Hōtō Fudō Kawaguchiko Station

Hōtō Fudō offers the traditional Yamanashi dish hōtō, flat noodles with vegetables in a broth, for around ¥1,320. They serve large portions that may be a struggle to finish. Cash only.

Check out our article to find more things to do around Kawaguchiko.

What is Hōtō?

Hōtō is a traditional noodle dish from Yamanashi Prefecture. What makes it stand out from other Japanese noodles (like, say, udon) is that the noodles are flat. The miso-based broth is also chock-full of hearty vegetables and is a good choice if you’re limiting your meat. (Be warned that hōtō does use dashi, a stock often made with bonito flakes, so it is not completely vegetarian.)

What to know before you visit Hōtō Fudō Kawaguchiko Station

You can find many restaurants in the surrounding area of Kawaguchiko that serve hōtō, but the chain Hōtō Fudō is famous for a reason. The Kawaguchiko Station branch is the most convenient as it is just opposite the station. This makes for quite a long line during peak times, as the store does not allow reservations. However, we went around 11 a.m. on a weekday during January and waited less than 10 minutes. Alternatively, visit one of the three other stores in the Kawaguchiko area, which have almost triple the number of seats.

The store is a reasonable size and filled with the smell of dark wood and tatami. There are both seats where you can keep your shoes on, and tatami seating, where you need to take your shoes off. You may want to keep your coat on during winter, especially when you visit the toilet, which requires a trip outside. The bowls of steaming hōtō were served in a traditional iron pot accompanied by a large spoon. The size is quite intimidating, so don’t be afraid to share. You’re guaranteed to be warmed up and stuffed at the end.

Can you make reservations?

Only for parties of 20 or more people.

by JC Team