Local Cuisine Shoya

“Local Cuisine Shoya,” set at the foot of majestic Mt. Fuji by the shores of Lake Yamanaka, is a popular local spot where you can enjoy Yamanashi’s soul food, houtou.

Houtou is a regional dish of wide, flat noodles served in a miso-based broth simmered with plenty of pumpkin and root vegetables. Here, they use house-made noodles, carefully kneaded with Mt. Fuji’s spring water and a custom blend of several types of wheat flour. It’s a hearty, filling dish with great chewiness and a delightfully springy texture. They serve classics like “Pumpkin Houtou,” “Pork Houtou” made with tender Fujigamine pork, and “Curry Houtou” fragrant with their original blend of curry spices.

Their soba is also outstanding, made with Hokkaido buckwheat flour that’s carefully stone-milled. The richly aromatic noodles pair perfectly with the dipping sauce. They also offer a wide variety of small dishes featuring local ingredients. You can also try basashi (horse sashimi), torimotsuni (sweet-savory braised chicken offal), and locally caught wakasagi (Japanese smelt) fry.

The old folk house-style interior has the warmth of wood, and the relaxed atmosphere makes it a great place to savor Yamanashi’s flavors.