Experience Authentic Handcrafted Soba at Nikonan: A Hidden Gem in Fujiyoshida
Mt. Fuji, standing at 3,776 meters as Japan's tallest mountain, is known worldwide as a symbol of Japan with its beautiful conical shape and majestic appearance. The surrounding area harmoniously blends rich nature and historical culture, featuring numerous tourist destinations that attract many visitors seeking the beauty of each season.
Among these, spots like the Fuji Five Lakes Area, the amusement park "Fujikyu Highland," and the spring water ponds of "Oshino Hakkai" are particularly popular for offering spectacular views of Mt. Fuji alongside entertainment. And between strolling and activities, enjoying local cuisine is one of the great pleasures of travel.
While there are countless restaurants around Mt. Fuji, today we introduce "Nikonan," a popular authentic hand-made soba restaurant in Fujiyoshida.
Nikonan: An Authentic Soba Restaurant Featuring Local Ingredients
Nikonan is a restaurant that serves authentic handmade soba using abundant local ingredients in Fujiyoshida's naturally rich environment. The restaurant is particular about its ingredients, using raw materials sourced from the foothills of "Yatsugatake," a mountain near Mt. Fuji, and spring water from Mt. Fuji itself.
The soba noodles, handmade fresh every morning by the owner, are renowned for their rich aroma and exceptional taste. When you stop by during your Mt. Fuji area sightseeing, you can thoroughly savor the authentic flavor of soba in the restaurant's tranquil interior.
What is Soba?
Soba is one of Japan's traditional noodle dishes, made primarily from flour ground from the seeds of the soba plant. It's characterized by being formed into thin, long noodles. The appearance is a brownish-gray color, featuring a smooth texture and fragrant flavor that spreads with each bite.
There are various types, including those made with 100% soba flour and those using wheat flour as a binder, each offering different flavors and textures. The higher the proportion of soba flour, the stronger the aroma and the more rustic the texture becomes.
There are various ways to eat soba, such as "Zaru Soba" where cold noodles are dipped in cold soup, and "Kake Soba" enjoyed in warm broth. In Japan, soba has long been cherished as a health food, and there's even a custom of eating "Toshikoshi Soba" on December 31st.
What Makes Nikonan Special? Detailed Analysis from an Author Who Has Enjoyed Soba Throughout Japan
Soba is a staple of Japanese noodle cuisine, but what makes "Nikonan," popular in Fujiyoshida, so appealing? From here, we'll provide a detailed explanation of Nikonan's attractions from the unique perspective of an author who has enjoyed soba throughout Japan.
Aromatic Noodles with Subtle Sweetness and Careful Craftsmanship
Source:Fuji Yoshida City Guide
Nikonan's soba is impressive for the fragrant aroma and subtle sweetness that spreads from the first bite. The restaurant's commitment lies in using soba flour sourced from the foothills of "Yatsugatake" near Mt. Fuji, along with spring water from Mt. Fuji.
By adjusting the water content according to the day's temperature and humidity while making the soba, they achieve noodles with a perfect balance of aroma and firmness. With each bite, the authentic flavor of soba gradually spreads, and even the sensation of it going down your throat feels pleasant.
Among all the soba I've eaten while traveling throughout Japan, Nikonan's bowl is truly memorable. Eating in the clean air of Fujiyoshida seemed to add an extra layer of flavor to the experience.
Perfectly Balanced Broth Made from Bonito and Kelp That Complements the Noodles
"Tsuyu" refers to Japan's unique soup that enhances the flavor of soba. Nikonan's tsuyu is primarily made from dried bonito and kelp. The broth carefully extracted by simmering dried bonito and kelp forms the foundation of Japanese cuisine. Nikonan's tsuyu adds seasonings like soy sauce to this broth, adjusting it to an exquisite balance that considers compatibility with soba.
While the tsuyu's dark color might be concerning, it's not salty, and when you dip the soba and eat it, the balance is just right. The aroma of bonito and kelp gently spreads, highlighting the sweetness of the noodles, creating a flavor so delicious you could eat it endlessly.
Seasonal Vegetable Tempura from Around Mt. Fuji
Source:Tabelog
At Nikonan, you can enjoy tempura in addition to soba. Tempura is one of Japan's representative dishes, consisting of vegetables or fish coated in batter and deep-fried in oil. It's characterized by a crispy exterior while the interior retains the full flavor of the ingredients. In Japan, eating soba together with tempura is also a standard combination.
Nikonan offers tempura made with seasonal vegetables harvested around Mt. Fuji. Since the content changes with each season, you can enjoy different flavors depending on when you visit. When I visited, I was surprised to be served apple tempura. While tempura made from apples is rare even in Japan, when fried, it was unexpectedly delicious and truly moving.
Each tempura is eaten with salt to enjoy the natural flavor of the ingredients.
Abundant Side Menu Items with Excellent Compatibility with Beer and Japanese Sake
Source:Tabelog
Not only soba, but the diverse side menu items that can be enjoyed with alcohol is also one of Nikonan's attractions. In Japan, there is a culture of enjoying alcohol at soba restaurants, and there is a custom of having a light drink while tasting side menu items before filling your stomach with soba.
At Nikonan, there is an abundance of dishes that pair well with beer and Japanese sake, including appetizers made with local ingredients, eggs cooked with plenty of dashi for a soft texture, and fried foods. Among these, what I particularly recommend is the soba sashimi, where soba is cut into strips, boiled, and then chilled in ice water. The texture is just like squid, giving you a mysterious feeling. Since it's healthy, I enjoyed it plenty together with alcohol.
In particular, Japanese sake pairs well with soba, and the umami of rice and the aroma of soba harmonize exquisitely. Enjoying freshly fried tempura with beer is also recommended.
Interior Where You Can Experience a Calm, Japanese-like Atmosphere
Source:Fuji Yoshida City Guide
Nikonan is a restaurant characterized by a Japanese-like atmosphere that is calm yet wrapped in warmth. With interior design that makes use of the warmth of wood and harmonizes with nature, you can spend time relaxing between sightseeing. The spacing between seats is also generously arranged, allowing you to spend time calmly.
The interior with simple design that incorporates the essence of Japanese architecture will make you feel comfortable even when visiting for the first time. Since it's a store created by renovating part of a home, you can experience the feeling as if you're visiting a Japanese house. Located in a back alley, it's a precious place where you can enjoy a leisurely meal in a calm atmosphere despite being in a tourist area.
3 Recommended Menu Items You Should Absolutely Order at Nikonan
Since Nikonan has various menu items, you might be confused about what to order when visiting for the first time. From here, I will introduce 3 carefully selected recommended menu items that you should absolutely order at Nikonan.
Tenseiro
Source:Fuji Yoshida City Guide
"Tenseiro" is one of the standard menu items representing Japanese soba culture. "Seiro" refers to the style of serving cold soba that has been boiled and then chilled, arranged on a bamboo or similar plate-like item, and eaten by dipping it in tsuyu. It is beloved throughout Japan as the way of eating that allows you to enjoy the aroma and throat feel of soba most directly. "Tenseiro" is this combined with crispy textured tempura.
Nikonan's Tenseiro (¥1,400) features beautifully arranged tempura of seasonal vegetables harvested locally around Mt. Fuji. By lightly dipping the cold soba in tsuyu and alternately tasting it with tempura, you can fully enjoy Japan's traditional food culture. Since it's cold and perfect for hot days, I enjoyed it when I visited in summer.
Also, when vegetable tempura alone isn't enough, there are menu options that come with shrimp tempura, so please try choosing those.
Sudachi Soba
Source:Tabelog
Nikonan's "Sudachi Soba" (¥1,100) is a refreshing-looking dish that's perfect for the hot season. Sudachi is one of Japan's citrus fruits, characterized by its lime-like fragrant aroma and refreshing acidity. The soba with sliced sudachi beautifully arranged throughout the bowl is truly like art, with an outstanding visual impact. It's so photogenic that I end up taking many photos every time I eat it.
Cold soba is served with cold tsuyu (dipping sauce), with plenty of sudachi floating on top, and the refreshing flavor of sudachi spreads throughout your mouth along with the fragrant aroma of the soba. Since it's a dish that doesn't use oil, it's easy to eat even on hot days when appetite tends to drop, and it can be called a symbol of Japanese summer.
Dashimaki Egg
Source:Tabelog
"Dashimaki egg" is a traditional dish representative of Japanese home cooking. Based on beaten eggs, it's made by adding dashi stock from bonito and kelp and cooking it softly, with a subtle sweetness and a strong sense of the umami from the dashi. The outside is a beautiful yellow without much browning, the inside has a moist texture, and the dashi flavor that spreads the moment you put it in your mouth is impressive.
Nikonan's Dashimaki egg (¥648) is carefully rolled with exquisite heat control that showcases the craftsman's skill, resulting in an even softer finish. Although it looks simple, it's a dish where you can feel the attention to detail in the ingredients and cooking process. It's also a popular side menu item with soba. By the way, I enjoy pairing Dashimaki egg with local Japanese sake.
Nikonan Access Information
Address: 2-14-27 Shimoyoshida, Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture
Access: 8-minute walk from Fujikyu Railway Shimoyoshida Station/Gekkoji Station
Official website: None
With Magical Trip's "Mt. Fuji Nature meets Culture Tour with a Private Hire Car," You Can Enjoy Various Spots Including Nikonan with a Local Guide
Some people may want to explore around Mt. Fuji, but find it quite difficult to travel there due to the distance from Tokyo. In such cases, Magical Trip's day trip tour is recommended. Departing at 8:00 from Tokyo with a driver and English-speaking guide, you'll spend about 10 hours touring around Mt. Fuji in a private hire car.
If you're within the target area, there's hotel pickup and drop-off service, so you can go easily. Also, the driver is a licensed Japanese driver who is experienced with driving, so you can feel safe.
Since it's a private hire car, if there are spots that catch your interest along the way, you can enjoy sightseeing while heading to Mt. Fuji. During lunch time, you'll visit Nikonan to enjoy soba, and then, if weather permits, you'll go up to Mt. Fuji's Fifth Station.
You can also do tastings of local Japanese sake and wine, so you can decide on spots to visit in consultation with your guide according to your preferences. Since it's a highly flexible tour, it will surely be a satisfying short trip.