9 Must-Try Local Dishes and Sweets in Nasu-Shiobara

Founded in 1912 as a fruit shop, Fujiya has now, more than 100 years later, is a café run by the fourth generation, carving a new chapter in its history. While strolling through the Shiobara Onsen area, you should definitely try "Tote-yaki," a local sweet originating from Shiobara. This street food, born in Shiobara Onsen in 2011, gets its name from its cone shape, which resembles the whistle of the "Tote carriage" that once ran through the area. The café was started during the COVID-19 pandemic. "While learning about health-promoting foods, I thought that if I was going to do it, I wanted to do it properly," says the owner. True to his word, the Tote-yaki dough is made with local flour containing brown rice flour, the eggs are locally sourced free-range eggs, and the cream is handmade with soy milk, demonstrating a thorough commitment to ingredients. They also adhere to the standard of using local fruit first, then within the prefecture if local fruit isn't available, and still domestically produced. With one bite, the freshness of the seasonal fruit and the gentle sweetness of the soy milk cream blend together naturally. The brown rice coffee and soy milk cafe au lait that we had together were a perfect match! Be sure to pick one up while strolling around Shiobara Onsen. ⚫︎Store Information Address: 689 Shiobara, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture TEL: 0287-32-2314 Closed: Irregular (please check) Payment: Cash, various credit cards Official website: https://shiobara-cafe-fujiya.com/

"Jidori Cheese Tsukune Tote" offered by Yunohana-so, a long-established kappo ryokan (traditional Japanese restaurant and inn) in Shiobara Onsen, is a savory tote-yaki (grilled skewers) dish made with locally sourced chicken meatballs marinated in a special sauce. Upon trying it, the filling of highland vegetables, mayonnaise, and melted cheese is generously portioned! The combination of the juicy meatballs and the sweet and savory sauce is exquisite! The cheese melts deliciously, and the chicken's flavor is a perfect match. The reliable use of ingredients and careful seasoning by the chefs of the kappo ryokan are clearly evident in this simple dish. The fact that you can easily stop by the inn is also a plus. When you visit Shiobara Onsen, be sure to head out to Yunohana-so tote-yaki. Note: Tote-yaki is sold from 10:00 to 18:00 (takeout only). It is recommended to make a reservation by phone in advance when purchasing tote-yaki. Please call to check if it is available during Golden Week and Obon. • Store Information Address: 323 Shiobara, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture TEL: 0287-32-2824 Closed: Irregular (please check) Business Hours: 10:00-17:30 (Sales hours: 10:00-18:00) Payment: Cash, various credit cards Official Website: https://www.yunohanaso.co.jp/

Kameya Honpo is a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Shiobara Onsen that has been loved by locals for about 60 years. Their star product is their hot spring steamed buns, made with domestically sourced ingredients for both the bean paste and the brown sugar syrup, and handcrafted every morning. The owner happily told us that he is busy with morning deliveries and preparation to ensure that fresh buns are delivered every day. Another popular item at the shop, along with the hot spring steamed buns, is Shiobara-yaki. Shaped like a horse-drawn carriage, this baked confection is popular with younger people who find it "cute!" And then there's Shiobara's local sweet, "Tote-yaki." The shop's original "Burnt Custard Tote" is a fusion of Japanese and Western styles, filled with smooth bean paste and topped with fragrant, burnt custard cream. There is a bench outside the shop, so on a nice day, be sure to relax and enjoy the Shiobara air. • Store Information Address: 618 Shiobara, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture TEL: 0287-32-2568 Closed: Irregularly Payment: Cash, various cashless payment methods accepted Official website: None

At the foot of the Momijidani Suspension Bridge, there's a hidden gem of a restaurant known only to those in the know: "Takahara Forest Association Forest Station Restaurant." This place was a fantastic secret spot! My goal that day was the soup-filled yakisoba. This dish, known as a local B-grade gourmet specialty of Shiobara Onsen, is so popular that it accounts for about 70% of the restaurant's sales. The soup is slightly on the richer side, and each dish is made fresh to order, which is part of its charm. I was told that you can enjoy it in a different way by adding rice at the counter. On a pleasant holiday before Golden Week, I enjoyed it on the terrace under a clear blue sky. As I felt the refreshing breeze from the mountains and gazed at the green mountain range, my appetite grew even stronger. The group of young men next to me also looked at each other and exclaimed, "Wow, it's delicious!!" and I couldn't help but feel a sense of shared satisfaction. The best time to visit during the autumn foliage season is on weekdays from mid to late November. But actually, the greenery is also very beautiful during the fresh green season, so early summer weekends are also recommended! If you're lucky, you might even get to see the nearby Hokigawa River dyed emerald green – a truly spectacular sight. Dogs are welcome on the terrace. Be sure to add this to your Nasushiobara gourmet trip! ⚫︎Store Information Address: 1425-60 Sekiya, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture TEL: 0287-34-1037 Business Hours: Please check the website Closed: Please check the website Payment: Cash, various cashless payment methods Official Website: http://www.takahara-shinrin.or.jp/mori-no-eki/

Located at the entrance to the Shiobara Onsen hot spring resort area is the roadside station "Yunoka Shiobara," affectionately known as AgriPal Shiobara. As its name suggests, meaning "Agriculture friends (pal)," it is a hub for local production and consumption, combining a direct sales store featuring vegetables and fruits carefully cultivated by farmers in Nasushiobara City with a rural restaurant. On this day, I visited with the aim of trying soft-serve ice cream made with pasteurized milk. The roadside station grounds were filled with children enjoying chatting with soft-serve ice cream in hand under the blue sky. I immediately ordered soft-serve ice cream from the food truck-style shop. The rich flavor and gentle taste of the pasteurized soft-serve ice cream made me involuntarily say to myself, "As expected..." Meanwhile, the staff also recommended gelato. Among the several types of gelato, there are even flavors of seasonal vegetables. The key is "to preserve the texture of the vegetables." Instead of grinding them, they are simply lightly crushed in a blender. By doing so, the natural sweetness of the asparagus and the texture of the corn kernels are fully preserved in the gelato. The flavors use only agricultural products from Nasushiobara City and change seasonally. On the day of the interview, we were served asparagus and tomato gelato. We were told, "Please also enjoy changing the flavor by adding salt (which is available in the store)!" and we discovered an unexpected way to enjoy vegetables. Be sure to stop by on your way to Shiobara Onsen and look for a seasonal item that you can only find then. ⚫︎Store Information Address: 442 Sekiya, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture TEL: 0287-35-3789 Closed: Open all year round (some closures may occur, please check) Payment: Cash and various cashless payment methods Official website: https://agripal-shiobara.com/

"We want to liven up Nasu"—La Boheme, which has branches in Tokyo and overseas, opened in Nasushiobara City last year, driven by the owner's passionate desire. The concept is "food safety and security." There is no compromise in the selection of ingredients. When asked for a particular recommendation from the menu, the owner immediately replied, "Our pizzas, baked in a custom-made wood-fired oven, are especially popular. Margherita pizza for kids, and shirasu pizza for adults!" In particular, the cream sauce with boiled shirasu and seaweed is said to be a perfect match for alcohol, with the umami of the shirasu and the aroma of the seaweed. On this day, from the many menu items, I chose a spinach and bacon salad, shrimp and mascarpone tomato sauce pasta, and a Bora Bora (mocktail = non-alcoholic cocktail). The menu is extensive, so much so that you'll be spoiled for choice. The staff are friendly and will give you advice on what to order, so you can also enjoy a little conversation. The restaurant is lively and can be enjoyed by families, couples, and of course, by those dining alone. Please enjoy the stylish atmosphere and a variety of dishes! • Store Information Address: 109-7 Kanozaki, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture TEL: 050-5830-5288 Business Hours: 11:00-15:00 (LO 14:30), 17:00-24:00 (LO 23:30) Closed: Open every day Payment: Cashless only (cash not accepted) Official Website: https://boheme.jp/nasu/

Nasu Senbonmatsu Ranch is a historic farm that has been in operation since the Meiji era. In recent years, the restaurant has been renovated, and a new signature dish, "Chigiri Hamburg Steak," has been created. This raw hamburg steak is made with 100% beef from cows raised on a farm that does not use chemical fertilizers. The flavor is truly rich and deep. It has a firm texture, and with each bite, the deliciousness of the meat spreads throughout your mouth (ah, just thinking about it makes me want to eat it again...). This hamburg steak is served in a style where you cook it yourself on a hot plate provided at your table. One of its charms is that you can enjoy it without getting bored, with six kinds of sauces available, including chimichurri sauce and balsamic vinegar sauce, allowing you to change the flavor and enjoy it to the very last bite. Furthermore, you shouldn't miss the handmade cheese made using the farm's unique method, based on halloumi cheese originating from Cyprus. Thanks to a unique method that adds lactic acid bacteria, you can enjoy a unique texture that is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. It is a dish that can be enjoyed in its entirety, a dairy kingdom of Nasu Shiobara, where you can savor the blessings of the farm. • Store Information Address: 799 Senbonmatsu, Nasushiobara City TEL: 0287-36-1025 Business Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM / Closed: Open all year round Payment Methods: Cash and various cashless payment methods Official Website: https://www.senbonmatsu.com/

The roadside station "Meiji no Mori Kuroiso," which reopened in 2024 after renovations, has established a dairy processing facility (milk workshop) on-site, processing and selling raw milk collected from local dairy farmers—a unique initiative for a dairy-producing region. Their signature dessert, milk pudding, is made by deliberately keeping the pasteurization temperature low, thus preserving the natural sweetness inherent in freshly squeezed raw milk. Without relying on unnecessary sweetness or additives, it maximizes the flavor of the ingredients themselves. The pudding itself is firm and has a solid texture. It's a satisfying treat for both children and adults! As expected, it's the roadside station's original and most popular product. Enjoy it in this special place where you can savor the blessings of the dairy kingdom while overlooking the former Aoki family Nasu villa, a nationally important cultural property! • Store Information Address: 27 Aoki, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture TEL: 0287-63-0399 Business Hours: Summer (March-November) 8:30-17:00 / Winter (December-February) 8:30-16:30 Closed: January 1st / March-November: 3rd Tuesday (Open every day in August) / December-February: Every Tuesday Payment: Cash, various credit cards, electronic payment Official Website: https://meijinomori.jp/ These items are also available as souvenirs and online.

Located in the food court of the Kururu Community Center, "Cheese Cafe Ushi Tokidoki Yagi" is a café run by a cheese maker and a barista. Selected as a challenge shop (startup support) by Nasushiobara City, it opened in February 2026 as a limited-time café for three years. The café offers a variety of cheese-based lunch menus, cakes, and coffees, and its homey atmosphere, where you can enjoy your meal while chatting with the staff, is one of its charms. The dishes generously use cheese from the Nasu Highlands. The Neapolitan spaghetti is topped with plenty of the semi-hard cheese "Minori," and its buttery richness enhances the taste of a classic café. There are about four types of cheesecake available each day, and they are popular for their rich flavor, where the aroma and richness of the cheese spread all at once with just one bite. On this day, I ordered the recommended rich cheesecake and iced coffee. After taking a bite of the cake, I was impressed by the marriage of the acidity of the coffee and the rich flavor of the cheese! The tableware is also carefully selected, so you can enjoy the food with your eyes as well as your taste buds. Easily accessible from Kuroiso Station! This is a new spot where you can casually experience the abundance of ingredients from Nasushiobara. • Store Information Address: Inside Machinaka Koryu Center Kururu, Honcho, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays Payment: Cash and various cashless payment methods Official Website (SNS): https://www.instagram.com/cheese_ushi.yagi

How was it? All of the shops we introduced today are places where the unique ingredients and culture of Nasushiobara are firmly rooted. From the street food "Tote-yaki" to hamburgers made with plenty of farm produce and gelato that brings out the sweetness of vegetables, each and every item is infused with the desire of the people who live in this area to "deliver deliciousness." When you visit Nasushiobara, be sure to enjoy the local cuisine along with the sightseeing. You'll surely have more reasons to want to come back again.