Local Guide
7 recommended lunch spots in Nikko that you'll want to try during your trip [From popular restaurants to hidden gems]

Nikko, home to many attractions including Nikko Toshogu Shrine, is Tochigi Prefecture's most popular tourist area. As such, it is also home to a wide variety of local delicacies. We will introduce some popular lunch spots to stop by on your trip, from Restaurant serving locally produced ingredients to traditional Japanese cafes with a great atmosphere.

Ebiya's Carbonara with Nikko Yuba (appetizer, dessert and drink included) 1,600 yen
Ebiya's Carbonara with Nikko Yuba (appetizer, dessert and drink included) 1,600 yen

Nikko Kujira Shokudo is a restaurant in Kujira-cho that was renovated from a traditional Japanese house that is over 50 years old. It is a popular restaurant that offers about 10 types of pasta and fluffy omelet rice.
The recommended dish is the Japanese-style carbonara. The "Ebiya-san's Nikko Yuba Carbonara" uses yuba from a long-established Ebiya store, and is characterized by the gentle taste of dried yuba rehydrated in dashi stock in a rich white sauce. The popular omelet rice is a masterpiece made by wrapping cooked rice in fluffy eggs from Tochigi and topping it with plenty of white sauce.
The lunch menu, which includes appetizers made with fresh vegetables from Nikko, handmade desserts, and drinks, is made with a focus on locally produced ingredients. *On Saturdays and Sundays, appetizers will be served in small bowls.

Comments Local Guide
This is a hidden cafe in Nikko. The classic fluffy and soft egg omelet rice has a perfect balance of dashi-flavored rice, white sauce, and soft eggs, making it a dish you can only enjoy here!

A quaint interior

The interior of the store is wrapped in the warmth of wood and was renovated by door artist Mr. Kosaka of "Kikagakudo", and you will be greeted by a distinctive door. There is a piano in the waiting room, and they sometimes hold mini concerts. They are basically only open for lunch, but they are also open for dinner if you make a reservation.

Nikko Whale Restaurant
  • URLhttps://www.facebook.com/nikkokujirashokudou/
  • 住所238-6, Hisajirocho, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
  • バスアクセスFrom JR Nikko Station or Tobu Railway Tobu Nikko Station, take the Tobu bus bound hot spring Chuzenji Onsen for about 14 minutes, get off at "Arasawa" and walk for about 7 minutes
  • 営業時間11:00〜15:30（L.O. 14:30）
  • 定休日Irregular holidays
  • TEL0288-53-2206
  • 駐車場free
"Naon Lunch" is 1,700 yen, and the main dish in the photo is "Nasu Gunji Pork Kakuni"
"Naon Lunch" is 1,700 yen, and the main dish in the photo is "Nasu Gunji Pork Kakuni"

Restaurant serves plenty of freshly picked vegetables from the restaurant's own farm. The farm is just 15 minutes away, and they grow dozens of different crops throughout the year, including rice, vegetables, and herbs.
The "Naon Lunch" is a creative course meal that allows you to taste these dishes in abundance. The ingredients include pork from Tochigi Prefecture and seafood delivered directly from fishermen and fishmongers in Sanriku that the owner met while volunteering, and the meal is very filling.
The five-item appetizer is colorfully presented and a delight to the eye and tongue. For the main course, you can choose from the monthly menu, including braised pork stewed for 8-9 hours or the restaurant's specialty seafood chirashi sushi. What's more, it also comes with a homemade dessert and drink, making it a very satisfying meal.

A neo-classical arrangement of an old house

The building of "Kominka Sakabou Naon" is an old house that was moved from the Osawa area, east of Imaichi, over 100 years ago. The owner, who has experience living abroad, spent two and a half years painstakingly renovating it, and the nostalgic interior, with thick Nikko cedar beams, handmade lampshades carved out of gourds hanging from the ceiling, a wood-burning stove and more, creates a wonderful space where retro and modern elements come together in harmony.
Zion, the English translation of Naon, is a slang word meaning "a place of relaxation." It truly fits the atmosphere of the restaurant. There are tables, tatami rooms with wooden floors, and counter seats, as well as a hideaway-style private room in the back of the restaurant.

Comments Local Guide
You can enjoy delicious dishes made with seasonal ingredients. There are private rooms available, so it is also recommended for groups!
Old-style Japanese-style Sake Bar Zaion
  • URLhttp://zion-nikko.com/
  • 住所285 Moritomo, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 7 minutes by car from Tobu Railway Shimoimaichi Station
    Approximately 18 minutes by car from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Railway Tobu Nikko Station
  • 営業時間11:30-14:00 (last orders 13:30), 18:00-22:00 (Fridays, Saturdays, and days before holidays until 22:30)
    *As of July 2024, lunch service is currently closed.
  • 定休日Sundays and the third Monday of every month (open on days before holidays, may be closed on the second and fourth Mondays of every month)
  • TEL0288-22-8488
  • 駐車場free
  • メモPrivate rooms (free of charge) require reservations
    *As of July 2024, lunch service is currently closed.
Course A is 3,800 yen (excluding tax). The main dish is "US Sirloin (200g)"
Course A is 3,800 yen (excluding tax). The main dish is "US Sirloin (200g)"

A cafe Restaurant located at the entrance to Kirifuri Highlands. Enjoy authentic North American-style menus, with a focus on grilled dishes. All of the highly original dishes are served in generous American sizes. You can also enjoy seasonal menus that make use of seasonal ingredients, including Nikko's specialty rainbow trout, yuba (tofu skin), and home-grown "Nikko Maitake mushrooms."
There are three types of course meals, the most popular of which is "Course A," which allows you to choose your main dish from "US Sirloin (200g)," "Mixed Grill of Seafood," and "Domestic Grade 3 Sirloin (200g)," and comes with soup, salad, homemade bread or rice, and coffee. What's more, it also includes handmade cheesecake from the sister store "Meiji no Yakata," making it a luxurious meal.

Restaurant surrounded by the nature of Nikko

"Yama no Restaurant" is located in Nikko National Park. It is built at an altitude of 800m and is surrounded by mountains including the Nikko mountain range. The building has a North American design using wood from Canada to blend in with the lush nature. The open-ceiling interior is very open and the many windows offer mountain views that change with the seasons.
The views from the seats inside the restaurant on the first floor and the observation deck on the second floor are wonderful, but on a sunny day, we recommend the terrace seats. The seats on the north side are the best seats for overlooking Kirifuri Falls. Around the end of Golden Week, you can see the mountainside covered in pink from the approximately 15,000 mountain azaleas.
There are also live jazz performances four times a year during each season, so we recommend visiting both.

Comments Local Guide
Dining while looking out at Kirifuri Falls feels like a luxurious experience. You can also walk along the promenade to get close to the falls.
Mountain Restaurant
  • URLhttps://www.meiji-yakata.com/ja/kirifuri/
  • 住所1546 Tono, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture Kirifuri Falls MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 9 minutes by car from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Railway Tobu Nikko Station
  • バスアクセスTake the Tobu Bus Nikko from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Railway Tobu Nikko Station, get off at Kirifurinotaki and walk for 1 minute
  • 営業時間10:00～20:00（L.O.19:00）
  • 定休日Wednesdays (open on public holidays, may be closed on Tuesdays instead)
  • TEL0288-50-1525
  • 駐車場free
"Limited Lunch" 1,380 yen (excluding tax), contents change depending on the season. The photo shows "Roshinan Special Tai Chazuke Gozen"
"Limited Lunch" 1,380 yen (excluding tax), contents change depending on the season. The photo shows "Roshinan Special Tai Chazuke Gozen"

This cafe is a renovated 200-year-old traditional house. The owner was a teacher at a culinary school in Tokyo for nearly 20 years, but he returned to his hometown and opened the shop with his wife.
Reservations are required and only one group per day can enjoy a Japanese cuisine course (starting from 4,000 yen), and the entire building can be rented out, giving it a very premium feel.
However, on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, they offer a reasonable lunch without the need for reservations. The limited-edition lunch menu is available from 11:30 to 14:00, and includes the "Seasonal Vegetable Kakiage Set" and, in this season, the "Roshinan Special Sea Bream Chazuke Set." Each lunch comes with 7 to 8 rice accompaniments. The menu mainly uses locally produced ingredients, and includes a variety of flavorful and colorful dishes such as sesame dressing and sweet potato simmered in honey.

Antique-style interior

Roshinan stands quietly in the mountain village of Okorogawa, Nikko. The owner inherited a house that had been passed down from his ancestors and opened a shop. His ancestors were wealthy merchants who made a success of their lumber business, so the entrance gate was so impressive that a gatekeeper lived inside. There is also a spacious garden and storehouse, giving a glimpse of the prosperity of the time.
The restaurant is divided into a large hall with two adjacent 8 tatami mat rooms, a wooden-floored room with counter seats, and a private room that can accommodate up to 6 people. The atmosphere of the past remains with vintage grandfather clocks and furniture, and the rooms are decorated with a collection of antiques.
After your meal, we recommend ordering a cup of the shop's specially selected coffee and relaxing on the veranda while gazing at the garden and chatting, or browsing the interior decor.

Comments Local Guide
The service is warm and it's a very comfortable place where time seems to pass slowly.
Japanese cuisine Rokoan
  • URLhttps://www.facebook.com/okorogawa.rokoan
  • 住所2953-1 Nakakokigawa, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 24 minutes by car from Tobu Railway Shimoimaichi Station
    Approximately 26 minutes by car from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Railway Tobu Nikko Station
  • 営業時間11:00-16:00 (Limited lunch is 11:30-14:00, ends when sold out. Courses are available upon request)
  • 定休日Limited lunch is available from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), and courses are available on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
  • TEL070-3163-0917
  • 駐車場free
  • メモReservations for courses must be made at least three days in advance, for groups of two or more (exclusive use may not be available for groups of two).
    Cards not accepted
The weekday-only lunch "Spa-ya Special" is available from 1,600 yen. The pasta shown in the photo, "The finest meat sauce made with Tochigi Prefecture's Kuroge Wagyu beef," is priced at 1,900 yen (both excluding tax).
The weekday-only lunch "Spa-ya Special" is available from 1,600 yen. The pasta shown in the photo, "The finest meat sauce made with Tochigi Prefecture's Kuroge Wagyu beef," is priced at 1,900 yen (both excluding tax).

This shop specializes in homemade fresh pasta made with underground water from the Nikko mountain range. The pasta is made from a blend of durum semolina and wheat flour from Tochigi, and is aged for 72 hours. This gives it a rich wheat flavor and a chewy texture. The pasta is extra thick, measuring just 3mm in diameter, and very satisfying to eat.
The pasta menu is full of originality, including meat sauces and Japanese-style pasta made with Nikko soy sauce. There are always more than 10 types to choose from, and you can choose a large portion of 1.5 times the amount of pasta. Thin dried noodles are also available.
The "Spa-ya Special", available only during weekday lunch hours, is a set that lets you eat pasta at a bargain price. You can choose your favorite pasta, and it comes with an assortment of appetizers, dessert, and a drink. There is also a "Nikko Kaido Siesta" option that does not include dessert.

Specialty pasta in a trattoria-style restaurant

The main store of this restaurant is located in Utsunomiya, and it is a pasta and pizza restaurant famous for "Utsunomiya's richest meat sauce." The "exquisite meat sauce made with Tochigi Prefecture's Kuroge Wagyu beef" is also a proud dish, and you can enjoy an ultra-rich sauce made by adding specially ordered coarsely ground beef and boiling it down three times the usual amount. Slices of Tochigi Prefecture's Kuroge Wagyu beef flavored with red wine are also added, giving it a punchy taste and volume that makes you feel like you're eating a meat dish.
In addition to these specialties, you can enjoy a variety of exciting and special menu items based on authentic pasta at our Nikko store. In our trattoria (Italian diner) style interior, you can enjoy a memorable and enjoyable dining experience.

Comments Local Guide
The meat sauce has a rich meaty flavor and sticks well to the pasta. The menu is extensive, so it's fun to order a few dishes and share them.
Nikko Spa Shop
  • URLhttps://spa-ya.net/nikko/
  • 住所456-2 Ishinadacho, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 21 minutes by car from Shimoimaichi Station on the Tobu Railway
    Approximately 23 minutes by car from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Railway Tobu Nikko Station
  • バスアクセスFrom JR Nikko Station, take the Kanto Bus bound for JR Utsunomiya Station for about 37 minutes, get off at Sakakiri and walk for about 4 minutes
  • 営業時間Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (open only at lunchtime) 11:30-14:30 (last order)
    Friday 11:30-14:30(LO), 17:00-21:30(LO)
    Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 11:00-14:30 (LO), 17:00-21:00 (LO)
  • 定休日Tuesdays (open on public holidays)
  • TEL028-669-2651
  • 駐車場free
"Second Generation Salt Ramen" 950 yen
"Second Generation Salt Ramen" 950 yen

This ramen shop has been in business for 36 years, spanning two generations of mother and daughter. The recommended dish is a menu item created by the second generation owner who trained at a famous ramen shop in Hokkaido.
"Nidaime Shio Ramen" is a blend of a double soup made from dried sardines and chicken bones, and an original salt sauce made from natural sea salt. It has a light yet rich flavor, making it an elegant taste that you'll want to eat every day. The medium-thick straight noodles and onion-flavored aromatic oil are well balanced, and the subtle scent of yuzu is refreshing. The toppings include carefully selected items such as pork shoulder roast char siu and 100% domestic bamboo shoots.
The set comes with three gyoza and a small serving of rice, and includes gyoza filled with vegetables and garlic, a recipe passed down directly from the previous owner.

A stylish cafe-style interior

The interior of the store has a cafe-style decor based on white, and is casually decorated with Mashiko ware lamps from Tochigi Prefecture and handmade accessories by artists.
It's filled with feminine ideas, with a corner selling accessories and handmade goods, and toys for children, and at first glance it doesn't look like a ramen shop, with a cute atmosphere. It's popular with both men and women, as well as those with small children.

Comments Local Guide
There are many menu items that are rare at ramen restaurants, such as salads and shaved ice.
The spicy miso dipping noodles are also recommended.
Ramen Acorn
  • URLhttps://www.facebook.com/DonguriNikkou
  • 住所1622-6 Moritomo, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 10 minutes by car from Tobu Railway Shimoimaichi Station
    Approximately 12 minutes by car from JR Imaichi Station
    Approximately 20 minutes by car from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Railway Tobu Nikko Station
  • 営業時間Monday, Thursday to Saturday 11:00-15:00 (last orders 14:30), 17:00-20:30 (last orders 20:00)
    Tuesday and Wednesday 11:00-15:00 (last orders 14:30) *Lunchtime only
    Sunday 11:00-15:00 (LO 14:30), 17:00-20:00 (LO 19:30)
    *Ends when soup is sold out
  • 定休日Mondays, and other irregular holidays
  • TEL0288-25-6025
  • 駐車場free
  • メモReservations: No reservations for lunch, 3 or more for dinner
Kalbi ramen 1,200 yen Gyoza 480 yen
Kalbi ramen 1,200 yen Gyoza 480 yen

Founded 25 years ago, this ramen shop has many fans among locals and tourists alike. Even on weekdays, many people visit as soon as the store opens.
The signature dish, Kalbi Ramen, which is ordered by approximately 80% of customers, is a luxurious dish made with plenty of high-quality steak-grade kalbi meat. The bright orange soup, reminiscent of kimchi hotpot, has a refreshing spiciness and just the right amount of acidity, bringing out the sweetness of the Ashikaga-produced wagyu beef. It goes well with the chewy, thick, curly noodles, and is topped with a generous amount of vegetables, including green onions, carrots, eggs, daikon radish, and shiitake mushrooms. Another appealing point is that it is both filling and healthy.

Comments Local Guide
You can choose the spiciness of the kalbi ramen from 0 to 7. The meat is so tender it melts in your mouth!

A very popular restaurant that fills up as soon as it opens

The gyoza dumplings are a must-try with the kalbi ramen. They are handmade in the restaurant's kitchen every day and are made with so much chive that the cross section looks green when you take a bite. You can enjoy the delicious meat flavor and the aroma of chives that spreads in your mouth.
Another great thing about this place is that all soft drinks, including coffee after meals, are free during lunchtime. The soft serve ice cream is a unique system where you can pour the cream yourself, which is also very popular. In addition to the familiar vanilla and chocolate, there are also unusual flavors such as cookies & cream and almond tofu.

Ramen Aristocrat
  • URLhttps://www.instagram.com/ra_men.kizoku/
  • 住所340-1 Moritomo, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 10 minutes by car from JR Imaichi Station or Tobu Railway Shimoimaichi Station
  • 営業時間Monday to Wednesday 11:30 to 14:30 (LO), 18:00 to 21:00 (LO 20:30)
    Friday and Saturday 11:30-14:30 (LO), 17:30-21:00 (LO 20:30)
    Sunday 11:30-14:30 (LO), 17:30-21:00 (LO 20:00)
  • 定休日Thursdays and the second Wednesday
  • TEL0288-22-1811
  • 駐車場free

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