In Yamanashi to see Japan’s most famous mountain? Treat yourself to a savory noodle soup while you’re there!
A visit to Mount Fuji is a must for many travelers visiting Japan, but even if you're just in Yamanashi Prefecture for a quick trip to see the mountain, there's one more local treat you shouldn't miss: Hoto. Hoto noodles (ほうとう, sometimes written houtou) taste a lot like particularly broad, thin udon noodles, although because of the way they're prepared some locals debate whether they're truly noodles or actually dumplings instead. The wide noodles come in a miso-based broth, and the whole dish makes for a satisfyingly warm, savory meal on a windy day exploring Yamanashi to get the best possible views of Mount Fuji!
There are a number of theories when it comes to the origin of both the name "hoto" and also the dish itself! What historians can agree upon is that, while rice has been the traditional staple crop for much of Japan, wheat cultivation took off in parts of Yamanashi thanks to the quality of the soil, hundreds of years ago.
Who first developed these uniquely shaped dumplings/noodles isn't entirely clear, but the most common lore centers around local warlord Takeda Shingen, who is said to have eaten hoto together with his soldiers before every battle! If the dish is sustaining enough to get Japan's 16th-century warriors through a day of fighting, it'll certainly give you the energy you need for a long day of sightseeing!
While local families tend to make the dish in one big pot for a communal meal, restaurants tend to serve hoto in individual cast iron pots.
Lift the lid off your cauldron of bubbling-hot miso broth, and you'll find a tangle of wide noodles accompanied by a variety of ingredients. The most common additions to the soup are slices of pumpkin and seasonal vegetables, like onions and potatoes in the summer, or you'll often see carrots and taro during the colder months of the year. Meat is generally an optional topping, but many restaurants offer pork, chicken, or even seafood!
Many of the most popular hoto restaurants are found in Fuji-Kawaguchiko, a little resort town at the foot of Mount Fuji. The town is always busy with travelers, there to relax in the cool weather coming off of Lake Kawaguchiko and take in the views of the mountain, and a number of hoto eateries have sprung up in response to the demand. Travelers in a hurry might want to check out Hoto Fudo right across the street from Kawaguchiko Station. If you're exploring the area a little more, we'd also recommend Hoto Kosaku, where the Japankuru team enjoyed hoto a few years back!
The restaurant has a huge waterwheel out front, so you won't miss it!
Hoto Kosaku (甲州ほうとう 小作 河口湖店)
1638-1 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi
Official Website (jp)
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Details
NAME:Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県)
MAP
COMMENT
FEATURED MEDIA
VIEW MORETokyo Shopping Spot Recommendation: New Balance Kichijoji #newbalance #newbalancekichijoji #newbalancejapan #japanesesneakerheads #shoppinginjapan #japantrip #도쿄여행 #도쿄쇼핑 #뉴발란스 #일본한정 #일본패션 #日本購物 #日本買衣服 #NB #日本時尚 #東京購物 #รองเท้าnewbalance #นิวบาลานซ์ #รองเท้าผ้าใบ #ช้อปปิ้ง #คิจิโจจิ #japankuru
See Kyoto Clearly With Your New Glasses #japankuru #kyoto #jins #교토여행 #진즈 #京都 #교토수족관 #가모가와 #kamogawa #kyotoaquarium
The First Japanese Converse Flagship: CONVERSE STORE HARAJUKU #japankkuru #conversejp_pr #conversejapan #harajuku #tokyotrip #converse #tokyoshopping #匡威 #帆布鞋 #東京購物 #原宿 #日本時尚 #일본쇼핑 #일본컨버스 #일본한정 #하라주쿠 #일본패션 #일본스트릿 #รองเท้าconverse #รองเท้าผ้าใบ #ช้อปปิ้ง #ฮาราจูกุ #คอนเวิร์ส
Japanese Makeup Shopping • A Trip to Kamakura & Enoshima With Canmake’s Cool-Toned Summer Makeup #pr #canmake #enoshima #enoden #에노시마 #캔메이크 #japanesemakeup #japanesecosmetics
⚔️The Robot Restaurant is gone, but the Samurai Restaurant is here to take its place. Check it out, and don't forget your coupon! 🍣신주쿠의 명소 로봇 레스토랑이 사무라이 레스토랑으로 부활! 절찬 쿠폰 발급중 💃18歲以上才能入場的歌舞秀,和你想的不一樣!拿好優惠券去看看~ #tokyo #shinjuku #samurairestaurant #robotrestaurant #tokyotrip #도쿄여행 #신주쿠 #사무라이레스토랑 #이색체험 #할인이벤트 #歌舞伎町 #東京景點 #武士餐廳 #日本表演 #日本文化體驗 #japankuru #japantrip #japantravel #japanlovers #japan_of_insta
Japanese appliance & electronics shopping with our KOJIMA x BicCamera coupon! 用JAPANKURU的KOJIMA x BicCamera優惠券買這些正好❤️ 코지마 x 빅 카메라 쿠폰으로 일본 가전 제품 쇼핑하기 #pr #japankuru #japanshopping #kojima #biccamera #japaneseskincare #yaman #dji #osmopocket3 #skincaredevice #日本購物 #美容儀 #相機 #雅萌 #日本家電 #일본여행 #면세 #여행꿀팁 #일본쇼핑리스트 #쿠폰 #일본쇼핑 #일본브랜드 #할인 #코지마 #빅카메라 #japankurucoupon
Odaiba's DiverCity Tokyo Plaza is home to the famous real-size 20m-tall Unicorn Gundam, and the popular shopping center has even more Gundam on the inside! Check out the Gundam Base Tokyo on the 7th floor for shelves upon shelves of Gunpla, and the Gundam Base Tokyo Annex on the 2nd floor for cool anime merchandise. Both shops have tons of limited-edition items! #pr #odaiba #tokyo #tokyotrip #japantrip #japantravel #PR #divercity #divercitytokyoplaza #tokyoshopping #gundam #unicorngundam #gundambasetokyo #anime #otaku #gunpla #japankuru #오다이바 #다이바시티도쿄 #오다이바건담 #건담 #일본건담 #건프라 #건담베이스도쿄