Top Restaurants in Hachioji
Top 10 restaurants in Hachioji, Japan
Discover the best restaurant in Hachioji, Japan including Gonsuke, Outeian, Okushiba Shoten Hachioji Tashiro Castle, Ukai Toriyama, Ukai Chikutei, Takahashiya, Tofuya Ukai, Owada, Chukasobagoemon, Bazeru, Niboshiiwashiramenen
Things to do in Hachioji
1. Gonsuke
Overall Ratings
4 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By Hachiouji-brit
There are two restaurants in this area of Takao or more correctly Takao-sanguchi - the last stop on the Keio Line out of Shinjuku- which are similar in what they have to offer, one is Ukai Toriyama and the other is Gonsuke.
Ukai Toriyama you pay for the atmosphere primarily, not the food. Gonsuke though the emphasis is certainly on the food along with a MOST unique atmosphere definitely best experienced in the evening when it is dark and the flames are roaring in the beacon baskets and the corridors and outside paths to the cottages are all lit up most uniquely and oooh so pretty!
The food is all primarily cooked by you and your friends over grilled charcoal which really gets hot so come dressed to strip off as the evening progresses. Also as it is grilled food don't wear your best suit, etc. dress down real low to casual. The menu is generally set menu stuff, several choices, but full course from starters all the way to desert including some delicious ice cream or super frozen lemon sherbet depending on the season, the former in winter the later spring through summer. You will definitely feel full at the end of the evening so don't have lunch any later than 1pm! The menu has basic ingredients depending on the set course But the good thing is the extra bits and pieces in-between like sashimi, the hot custard like chawan-mushi with mushrooms and shrimp change daily so there is A LOT more personal care put into the menu than Ukai-toriyama! The basic set menu you can see in the photos that Gonsuke provide at the top of this article.
The menu though is ALL in Japanese, no hints with a few English words here and there! So if you are not to strong on your Japanese and you have certain food allergies do bring a friend who can translate. If you get really stuck though ask if the Ten-cho (the restaurant boss) is around as he's been in Aussie for several years and speaks English very well and has been working there for quite a few years! A suggestion price wise would be go for something slightly more expensive to get the full experience say around 6,000 to 7,000yen or a bit above that.
Another absolute must is the beer served with literally ice still stuck to the glasses makes for a fabulous first "kampai" - cheers - and more there after! The restaurant's own Japanese sake is also good, and warmed in its unique bottle over the grill is very good! The alcohol prices are NOT outrageous so don't think you need to hold back!!!
Seating - each set of customers is directed to their own personal rooms, if you're foreign then you might find it best to stay in the main building on the first/ground floor where you can stretch your legs down under the table or if you do want to go out to one of the cottages make sure to ask for the cottage where you can stretch your legs down under - there is only one! The other cottages have very low tables and if you are not used to sitting crossed leg or kneeling it may not be the best idea. Each year though they update one more cottage so by the time you go there maybe another cottage for long legged people has been reformed!
Getting there, drive if you must, there is a new exit to the Ken-oh-do VERY nearby "Takao" and then two minutes drive once you get off the expressway. Otherwise take advantage of their free Gonsuke Bus service but call a day before to check the times from Takao-san-guchi station OR ask them to specially pick you and your group up but book this at least a day if not several days before AND THEN call on the day to remind them and then just as you get on the train to go there, they get busy sometimes and they just might forget you! Not always but sometimes! They will of course take you back after you have finished eating but just as you are on your last course best to ask when the next bus is going...if you are lucky and ask kindly they might take you all the way to Takao. Also if you are originally in the Hachioji/Takao area that day and you let them know about a week before they will come and pick you up from wherever you are...FREE!
Highly recommend the place, if you are in Tokyo for only a few days and you have just got to have that real mystic Japanese meal out this is it and it won't bankrupt you! It is easy to get to from central Tokyo - Shinjuku - only about 90 minutes door to door if you get the bus service right!
2. Outeian
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By Ja-Pam-T - Virginia
First visit, won't be my last! Outeian=Nightengale. Serenity immediately enveloped us, as nightengale song greeted our birthday party group upon our arrival. Several bilingual party guests insured the culturally significant aspects of our dinner weren't lost in translation! The dinner theme was the autumnal equinox, the season's change from summer into fall; the restaurant's lovely garden was lit by a full moon. The menu (see below) sounds very ordinary in English, but the taste and presentation were exceptionally wonderful. Here was our menu:
Soup: Matsutake mushroom (earthy, available only in autumn) soup with white fish, Japanese tiger prawn, ginkgo nut, parsley
Yakimono (grilled appetizer): Cod with chrysanthemum and chestnut
Hachimono: Black pork with Japanese pear, taro bud, special beans
Entree: Japanese beef with seasonal vegetables and special sauce, served with side dishes of Matsutake mushroom cooked with rice; pickles and miso soup
Dessert: Sweet potato custard with a juicy sliced muscat and Azuki (red bean) soup (more like jam), with mochi (of course!). The phases of the moon are layered in gold leaf under the plate's glaze; printed on the placemat was a famous haiku about the moon. I asked why there were so many rabbits pictured among the moon decorations...the translation (get ready to be amazed): in western culture, we look to the night sky to see the "Man in the Moon." Japanese, however, don't look for a man's face in the moon: they see a RABBIT POUNDING MOCHI IN THE MOON. Just love Japan! While we sat to eat, we heard koto music, which I at first assumed was recorded. Then one of our Japanese guests pointed to the koto player in a room across the lake from us--we were hearing live music! Wonderfully memorable.
3. Okushiba Shoten Hachioji Tashiro Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By kawaharam
個人的にはそう思っています。スープカレーが食べたいとき、朝8すぎに家を出て、車で向かうこと2時間。お店に着くと、順番待ち用のタブレットが用意してあり、そこで、人数と名前、電話番号を登録すると、何時頃戻るようにとの情報が出ます。このシステムは大変ありがたいです。並ぶ必要なく、出かけらけます。
スープカレーは沢山のトッピングを選ぶことができ、辛さは自分が思ってるより、若干辛めを選ぶとちょうど良いです。
ラッシーも凝っているので、いつも頼んでます。
片倉店のほうが空いていますし、駐車場もありますが、やはりこちらに伺うほうが、本場北海道感があるように思います。
奥芝さんの店員さんに秘伝の巻物を貰うと、北海道の美味しいお店の一覧を教えてもらえます。その秘伝のお店も北海道に私が行くたびに伺うお店でした。別のお店を紹介するあたり、お店の心意気を感じます。
4. Ukai Toriyama
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 197 reviews
Reviewed By Green H
After walking up mount takao
Originally didn't think about this place but when i searched for my fav ukai tofu in tokyo I realise this is a restaurant also designed and manage by the same group. Then I think to give it a trial
Free shuttle from Keio takaosanguchi station juts outside u can't kiss it on the left. Every twenty minutes
When arrived really nicely edo decorated , staff are nice food is awesome ! Really like the place and pls make sure u can spend more time here specially day time to enjoy the garden view meal. I came some on weekday and so happy they can give me an individual suite for my meal with garden with. Love it
It is definitely a place for food! Love it
5. Ukai Chikutei
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
Reviewed By luuluuluu - Tokyo, Japan
Japanese Kaiseki restaurant UKAI CHIKUTEI ( near by Mt.TAKAO )
You can enjoy Kaiseki course in a japanese style private lovely room in japanese style wooden hut with a murmur of a stream and in summer evening Tanna Japonensis chirring ( one of cicadas but chirring uniquely ). Everything excellent ( but maybe its small quantity for foreigners ) . Worth1.5 hour trip from center of Tokyo.
UKAI CHIKUTEI HP in english.
http://www.ukai.co.jp/english/chikutei/
6. Takahashiya
Overall Ratings
4 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By mat_mak - Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
This soba restaurant located in Mt. Takao, and it featured Tororo soba. This restaurant was established in 1830, and it run by Takahashi family. Soba soup tasted a little bit sweet, and soup was good mariage with sticky Troro potate. The price was not much expensive. It was very crowded during the lunch time at weekends, so people had to line up in queues.
7. Tofuya Ukai, Owada
Overall Ratings
4 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By Ted C - La Mesa, California
Tofuya-Ukai-Owada, 2-18-10 Owada Chou, Hachioji is one of the 10 or so Ukai restaurants in the Tokyo area. Each is fairly unique in its menu, setting and architecture. Because the principal dish served here is tofu (bean curd) in many of its different modes the cost of food is relatively low for the restaurant and the price for customers is quite reasonable for what you get. 3,680 buys the standard meal which is excellent and the top menu item is about 6,800 yen.
The setting is charming, a new building but strongly influenced by traditional Japanese architecture and style. The food is excellent and the service equally good. You can look it up on their web site ukai.co.jp/English/index.html. I strongly recommend Reservations, my wife books for us but I would think they can handle a booking in English, just take your time and be patient.
While you can drive there, the directions are a bit complex and I would recommend taking a taxi from Hachioji Station either the Keio or Chuo Line station, about 1,800 yen as I recall.
I have also eaten at two other Ukai restaurants in Takao, Ukai Toriyama and Ukai Chikutei which are substantially more expensive, but with an even more impressive setting. My firm recommendation for an introduction to fine, but reasonably priced traditional Japanese cusine is their Tofuya in Owada Chou.
8. Chukasobagoemon
Overall Ratings
4 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By 颯陽爺 - 東京都
西八王子で少し早いお昼をいただくため吾衛門さんへ。開店の10分前でシャターは降りていたが既にお二人の方が列をなしている。特に今日は雪で寒い。11時ちょうどシャターが開き入店。コートを脱ぎながら、「中華めん大盛」と声掛け。待つこと数分、中華丼ぶりを飾るのはチャーシュー、メンマ、海苔そして細かく切られたタマネギ。スープは、削り節の香り際立つ醤油出汁、麺は細めのストレート麺、油でスープを囲いアツアツの出来。まさに基本の八王子らーめん。先に並んでいた先輩方は、席につくなり「ビール」いいな。
9. Bazeru
Overall Ratings
4 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By lemongingerlemong - Tokyo, Japan
お仕事前に朝食をとりに伺いました。冬の朝は寒くて店内の室温も引く、最初に出てくるコーヒーはすぐ冷めてしまいます。冷たいソフトドリンクだけではなくホットドリンクもお代わりしたかったな〜
10. Niboshiiwashiramenen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By たびずき東京 - 東京
初めて行きました。かなり煮干のだしが聞いている感じのスープです。麵もスープと合っていて歯ごたえがありよかったです。国道20号をわたらないといけないのと、路地に少し入るので、場所を見過ごさないように注意ですね。
