Experience Authentic Japanese Irori Dining at Sanrokuen: Traditional Charcoal-Grilled Cuisine Near Mt. Fuji
Mt. Fuji, famous as Japan's highest mountain, is popular among foreign tourists as a representative landscape of Japan. Mt. Fuji and its surrounding areas are blessed with magnificent nature, making it famous for having many tourist attractions.
There are numerous delicious restaurants around Mt. Fuji, and it's popular to enjoy meals while gazing at the magnificent Mt. Fuji scenery. There are many traditional Japanese restaurants that receive high praise from foreign tourists who want to enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine.
This time, we'll introduce "Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya," a restaurant that serves dishes prepared using the traditional Japanese cooking method called "robatayaki."
Around Mt. Fuji, there are numerous restaurants that are thoroughly particular about ingredients and cooking methods
Around Mt. Fuji, there are many restaurants that are particular about their ingredients and cooking methods. Especially around Yamanashi, vegetable and fruit cultivation is thriving, so there are many shops that abundantly use Yamanashi's rich ingredients.
Restaurants offer not only Japanese cuisine but also Western cuisine, providing abundant choices. Among them, Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya is a popular restaurant where you can enjoy robatayaki, a traditional Japanese cuisine where fresh ingredients are grilled right in front of you.
Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya provides exquisite cuisine with the concept of "enjoying time gathered around the irori"
Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya is a restaurant that provides exquisite cuisine with the concept of "enjoying time gathered around the irori." They consider not only savoring the meal but also having customers freely add their desired ingredients to the fire and enjoy conversations while the ingredients are grilling.
The restaurant uses a charming 150-year-old traditional house, allowing you to enjoy an atmosphere as if you've time-traveled to old Japan. Just sitting around the irori, smelling the crackling flames and charcoal scent, creates an attractive point where your heart can feel calm.
Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya is recommended for those who want to quietly and leisurely enjoy meals in the nature-rich Mt. Fuji area.
What are robatayaki and irori?
Source:Official website
Robatayaki is a traditional Japanese way of eating that allows you to enjoy the fragrant smell of charcoal fire, the sound of grilling food, and the deliciousness of ingredients with all five senses. The basic method involves grilling fresh ingredients over the irori, where the fragrant smell from charcoal grilling enhances the umami and flavor of the food.
Irori refers to a traditional hearth in Japanese houses, created by cutting the floor into a square and spreading ash inside. In the past, it was used not only for cooking but also as a heating device in winter and lighting at night.
While irori are rarely seen in Japanese homes today, they are used in izakaya where you can enjoy robatayaki to create a nostalgic atmosphere.
Introducing the charm and dedication of Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya along with reasons for its popularity
Experience rare "robatayaki" with authentic irori, uncommon even in Japan
Source:Official website
Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya is an izakaya where you can experience robatayaki, which is rare even in Japan, with authentic irori. The charcoal fire in the irori is taken from the Charcoal Pot at the restaurant entrance. The charcoal smell is wonderful, and just feeling its gentle aroma brings peace to your heart.
Inside the restaurant, many irori are installed in a large hall, and each group of customers enjoys their meal gathered around an irori. It can be enjoyed not only with friends, family, and loved ones but also by solo diners.
If you want to fully enjoy robatayaki in Japan, this is definitely a restaurant you should visit.
A Rich Array of Carefully Selected Ingredients That Let You Experience the Abundant Nature Around Mt. Fuji
Source:Official website
At Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya, we use carefully selected ingredients that allow you to experience the rich nature surrounding Mt. Fuji. Our strength lies in always being able to taste seasonal ingredients, with the mountain vegetables served varying by season. The Yamanashi-produced corn on our course menu has a reputation for being sweet and delicious.
Charr, which is Sanrokuen's signature dish, is prepared by immediately filleting the charr swimming in the restaurant's fish tank, so you can always enjoy fresh charr. Other popular items include beef produced in Yamanashi and pears for dessert.
If you want to fully enjoy Yamanashi's ingredients, this is a restaurant you must visit.
The Set's Houtou Hot Pot is Also Renowned as Exquisite
Source:Tabelog
At Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya, the Houtou Nabe that comes with each set has a reputation for being exquisite. Houtou Nabe is a local dish from Yamanashi, made by simmering wheat noodles with vegetables and mushrooms in a miso-based soup.
The Houtou Nabe is not served in the irori (traditional hearth) cooking style, but rather presented already simmered. Hot steam rises from the simmered pot, and the aroma of miso that emerges stimulates your appetite.
I also first tasted Houtou Nabe here and discovered its deliciousness. If you want to experience Houtou Nabe in Yamanashi, Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya is a recommended restaurant.
The Atmosphere of Traditional Japan Created by a 150-Year-Old Traditional House
Source:Official website
The greatest charm of Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya lies in using a 150-year-old traditional house as the restaurant building. The attractive point is the atmosphere of traditional Japan that the old house creates, with the gentle scent of wood spreading throughout the entire house, bringing peace to your heart.
This traditional house was relocated from the Hida District of Gifu and was originally used as the residence of the Nakachi family, who were local samurai. It has been preserved in its original state and has a comfortable atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer.
On clear days, you can see the magnificent Mt. Fuji from the second-floor windows. Enjoying a leisurely meal while gazing at the magnificent Mt. Fuji is also recommended.
Close to Lake Kawaguchi and Easy to Include in Your Itinerary
Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya's strength lies in being located close to Lake Kawaguchi, making it easy to include in your travel itinerary. It's also conveniently located for train access, being about a 15-minute walk from Kawaguchiko Station on the Fujikyuko Line.
Since it's located near tourist attractions around Lake Kawaguchi, if you plan your schedule well when visiting, you can enjoy sightseeing and dining together. However, please note that it operates only during daytime hours, so you need to be careful when planning your schedule.
Introducing 3 Recommended Course Menus at Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya with Their Respective Charms
Furinkazan
Source:Official website
Furinkazan is the most luxurious course meal at Sanrokuen with the greatest variety of ingredients. A total of 5 types of grilled skewers are prepared, where you can slowly grill and savor fresh Charr and Yamanashi-produced Beef.
The variety of seafood is also abundant, with Sashimi using seasonal fish, King Crab, and Lobster being popular choices. Rainbow Trout is also popular here, with almost no fishy odor typical of river fish, making it delicious even for first-time diners.
Additionally, Hoto Nabe, a representative local dish of Yamanashi, and desserts luxuriously using seasonal fruits are also popular. Both use ingredients produced in Yamanashi, so if you want to fully enjoy Yamanashi's delicious ingredients, please try ordering these.
Diamond Fuji
Source:Official website
Diamond Fuji is a course menu that can be enjoyed at a slightly more reasonable price than the previously introduced Furinkazan. The difference from Furinkazan is that Lobster is not included, but it can be added for an additional 11,000 yen.
There are 6 types of grilled skewers in total, and in addition to Charr and Yamanashi-produced Beef, you can taste Sanroku Pork, which is pork raised in Yamanashi. Sashimi and King Crab are also served the same as in Furinkazan, and the attractive point is that you can taste fresh fish regardless of the season.
When I visit here with friends, I always order this course. If you want to enjoy a leisurely meal in front of the Irori, Diamond Fuji is a recommended course.
Fuji
Source:Official website
For those who want to enjoy Robatayaki alone or want to enjoy Robatayaki at a reasonable price, the Fuji course is recommended. The meal includes appetizers using Boiled Eggs and other ingredients, 8 types of grilled skewers, and Hoto Nabe.
For grilled skewers, you can taste abundant ingredients such as Charr and Salmon swimming in the restaurant's fish tank, Aigamo, and Yamanashi-produced Corn. The Hoto Nabe is slightly large in size, but it's a size that can be fully enjoyed even when ordering alone.
When I visit Sanrokuen alone, I always order the Fuji course. Since additional dishes can be ordered, I also recommend ordering the Fuji course plus individually ordering delicious items you enjoyed.
Access to Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya
- Address: 3370-1 Funatsu, Kawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
- Access: About 15 minutes walk from Kawaguchiko Station on the Fujikyu Line
- Official Website: https://kawaguchiko-sanrokuen.com/
Recommended Tourist Spots Around Lake Kawaguchi to Visit Along with Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya
Source:Official website
Kawaguchiko, located on the north side of Mt. Fuji, is situated at an altitude of 850m, making it a place where you can spend time comfortably cool even in summer. There are many tourist spots that make use of nature, and with good access from Tokyo, many tourists visit throughout the year.
The particularly recommended tourist spots around Kawaguchiko are as follows:
- Fuji-Q Highland
- Arakurayama Sengen Park
- Travel Station Kawaguchiko base
- Oshino Hakkai
- Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
There are many spots around Kawaguchiko that can be enjoyed regardless of the season, so please visit them along with Sanrokuen Irori Izakaya.
For Those Who Want to Efficiently Enjoy Food and Tourist Spots Around Mt. Fuji, "Mt. Fuji Nature meets Culture Tour with a Private Hire Car" is Also Recommended!
If you want to fully enjoy the tourist spots around Kawaguchiko, join this tour. This tour's strength is that you can travel comfortably and efficiently by car from your Tokyo hotel to Yamanashi.
The tour visits tourist spots such as Wasabi Farm and Arakurayama Sengen Park, as well as restaurants where you can taste Yamanashi's local cuisine. After that, you'll go to Oshino Hakkai, sake breweries, and wine shops to enjoy interactions while talking with the guide.
I also participated in this tour and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji and interactions with the guide and other tour participants. If you want to see beautiful Mt. Fuji and efficiently tour around tourist spots, please try using this tour.
Meeting Point: Shinjuku or hotels in Tokyo
Tour Area: Kawaguchiko-machi, Fujiyoshida City
Start Time: 8:00
