The Ultimate Guide: Food and Dining in Hakone 2025
As someone who knows Hakone's food culture well, I want to share the charm I've experienced over 10 years of visiting.
While Hakone's hot spring resort prices might surprise you, it's a treasure trove of food that more than makes up for it. The area is alive with unique flavors, from fresh smelt caught in Lake Ashi to black eggs made in Owakudani's hot springs, and yuba (tofu skin) prepared with pure spring water.
In this guide, I'll introduce you to the charm of Hakone's food scene, focusing on local specialties along with the latest 2025 information.
This guide is written by me, based on my actual experiences exploring Hakone's food scene for 10 years. From my perspective of knowing Hakone's current state inside and out, I've selected truly delicious restaurants that both tourists and locals frequent.
Please use this article to fully enjoy Hakone's food!
Table of Contents
・The Charm of Hakone Cuisine
・Hakone's Specialty Dishes and Recommended Restaurants
・Recommended Hakone Food Plans by Budget
・Access Information for Enjoying Hakone Cuisine
・Frequently Asked Questions About Hakone Food
The Charm of Hakone Cuisine
The charm of Hakone's food lies in its unique food culture shaped by its geographical characteristics.
Hakone is a special place where the bounties of sea and mountain intersect. It's a precious location where you can taste fresh seafood from Sagami Bay alongside mountain vegetables and herbs from the Hakone foothills all at once.
I was particularly impressed by the freshness of fish caught in Lake Ashi. The luxury of eating fish prepared just hours after being caught is an experience you can't have elsewhere.
Furthermore, the abundance of local cuisine unique to hot spring towns is noteworthy. The area offers distinctive dishes you can only taste here, such as black eggs from Owakudani and yuba made with pure spring water.
Hakone's Specialty Dishes and Recommended Restaurants
While Hakone has numerous specialty dishes, here are some must-try delicacies. I'll introduce you to various delicious foods that combine local ingredients with artisanal techniques.
Black Eggs
The most famous food in Owakudani is the "black egg" with its jet-black shell. When I first visited here, I was surprised by its unique appearance, but I was captivated by its deliciousness from the first bite.
These black eggs get their characteristic black shells from being boiled in Owakudani's hot spring source. Unlike regular boiled eggs, they have a distinctive sulfuric aroma that creates a flavor unique to this hot spring area.
Interestingly, there's a saying that "eating one black egg extends your life by seven years." While there's no scientific basis for this, this legend has continued to fascinate many tourists since the Edo period as one of the hot spring area's charming traditions.
Recommended Shop: Oowakudani Kurotamagokan
Source: Google Map
Owakudani Black Egg Hall is a popular spot that's crowded daily with tourists seeking black eggs. What I particularly like is the taste of "freshly made" black eggs that you can only experience here. The warmth when peeling the shell and the hot spring aroma that gently wafts out are exceptional.
The shop also sells manjuu and other sweets modeled after black eggs. These souvenirs are very popular as quintessential Hakone gifts, combining visual appeal with delicious taste while faithfully reproducing the appearance of black eggs.
<Store Information>
Address: 1251 Sengokuhara, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0631
Closed: None
Phone: 0460849605
Hours: 9 AM–4:30 PM
Website: https://owakudani.com/
Smelt Tempura
Fresh smelt tempura caught in Lake Ashi is one of Hakone's representative delicacies. As someone who has been visiting Hakone for 10 years, this smelt tempura is a must-eat dish for me on every visit.
The smelt is prepared immediately after being caught from Lake Ashi, ensuring exceptional freshness. The flesh wrapped in crispy batter is surprisingly delicate, and while mild, it's packed with umami. The fish is especially delicious from fall to winter when it's at its fattiest.
Recommended Restaurant: Amimoto Oba
Source: Google Map
Amimoto Oba is known as a famous restaurant for Lake Ashi smelt dishes. What I particularly like is the luxurious space where you can enjoy freshly made tempura while looking out at Lake Ashi from the window seats.
Their smelt tempura uses fresh fish caught in Lake Ashi and is fried to order, resulting in an exceptional crispy texture. The batter is thin to bring out the natural taste of the fish, and the accompanying tempura sauce has a delicate seasoning that enhances the smelt's flavor.
The restaurant also has an extensive Japanese menu including soba, and many local regulars visit this homey establishment. I especially recommend the combination of smelt tempura and soba.
<Store Information>
Address: 162-18 Motohakone, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0522
Closed: None
Phone: 0460848984
Hours: 11 AM–2 PM
Website: https://amimoto-ooba.gorp.jp/
Yuba Dishes
Yuba made using the famous spring water of Hakone Ohiradai is known for its high quality. I still remember the excitement I felt when I first tasted it. Its smooth texture and refined taste, which sets it apart from ordinary yuba, is a special experience you can only have in Hakone.
While yuba is served in various ways, from hot to cold dishes, the "yuba don" (yuba rice bowl) has become particularly popular as Hakone's new specialty.
Recommended Restaurant: Yubadon Naokichi
Source: Google Map
Yubadon Naokichi is a famous restaurant just a 5-minute walk from Hakone-Yumoto Station where you can enjoy authentic yuba dishes in a relaxed atmosphere. What I particularly like is the surprisingly smooth texture of the yuba made using the pure spring water from Hakone Ohiradai.
The restaurant's popular menu includes sets where you can try both yuba and tofu together, but this offers more than just a comparison tasting. It's a valuable opportunity to experience the depth of Japanese food culture by tasting the differences between two ingredients made from the same soybeans.
<Store Information>
Address: 696 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0311
Closed: Tuesdays
Phone: 0460855148
Hours: 11 AM–6 PM
Website: http://www.hakoneyumoto.com/eat/47
Handmade Soba
Hakone's handmade soba uses carefully selected domestic buckwheat flour, with each shop offering its own unique approach. I'm captivated by Hakone soba's rich aroma and smooth texture. The cool mountain climate and pure water enhance the soba's flavor even further.
Tempura soba with seasonal mountain vegetables is a luxurious dish that lets you taste Hakone's natural bounty all at once. The freshly made, aromatic soba is delicious whether served hot or cold, and being able to change how you enjoy it according to the season is part of its charm. I find the cold soba especially excellent in summer, creating an exceptional taste experience along with Hakone's cool air.
Recommended Restaurant: Hatsuhana Soba Honten
Source: Google Map
Established in 1934, Hatsuhana Soba Honten is a long-established soba restaurant with nearly 90 years of history. I was particularly impressed by their handmade soba using domestic buckwheat flour and Japanese yam.
The freshly made soba releases a rich buckwheat aroma, and you'll be amazed by its smooth texture with the first bite. While they serve both hot and cold soba, their most popular dish is yamakake soba topped with grated Japanese yam. The natural sweetness of the tororo (grated yam) harmonizes beautifully with the soba's flavor, making it a special dish you can only taste in Hakone.
<Store Information>
Address: 635-635 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0311
Closed: Wednesdays
Phone: 0460855148
Hours: 10 AM–7 PM
Website: https://hatsuhana.co.jp/
Recommended Hakone Food Plans by Budget
Based on my 10 years of experience visiting Hakone, I'll suggest optimal dining plans for different budgets.
Around 1,000 yen: You can enjoy Owakudani's black eggs or simple soba. These offer value beyond their price and are excellent options for experiencing Hakone's flavors casually.
1,000-3,000 yen: You can savor yuba don sets, authentic soba sets, and smelt tempura. I consider this price range the most cost-effective option for properly experiencing Hakone's food culture.
3,000-5,000 yen: You can enjoy a kaiseki lunch at established restaurants. The delicate dishes using seasonal ingredients let you fully experience Hakone's natural bounty.
5,000-10,000 yen: You can experience authentic kaiseki cuisine at hot spring inns. The artistic dishes with attention to tableware and presentation can be enjoyed both visually and gastronomically.
Over 10,000 yen: You can indulge in special kaiseki or premium Japanese cuisine in private dining rooms. The supreme tastes created by the finest ingredients and craftsmanship will remain as memories of special days.
Access Information for Enjoying Hakone Cuisine
Hakone is very conveniently accessible from Tokyo, making it perfect for culinary journeys. Using the Odakyu Romance Car from Shinjuku, you can reach Hakone-Yumoto in just 85 minutes. I find that the scenery from the train window is part of the enjoyment.
I always recommend the Hakone Free Pass to travelers. With this pass, you can ride all transportation in the Hakone area unlimited times, making it efficient to visit various gourmet spots. It's a great advantage to be able to move to your next dining destination while enjoying Hakone's scenery via mountain railways, ropeways, and pirate ships.
The area around Hakone-Yumoto Station is particularly rich in restaurants. Various genres of restaurants, including Japanese cuisine, soba, and yuba dishes, line up within walking distance from the station, making it an ideal gateway to Hakone's gourmet scene.
Website: https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/discount_passes/free_pass
Frequently Asked Questions About Hakone Food
I've compiled answers to questions I frequently receive from visitors to Hakone. I hope this will be helpful for your culinary journey.
Do I Need to Make Restaurant Reservations in Hakone?
From my experience, I strongly recommend making advance reservations if you're planning to dine at high-end restaurants. Particularly for ryokan kaiseki meals and popular restaurant course meals, same-day reservations are rarely possible.
Meanwhile, general establishments like soba restaurants and yuba restaurants can be visited without reservations. However, during lunch hours (11:30 AM-1:30 PM), you should expect about a 30-minute wait due to tourist crowds.
I also recommend consulting with the concierge at your accommodation right after arrival. They'll kindly assist you with everything from finding local hidden gems to making reservations at high-end restaurants.
Are There Vegetarian/Vegan Options?
From my 10 years of visiting Hakone, I must honestly say that finding specialized restaurants for vegetarians and vegans in Hakone isn't easy. This applies not just to Hakone but to Japanese provincial cities in general.
In traditional Japanese cuisine, it's common to use bonito flakes or dried sardines for soup stock, meaning that even dishes that appear to be vegetable-only often contain animal products. Especially in tourist areas away from urban centers, options for vegetarians and vegans are even more limited.
Therefore, I recommend that vegetarians and vegans use tour services provided by specialized tour companies that include dietary accommodation. These tours can introduce you to restaurants that can properly accommodate your dietary restrictions when notified in advance.
What Are the Recommended Dining Times?
Based on my experience of frequenting Hakone, let me advise you about optimal dining times.
Regular lunch hours are from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Since this time is very crowded with tourists, I always recommend either right after opening at 11:00 AM or after 2:00 PM. Particularly right after opening, dishes are served in their freshest state.
Evening peak hours are from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. However, compared to city restaurants, Hakone establishments tend to have shorter operating hours, with many having last orders at 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Therefore, I recommend choosing earlier times for dinner.
Also, some restaurants have break times from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. I recommend using this time for tea breaks at cafes.
What Payment Methods Are Accepted?
Regarding payment for meals in Hakone, my important advice is to "bring plenty of cash."
Many Hakone restaurants, especially long-established ones, accept only cash payments. While credit cards and cashless payments are often accepted at larger establishments near stations, not all restaurants offer these options.
For a day trip, having around 10,000 yen in cash per person should be sufficient for meals. This amount includes dining at high-end restaurants, and with normal sightseeing, you can fully enjoy Hakone's cuisine with this budget.
Hakone is one of Japan's premier culinary destinations, with its unique food culture nurtured by rich nature and history. Special dishes that can only be tasted here, such as Owakudani's black eggs, Lake Ashi's smelt, yuba made with famous spring water, and traditional handmade soba, continue to fascinate visitors.
When visiting this area, I hope you'll take your time and budget to taste various local specialties. I wish for your dining experience in Hakone to become wonderful memories!