and Holidays 11:00 -- 18:00 Cafe Corner 10:00 -- 16:00
📅 Closed on Wednesdays and during the New Year holidays. *Open every day from March to November.
*Please check our website and Instagram for details.

Check out the Hakushu Roadside Station website right now!

Check out Michi-no-Eki Hakushu's Instagram right now!

Nearby is the Hakushu-Ojiro Mori Spring Water Park Belga, a nature experience facility where you can fully enjoy the nature of the Minami Alps through activities such as playing in the clear stream, strolling through the Mori , and camping. Visiting both together will allow you to experience the unique "life with water" of Hokuto more deeply.

Summary

Hokuto's culinary delights, centered around fermentation and spices, offer gentle flavors that make the most of nature's bounty. Enjoy a nourishing culinary experience that nourishes you from within , while experiencing the traditions of sake breweries, the umami of koji, and the power of local vegetables. Each dish, enjoyed amidst beautiful scenery, will deepen your travel memories. Come and experience a fermented gourmet journey in Hokuto that will delight both your mind and body.