Central Honshū
Fancy five-course French cuisine in an Edo-period building with an attractive garden – lovely! From the station, turn right at the lights, walk two blocks…
Must-see restaurants in Central Honshū
Nagano Region
You can't beat this little Italian trattoria in the heart of the village for hearty pastas, tasty pizzas and delicious bruschetta. Excellent value, with a…
Nagano Region
By Okusha bus stop, Okusha-no-Chaya serves fresh soba and other staples behind a glass wall overlooking the forest. Delicious soft-serve ice cream comes…
Central Honshū
Truly delicious soba and tempura set-lunch menus in a gasshō-zukuri house smack bang in the heart of Ainokura village. Try the house-made tofu, or the…
Central Honshū
Chiffon cake, melon bread and local Hida-beef curry are all items you might find on the menu at this handsome cafe within a restored traditional machiya …
Kanazawa
This upmarket regional izakaya (pub-restaurant) has an emphasis on seafood – as you'd expect – with plenty of sushi and sashimi to sample in a classy…
Matsumoto
This Hawaiian-themed restaurant flips the best burgers in Matsumoto, hands down. There's a bunch of other fun and tasty stuff on the menu as well: great…
Central Honshū
In the historic Ue-no-dan district, Bistro Matsushima-tei serves a changing selection of handmade pizzas and pastas in an atmospheric setting befitting…
Matsumoto & the Northern Japan Alps
Self-billed as 'Grandma's Hakuba home-style cooking', Ohyokkuri serves hearty soups and stews and traditional local dishes to an adoring crowd in the…
Tsumago
If you're hungry after a long walk, you can't go past a chilled bowl of handmade Kiso zaru-soba (cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce).
Central Honshū
This delightful little eatery on a corner serves simple favourites such as special-sauce tonkatsu-don (deep-fried pork cutlet on rice).
Central Honshū
Set around a large irori (hearth) in a 350-year-old gasshō house, this delightful cafe serves curry rice, tea and coffee.
Kanazawa
Forus department store has a wide variety of great Japanese restaurants and bakeries on its 6th floor.
Central Honshū
Atmospheric Koyō-an serves homemade soba (buckwheat noodles) on beautiful local ceramics.
Takayama
If you're looking for a tasty, uncomplicated meal, this large, well-positioned eatery near Kaji-bashi is a good choice. A diverse English and Japanese…
Takayama
The owner of this friendly restaurant does a great job bringing the flavours of Mexico to a quiet Japanese street. The taste and dainty portions of tacos,…
Central Honshū
This chintzy Korean-Japanese barbecue joint is unmissable from Takasaki Station's west exit: it's the red-and-cyan building on the corner of the first…
Matsumoto
In Nakamachi, this is one of central Japan's finest soba shops. Its owner ran a French restaurant in Tokyo before returning to his home town. Keeping…
Nagano Region
Even if it's cold outside, be sure to stop by for some of Marrone's delicious, creamy, freshly churned gelato, available in a range of seasonal flavours…
Central Honshū
This popular lunch spot is diagonally opposite the bus station and serves filling teishoku (set meals) mainly based around tempura and soba or udon…
Takayama
Delicious, chunky yaki-soba (fried noodles) and chūka-soba noodle soups are the speciality at this local fave that will fill your belly and satisfy your…
Everest Restaurant & Bar Matsumoto
Matsumoto
Friendly Nepali service and tasty cuisine at reasonable prices awaits almost directly across the road from Matsumoto Station. Expect other Asian dishes on…
Kanazawa
If you think you've overdone the katsu (crispy fried meat) and gyōza (dumplings), you can come here for Hollywood juice blends, macrobiotic cookies,…
Nagano Region
This popular fast-food joint might be too colourful for some, but if you're travelling with kids they'll be sure to love absolutely everything about it:…
Nagano Region
Chunky ramen bowls and mouth-watering tezukuri gyōza (handmade dumplings) are dished out year-round in this 30-seat eatery downstairs on the corner…
Nagano Region
Part of an increasingly popular ramen chain, this branch a short walk from Nagano Station is always heaving with diners slurping away at the miso-ey…
Matsumoto
This simple Taiwanese eatery near the castle serves amazing spicy soups, noodles and veggies, as well as the standard array of Chinese fare at very…
Central Honshū
Simple and tasty wood-fired pizzas are served in this cute pizzeria with pot plants and umbrella-covered decking out the front. Takeaway is also available.
