Tag Archives: Japanese cuisine

This charming restaurant/brewery (sometimes referred to as the Mayor’s House) has been in the Ishikawa family for more than 300 years. The family began making sake 135 years ago, using rice grown in the immediate area. A few years later, their great great-grandfather began making beer but it was before its time and did not go over well. Lucky for us, the trend eventually caught on.Once inside, the courtyard and building have an old German flavor. There are two massive 400-year old Zelkova trees standing sentry. In a small store behind the trees, there is a presentation on how sake is made. Ask questions. They have people who can speak English well if you want to know more. After leaving the store, there is a Karu (old storage building) to the right, and an old metal sake pot. The soba restaurant to the left as you wonder through the courtyard has hosted many generals and VIPs as evidenced by many photos. Further into the courtyard is a pavilion housing an antique cooker/pot for making beer. The walls and ceilings depict the making of beer 100 years ago. Just outside the pavilion is a tree more than 600 years old. Across from the pavilion is the beer brewery and lots of tables to eat outside when weather permits. There are two restaurants, Italian and Japanese. Both are inventive, borrowing from West and East.

The Italian side (Fussa no Birugoya) has pizza, pasta, risotto and larger entrees, along with a seasonal menu. They roll their own pasta, and the pizzas often include fresh herbs. Entrees include roasted tuna, sauteed veal and baked freshwater shrimp. The main dishes run about ¥1,400. The appetizer list is extensive.
The Japanese side, Zougura, specializes in buckwheat noodles (soba), served every which way: garnished with duck, with mountain yam, with seaweed, hot, cold or in soup. The menu has a long list of small plates, some of which Americans might eat on a dare: Salted squid guts, fish guts and dried mackerel. But there are plenty, too that would appeal to an American palette, such as braised pork, beef, seafood and many European dishes. And of course, lots of beer. The business gives tours of both the sake factory and the beer brewery. Please arrange ahead of time for English speaking tours. The owner’s two sons (Taro and Yoshiro Ishikawa) speak English. You can call them for more information at 042-553-0100 or Fax 042-553-2008. Hours: 11:30am-10pm (last orders of the evening at 8:30pm).
DIRECTIONS: Take a left out the Fussa Gate. Stay on 16 as it becomes a bridge over the train tracks. Turn right at the traffic light after the bridge. Go straight through three lights. Now begin to watch for a cement block wall (not more than 20 feet long) on your left (there is a Temple directly across the street.) Take the next left turn just after the wall ends (a very narrow street), then take an immediate left (about the length of a car), follow along the street paralleling the brewery/sake complex (white buildings). Take the first right hand turn. Go past one building on the left and park in the lot behind it. Additional parking is past the first parking lot. Continue on to the next street, make a left and look for a “P” parking sign on the left. Telephone: 042-553-0171. GPS: 35.71907, 139.33297. Doreen Garten 2010

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In the mood for fast and cheap? Try Yoshinoya, the Japanese answer to fast food. It basically serves one dish, “gyudon,” translated as beef bowl. It is a hearty bowl of rice with thinly-sliced beef and onions. The regular size is only ¥280! It is served with complimentary tea. Sides such as miso soup, potato salad, and salad are also available. There are two close to base, but we think the best way to experience Yoshinoya is when you’re walking through Tokyo, hungry and looking for a quick bite to eat. Once you notice one of these orange and black signs, you will start seeing them all over Japan. The chain of restaurants is open 24 hours a day for a fast, tasty meal at all times of day or night.
DIRECTIONS: One of the nearest is south on Route 16 where it intersects with Route 29 (on the way to Hachioji Bypass). Set your odometer to zero and drive straight out the Fussa Gate. Cross the train tracks. At the first light (0.4km) bear left at the “Y” intersection. At the second light past the next set of tracks (Fussa City Office Intersection, 1.1km) turn left onto Shin Okutama Kaido. Continue straight until your odometer reads 4.2 km. Yoshinoya will be on your left, at the corner of Route 16 and Route 29. Hours? Telephone? Brian & Kristen Marriott 08/02

Unasen, a Fussa eel and tempura restaurant, serves a wonderful, crisp, tempura dish of shrimp, pepper, eggplant, Japanese mushrooms, squid and fish. If you order a tempura set, you also get a good miso soup, rice and pickles. The decor is traditional with tatami mats, shoji window screens and walls of white pine. Although the menu is in Japanese, there is a window of plastic food for menu selection when your language skill has reached the limit. Unasen has three private rooms plus two booths in the front. Price on the tempura set is ¥l,500.
DIRECTIONS: Go straight out the Fussa Gate, bear left at the “Y” intersection, Honcho Dori. Go across the railroad tracks and through the first light (intersection of Ginza Dori). The restaurant is on the left, across from Jesse James. Hours: 11am-l0pm, six days a week, closed Saturdays. Telephone: 51-6465. Diane C. Lyell, 1992

This little hole-in-the-wall is tucked away in the heart of Fussa City. Tony’s Tonkatsu is run by the chef, Mr. Yoshio (Tony) Torikoshi. Tonkatsu (deep fried breaded pork cutlet) is their specialty. It’s not all pork. You can also get dishes featuring cheese or vegetables. The catch is, they’re wrapped in pork and deep-fried, too! The prawn dish is an exception. It’s breaded and fried, but without the pork. Every dish is worth trying! All dishes are served with Japanese pickles, a little appetizer plate, miso soup, rice and salad. Prices range from ¥800-1950. The menus are in English and Romaji (romanized Japanese). Although reservations are not required for 6 or less, you should make one on weekend evenings. The restaurant is small, with low tables on tatami mats and bar stools at the counter. There is also a party room, accommodating 20. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11am-2pm and 5-8pm. Telephone: 042-552-0419.
DIRECTIONS: Go straight out the Supply Gate. Cross two sets of railroad tracks. After crossing the second set of tracks, continue straight through four traffic lights. Shortly after the fourth light, you will start to go downhill. There will be a traffic light at the bottom of the hill, with a blue pedestrian bridge overhead. Take a left here and go straight until the third light. Take a left at this light (Marufuji Supermarket on left). Tony’s Tonkatsu House is across the street from the parking lot.  GPS: 35.7253, 139.3343.  Jean Kuramoto, Delores Street, 2010, photos by Kelly O’Donnell July 2013.

May 2012, Pamela Tubbs: Hubby and I enjoyed a super tonkatsu set meal…for just ¥1200, Torikoshi-san and his wife served us a huge feast (by Japanese standards!), including a chunk of pre-cut super-sweet pineapple for dessert (no charge!). This is a sweet little “mom-n-pop” (family lives above their restaurant) place on the corner. Sit at the counter to get a detailed view of all the military and U.S.-themed kitsch stuck on nearly every vertical surface! Note: ash trays on the tables meant one thing–we were lucky to be there with only one other customer, who wasn’t smoking! Tips to avoid the crowd (particularly smokers): go during the week (don’t forget–closed on Mondays), and get there early– they open at 5:00 p.m. There’s plenty of free parking in Marufuji’s parking lot (behind Marufuji, beside Tony’s). Enjoy!

Two restaurants frequented by Yokota meat-eaters during lunch are Family Steakhouse Don and Shabu-Shabu Dontei. Sets at both places are ¥1000-¥2000, according to the picture menus. Shabu-shabu consists of boiling meat in broth in a table-top pan and then dipping it in sauce (sort of a Japanese fondue). Some say that you are supposed to cook the meat only as long as it takes you to say “shabu-shabu.” Thinly sliced pork is offered in addition to beef, along with a plate of vegetables and large noodles to be cooked at the end. Sets come with rice, salad bar is extra. Both restaurants open 11am-midnight.
DIRECTIONS: Drive straight out the Supply Gate (Itsukaichi Kaido) and across two sets of train tracks. Continue a few more blocks. The more western-style Steakhouse Don is on the near right corner of the next large intersection (at ShinOkutama Kaido) opposite the small Ushihama Post Office (before the road goes downhill)., 042-530-6866, 43-1 Ushihama. For the shabu-shabu restaurant, turn left at this intersection, then left past the brown apartment building into the parking lot (take off and put your shoes into the black lockers, then remove the wooden key). 042-551-7866, 986-1 Kumagawa. www.steak-don.co.jp/e/ Teresa Negley, Alexis Roberts 2009

Ramen noodles are a delicious and quick meal. They’re nothing like the dried kind you get in supermarkets. There are many ramen shops around Japan. The two closest ones to base are easy walks.

DIRECTIONS: the first one is on “Bar Row.” Go straight out Fussa Gate, bear left at “Y” intersection (1st light), take a right at next light. The restaurant is immediately to the left as you turn onto it. It has English menus and a wide variety of ramen soupflavors. To reach the second restaurant, continue down Bar Row and take a left at the next intersection. You will see another smaller ramen shop a couple buildings down on the right. Hours? Telephone? Name of shops? Brian & Kristen Marriott, date

If you’re looking for the best traditional Japanese food, including tempura, broiled eel (sounds weird, but it’s yummy!) and fresh fish that’s been broiled on a skewer, Kubota’s is the place. The staff is very warm and welcoming, and there’s an English menu with lots of pictures. The set dinners are a great deal. Credit cards are welcome. The tempura lunch sets, including soup, rice and fruit are only¥1000. Remove your shoes if you get a table in the tatami dining room, which has low tables and is next to a small garden. Western-style seating is also available Hours: 11:30am-2pm and 5-9pm. Closed Mondays. GPS: 35.7456, 139.3288
DIRECTIONS: Turn right out Fussa Gate (0km), left at the light where George’s used car dealership is, near Ushihama Garage. (Signposted “Shorin Dori Ent.” 0.6km.) Cross the tracks. Continue straight and downhill through three more lights. At 1.5km, turn into the dirt parking lot on the right. The restaurant is across the street. Telephone: 042-551-0545. Ace & Pamela Tubbs, 2011

Great for a hot bowl of “Chinese” noodle soup on a cold evening. Match the dish numbers on the English menu to the numbers on the machine by the door. Put yen in the machine and push the button for your choice. To get any change, twist the lever at the top. Give your ticket to the cook behind the counter. Pour your own glasses of water from the water stand near the ticket machine. This ramen stand is unusual for using “tororo” Japanese “mountain yam” also called “yamakake” when grated in several of its dishes. To spice up your selection, sprinkle black pepper or add grated garlic on top. Prices vary from ¥700 -1,200.
DIRECTIONS: Make a left out the Terminal Gate (zero odometer), then turn right at the next light onto Homukyoku Dori. Cross the railroad tracks and turn right at the intersection near Marufuji’s, 1.1K Higashi Fussa N. Turn left at the second light, Musashino Dai, 1.5K by the 7/11. Make a right at FussaRokusho Mae past the ramen stand on the corner and turn left into the green fenced parking lot behind it at 2.1K off Nichu Dori.  Park in front of a yellow parking marker numbered 21-22-23 or 25-26, then walk back to the ramen stand. The red and yellow “noren” curtain with ラーメン (ramen in katakana) shows the stand is open. Julie Hudson, Teresa Negley

Hamazen Japanese Restaurant

Made a same-day reservation at this restaurant in Fussa on a Wednesday night. Three of us sat at Japanese-style seating around the aquarium.  Sushi, Sashimi, and traditional Japanese seafood menu options, a la carte and sets. Active fish dishes are also available.
The food quality was exceptional and beautifully presented.
Service was excellent, and very quick. We had Sawanoi sake from Ome brewery (as special drink) and plum wine.

You can catch your own fish. It doesn’t get any fresher than this.
I highly recommend this restaurant for the food and experience. The prices are very affordable, I think cheaper prices compared to the quality you get in the food and presentation. Honestly, conveyor belt sushi cannot compare. Also it is kid-friendly. English menu available. Robin Kidder, May 2017

Other comments:
This traditional Japanese restaurant, also known as Torches, is a close but unique culinary adventure for guests who are seated at either the tables or a broad counter surrounding an indoor fish pond. Guests can fish from the table surrounding the pond.  If you catch a fish you have to purchase it and can have it cooked for your evening meal. Weekday lunch specials are about ¥1000, while dinners are higher with the tempura set about ¥1500 and monthly specials ¥3500+. Sashimi is available in great variety (even fish on the bone while still breathing). They have an abbreviated menu available in English (no pictures). Private party rooms may be reserved in advance.  Teresa Negley, Kyoko Bissell, 2010.

Hamazen: www.kourakuen.com
Hours: 11:00am -10:00pm. Lunch is served until 3pm.
Telephone: 042-551-0035.
DIRECTIONS: Drive straight out the Supply Gate, cross both sets of train tracks and continue straight. Turn left on Okutama Kaido. Turn left after about 1km into the walled parking lot for Korakuen Hotel and Hamazen Restaurant. During the evening, torches burn at the entrance to the restaurant.