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As historic post towns, places like Kiso Fukushima, Naraai-juku, the lush nature of Kaizata Kogen, and Kizomura still vividly retain the atmosphere of those times.
On this page, we introduce recommended restaurants around the Kiso area in Nagano Prefecture by genre.
Not only famous for its soba, but there are also restaurants offering Japanese, Italian, and other cuisines at a national level.
Recommended Japanese Cuisine Restaurants (2)
Narai-juku “kura (嵓)/ BYAKU Narai” Creative Japanese cuisine <Online reservation
Ave. Budget: Lunch 3,000-5,000 JPY
Reserve on Ikyu Reserve on Hot Pepper Reserve on Tabelog
The renowned chef Hasegawa Zaiyuu, who competes at the top in “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants,” supervises the cuisine at “嵓 (kura),” born in the historic post town of Narai in Nagano.
While usually reserved for staying guests, their ambitious cuisine can be savored by the general public during weekend lunches.
<Restaurant Information>
Business Hours: Lunch 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM (Last Order at 1:30 PM)
Closed: Mondays to Thursdays
Phone Number: 0264-34-3001
Address: 551 Narai, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, 399-6303, Japan
Official website is here.
The official Instagram page is here.
Kaida Plateau “Warabino (わらび野)” Japanese
Ave. Budget: 15,000-20,000 JPY / “Tabelog’s Top 100 Restaurants 2023”
Check information on Tabelog
This restaurant is famous for its Matsutake mushrooms in the autumn, but having a high level of skill in cooking is essential for such dishes.
In other words, dishes using local ingredients from other seasons are also recommended.
<Restaurant Information>
BBusiness Hours: Reservation Only
Closed: Irregular holidays
Phone Number: 02549-2-2073
Address: 3899-6 Suezawa, Kaida Kogen, Kiso-cho, Kiso-gun, Nagano 397-0301, Japan
Official website is here.
Recommended Italian Restaurant(1)
Kiso Village “Base (バーゼ)” Italian
Ave. Budget: Lunch 2,000-3,000 JPY, Cafe 500-1,000 JPY
Check information on Tabelog
A standalone Italian restaurant located on the outskirts of Kiso Fukushima in Kizomura. It’s also a hidden gem.
When it comes to pasta that inherits the flavors of central Italy’s Tuscany, you can enjoy some of the best tastes in the country here.
<Restaurant Information>
BBusiness Hours: Lunch 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Last Order), Cafe 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Bread Shop <Saturdays> 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed: Sundays and Mondays
Phone Number: 080-5674-3936
Address: 1786 Ogiso, Kiso Village, Kiso District, Nagano 399-6203, Japan
Recommended Soba Restaurants (2)
Kiso-town“Zcobo (時香忘)” Japanese Soba
Ave. Budget: Lunch 1,000-2,000 JPY
Check information on Tabelog
In the Nagano-Kiso area, this restaurant is famous and popular, but there are rumors that it’s almost at the level where you’d want to add “phantom” to its name. It’s closed on weekends, and it only operates for a short 2-hour window during the day. It might seem a bit challenging to visit, but it’s a unique soba restaurant that’s definitely worth the effort.
Their soba is made using an ancient method from the Kiso region that involves using a wild vegetable called “oyamabokuchi.” Additionally, they age their soba flour, setting them apart from the usual “soba is best when freshly ground, kneaded, and boiled” approach.
<Restaurant Information>
Business Hours: Lunch 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Closed: Saturdays to Mondays, with occasional irregular closures
Phone Number:0264-27-6428
Address: Address: 8990 Shinkai Shibahara, Kiso-cho, Kiso-gun, Nagano 397-0001, Japan
Kiso Village “Oginoya (おぎのや)” Japanese Soba
Ave. Budget: Lunch 1,000-2,000 JPY
Check information on Tabelog
<Restaurant Information>
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Closed on Wednesdays
Phone Number: 0264-36-2012
Address: 1123-1 Yabuhara, Kiso Village, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture 399-6201, Japan
Official website is here.
About Foodies Town Guide
The Foodies Town Guide aims to provide recommendations that even seasoned food enthusiasts won’t want to miss. Its purpose extends from understanding the traditional food culture of an area to discovering noteworthy trends and uncovering hidden culinary treasures. Unlike conventional review sites that rely on general popularity and rankings, the guide’s staff physically seek out and taste the offerings, transforming their experiences into articles. This series is designed to assist food aficionados in efficiently exploring the best dining establishments in a city while traveling for gourmet experiences, tourism, business trips, or workations.