The 10 Best Places to Eat in Matsumoto, Japan

Matsumoto City in Nagano is well known for its historical architectures, “”Matusmoto Castle””, and “”Fukashi Shrine””. Also, “”Yarigadake [Mt. Yari]””, and “”Tashiro Pond”” are famous as great natural spots in the city. Now, do you want to know about foodie spots? Matsumoto City is not just a tourist spot. Here is the information about delicious food and foodie places. Try them when you visit Matsumoto!

“Matsumoto Teuchi Soba Marushu”

“Matsumoto Teuchi Soba Marushu” is a soba noodles restaurant. They have a 130-year-old pomegranate tree in the courtyard, and give some of the fruit to people who eat their meal in the harvest season. There may be some visiting for it.

Their ratio of buckwheat and wheat is basically 9:1, but they also serve 100% buckwheat noodles, which are called “Ju-wari Soba” and recommended to eat with salt. The flourless soba noodles give you a great enjoyment of buckwheat flavor. It would be fun to visit not only during daytime but also during night-time since they have alcohol drinks that go with soba. You must eat their superb soba noodles when you visit Matsumoto City, Nagano!

“Shin Miyoshi”

“Shin Miyoshi” is a horse meat specialty restaurant, which is located 6-minute walk from Matsumoto Station. They were established in Meiji 32 (1899). You can eat horse meat in “shabushabu” style at this place, though it is normally cooked into Sukiyaki, or sashimi in Nagano

Eating horse meat in shabushabu style seems a rare way to eat because in Kumamoto where you can see it at normal supermarkets, people say they don’t eat it that way. Enjoy horse meat with different flavor from that of beef or pork. Its calories are low and doesn’t make you gain weight.

“Raiden”

“Raiden” is an izakaya restaurant which uses fresh and safe agricultural products from Matsumoto and Shinshu area. The convenient location close to a station allows you to easily pop in. It is one of the retaurants promoting local production for local consumption. You can see it on Matsumoto City website, “Kuru Kuru Net Matsumoto”.

Their party plans are reasonable, and the skewers and Sanzoku Yaki (local fried chicken) are especially famous. You cannot leave without eating their various delicious dishes cooked fully with local ingredients from Matsumoto. Try their fine food with local sake, shochu, and wine!

“HARMONIE BIEN”

“HARMONIE BIEN” is a French restaurant which serves seasonal dishes made of the best quality local ingredients. You can enjoy seasonal, or monthly course meals cooked with those ingredients and vegetables directly from contract farmers. Both meat and fish for main dish are great, and their full course lunch is also excellent.

Not only the taste but also their ambience is exceptional. The building in which this restautant is located has both classic and modern taste, and they are open for parties including wedding receptions. It is one of the best recommended restaurants in Matsumoto.

“Sonneblume”

“Sonneblume” is a beer restaurant which serves North Western cuisine. You can enjoy North Western dishes, homemade sausages that go with beer, and lunch course meals from a reasonable one to a luxurious one called chef course.

Their recommendation is beer and you can choose from 60 types, including fruity onesーmaybe good for women. They have a female party plan, so girls can enjoy girl time. Try this place when you visit Matsumoto for sight seeing.

“Yakiniku Kaishu”

“Yakiniku Kaishu” is a yakiniku restaurant which is located about 5-minute walk from Minami Matsumoto Station. They focus on quality and price, and serve the best A5 rank branded beef, Shinshu Gyu, purchasing a whole one. Their priority is making customers happy.

Their whole purchased beef gives you a great enjoyment of knowing the differences of each cuts, such as thick steak cuts and rare cuts. You can experience the amazing taste you have never had. Especially the best cut from chuck eye roll, “Haneshita”, tastes superb! It is worth try once. Don’t for get to visit this restaurant for Shinshu Gyu.

“Hikariya Higashi”

“Hikariya Higashi” is an a Japanese cuisine restaurant in a nostalgic old house, which was renovated from an old Japanese style house built over 130 years ago. The main building is called “Higashi” for Japanese cuisines.　

At “Hikariya Higashi”, they serve excellent Japanese food, such as Shinshu Soba noodles, Ayu fish, seasonal Kaiseki course meals, and Nagano’s specialty, Sanzoku yaki while French cuisines are surved at a plaster warehouse next to Higashi, called “Nishi”. You can feel their way of hospitality from the brilliant tableware and unique wooden checking(billing) tools. Enjoy their fine dishes and Japanese hospitality at a classic house.

“Yamameya”

“Yamameya” is an izakaya restaurant where you can pop in alone and freely enjoy their casual atmosphere. It is located a bit far from Matsuoto Station, but many people visit every day. They mainly serve yakitori skewers but also Nagano’s specialty Sanzoku Yaki, authentic Shinshu soba noodles, and horse meat sashimi.

Popular to the locals because of their local-oriented features. They serve a wide range of cuisines and you can also enjoy various local sake. Handwritten menu by the owner shows his warm personality. It can be a great experience to meet local people on your trip.

“Shizuka”

”Shizuka” is a wheelchair friendly izakaya restaurant. They have a ramp for wheelchairs and baby carriages at the large 1st floor, and an elevator, too. This place was started as an izakaya for yakitori and oden hot pot, and now is run by the 3rd madam.

You will always be happy with their various food, such as seasonal cuisines, lunch sets, and dishes from dinner menu. The recommendation is to have their staple dish, oden, with some local sake, or beer. They are so tasty soaking up the dashi soup. Visit and try their food at this long popular izakaya restaurant.

“BELLE RIVIERE”

“BELLE RIVIERE” is a Japanese Western restaurant which is located at riverside. Their name means “a beautiful river” in French. It takes 11 minutes from Minami Matsumoto Station by car, so the location is not really convenient, but they are so popular that there is always a waiting list.

They serve delicious Japanese Western dishes cooked with the best ingredients, such as organic rice and fresh Shinshu chicken. Warm homey atmosphere is created by the chef owner with 40 years experiences and his wife who leads young waiters and waitresses. You should stop by when you visit Nagano!

Eat delicious local specialties in Matsumoto!

How did you like it? This article was about the 10 best places to eat in Matsumoto, Nagano. There are many specialties in this prefecture, such as Shinshu Gyu (Beef), Shinshu Soba Noodles, Nozawana (a kind of mustard leaf), etc. Each of the restaurant listed above is highly admired for their wonderdul dishes. So, it would be good if you can enjoy Nagano’s tasty food. Also, great to walk around looking for your favorite one. Have fun sight seeing in Matsumoto!