
Iroriya Rice Bowl
A hidden gem in Hakone offering authentic Japanese cuisine, specializing in mouthwatering rice bowls and a cozy, local atmosphere.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Iroriya Rice Bowl
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A hidden gem in Hakone offering authentic Japanese cuisine, specializing in mouthwatering rice bowls and a cozy, local atmosphere.
"This is the best steak bowl I’ve ever had."
Book Ahead
Reservations are essential due to limited seating and popular dishes often selling out.
Cash is King
The restaurant is cash-only or accepts QR payments; be prepared with cash to avoid issues.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Japanese
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+81 460-82-3831
Address
296 Miyanoshita, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0404, Japan
Website
hakone-iroriya.com/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Abalone and Wagyu Beef Rice Bowls
Experience the exquisite flavors of Japan with signature abalone and wagyu beef rice bowls, a true culinary delight.

Intimate, Down-to-Earth Ambiance
Dine in a cozy, intimate setting that feels like a hidden gem, offering a local and authentic Japanese experience.

Late-Night Dining Gem
Explore Hakone's culinary scene beyond typical hours at this gem, open late and offering a welcome respite for travelers.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead
Reservations are essential due to limited seating and popular dishes often selling out.
Cash is King
The restaurant is cash-only or accepts QR payments; be prepared with cash to avoid issues.
Navigate with Care
The location is a bit hidden, and roads can be narrow; use Google Maps and consider a smaller vehicle.
Embrace Communication
Staff are friendly; making an effort to communicate, even with broken Japanese, is appreciated.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead
Reservations are essential due to limited seating and popular dishes often selling out.
Cash is King
The restaurant is cash-only or accepts QR payments; be prepared with cash to avoid issues.
Navigate with Care
The location is a bit hidden, and roads can be narrow; use Google Maps and consider a smaller vehicle.
Embrace Communication
Staff are friendly; making an effort to communicate, even with broken Japanese, is appreciated.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Iroriya Rice Bowl is celebrated for its exceptional Abalone and Wagyu beef rice bowls, often hailed as some of the best in Japan. Diners appreciate the cozy, authentic atmosphere and the fact that it's open later than many other Hakone establishments. While the food receives consistent praise, some visitors note that the service can be average and the location requires careful navigation.
"This is the best steak bowl I’ve ever had.
I can’t speak to the people who have had a bad experience here with the staff, but we had an amazing service and our situation was less than desirable.
First of all, we got there around 8:45pm, last call is at 9pm and it closes at 10:30pm. Not a great look.
Second of all, it’s cash only (or QR payment which we don’t have) so we had cash, but knew we wouldn’t have enough. So while my sister and I order and sit down, we sent my dad to get more cash.
This restaurant sits atop a big hill and the stairs you need to take from our accommodation were literally a death trap (see picture: during the night and during the day). Now, my dad can’t see very well in general, but add on these stairs, during the night and Google Map is acting up? Absolutely not. Mans got lost.
I’m sitting there with my sister, promising this nice waitress by Google Translate that my dad is coming with cash while she is serving us food that we seem like we might just dine and dash.
I tell her he got lost and missed the stairs, proceed to show her a picture of the stairs and she goes “Oooh” as if these were notoriously known for something. I send my sister to fetch my father, another waitress FOLLOWS her through the darkness to get my dad, unbeknownst to my sister’s knowledge. She escorts them back safely to the restaurant and all is well.
Mind you while all of this is happening, the waitress is asking me about my tattoos and saying how cool and cute they are and making conversation.
All in all, the staff ladies were all very lovely. We went back another time right before we left Hakone because the food was so good."
Coralie Esau
"The abalone rice bowl was awesome. Steak bowl was average, not because it wasn’t good, just because there are so much good ones in Japan. The service was very average, don’t appear to welcome tourists. Surprised they have an English menu. The roads leading to this place is very narrow, so drive a smaller car."
Kin Cheung
"Everyone was super nice and the food was delicious. Would definitely recommend the grilled eggplant, steak bowl, and chicken karrage in addition to the sashimi included with the service.
The server and chef were very kind and appreciated our effort to speak broken japanese. Previous commentors who thought the women were rude probably put zero effort into their communication and possess no understanding or patience."
Alika Ziker
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The restaurant is described as a bit of a hidden gem with narrow roads leading to it. Using Google Maps for navigation is recommended, and some advise considering a smaller vehicle.
No, the restaurant is cash-only or accepts QR payments. It's important to bring enough cash.
The highly recommended dishes are the 'Ashigaragyu no steak don' (Rice bowl with Ashigara beef steak) and 'Awabi don' (Abalone bowl).
Yes, making reservations in advance is highly recommended as seating is limited and popular dishes may sell out.
Unfortunately, this restaurant is not suitable for vegans, as indicated by some reviews.
Iroriya Rice Bowl is open until 10:30 PM, making it one of the few places in Hakone open late, which is a significant advantage for travelers.
Mentioned in
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Japanese Food Spots in Around Hakonemachi Area (Page 1)| Japan Travel by NAVITIME
Featured on popular food television shows, Iroriya is famous for the lines of patrons that can form outside its door. The restaurant’s reasonable lunch menu consists of dishes made with top class ingredients, and the plump abalone rice bowl and Ashigara beef steak rice bowl are particularly popular. At night, the restaurant offers a menu of over 20 a la carte dishes made with local ingredients.
Amazing Lunch In Hakone! The Best 10 Local Restaurants You Must Try In Hakone!
Although this is Izakaya during dinner time, they are open for lunch as well. Even though it is said to be a hidden gem, there is always a queue of people!. All the tourists visit this place.
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