Momij Tei (Lake Kawaguchi, Japan) – Delicious Hoto Noodles Simmered In Two Year Old Miso Broth!

August 20th, 2019 by Evan | Tagged in: Japan, Kawaguchiko, Kawaguchiko food, Mount Fuji

During our day trip to Lake Kawaguchi, the wife and I dropped by Momij Tei for lunch. It was a cold day and we were really looking forward to a hot meal to warm us up. Fortunately, we were both adequately fed and recharged after a very satisfying meal here!

Momij Tei

Momiji Tei is a homely Japanese restaurant along Lake Kawaguchi that serves Hoto Noodles, a specialty noodles dish of the local Yamanashi prefecture.

“Hoto Noodles” consists of flat noodles and vegetables simmered in a miso based broth. There are many Hoto variations in the region, but Momiji Tei stands out by using homemade miso broth that has been aged for two years.

Some people consider Hoto to be a variation of udon noodles, but I feel that they are quite different.

Hoto noodles are flat and thick, while udon noodles have a rounder shape. The hoto noodles are actually more similar to Singapore’s ban mian.

Other than Momij Tei, there are several other restaurants in the Lake Kawaguchi area that serves Hoto Noodles too.

Traditional Japanese Restaurant With Friendly Staff

Momij Tei is a warm and welcoming space decorated in traditional Japanese style with wooden furnishings, zabuton cushions, chabudai tables, tatami mats, and noren curtains.

We visited on a weekday at around 12.30pm, and all the high tables were already taken. Therefore, we had to dine at a chabudai table instead, which was an interesting experience (even though my legs kept getting numb during the meal).

The service here was excellent even by Japan’s standards. All the staff were sincere and earnest, and our orders came very quickly after ordering.

Mushroom Hoto Meal Set

The wife and I decided to order a Mushroom Hoto Meal Set (¥1,945) to share. I’m glad we did so because the noodles portion was huge. And the set also came with red bean rice, vegetables, and Japanese pickles.

The food was served in traditional Japanese ware, which was a nice touch.

The Hoto noodles had a slippery smooth texture and tasted very substantial due to its thickness. The hot miso broth was rich and flavourful.

The bowl was packed with copious amounts of portobello mushroom, shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, and other vegetables. They were very fresh and went well with the noodles.

On the whole, this piping hot bowl of Hoto noodles was a delicious treat perfect for eating in the cold December weather.

Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)

The Karaage (¥540) was tender, juicy, and not overly greasy. I thought it served as a good balance to the “healthier” Hoto noodles.

Conclusion

I am really happy to have tried the delicious Hoto Noodles at Momij Tei. It was an excellent stopover before continuing our tour of Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji. The restaurant is also near tourist attractions like the Maple Corridor, Itchiku Kubota Art Museum and Orgel Forest Music Museum.

Directions
We took the Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus (Red-Line) and alighted at Bus Stop 16 (Konohana Art Museum). Then we walked for three minutes to the restaurant. We bought a two day bus pass for ¥1500.

Momij Tei
What To Order: Mushroom Hoto Meal Set (¥1,945), Beef Hoto Meal Set (¥1,945)
Address: 3067-1 Kawaguchi, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi 401-0304, Japan
Opening Hours: Daily 9.30am to 9pm (Winter: 7.30pm)
Phone: +81 5 5576 8200
Website: www.navi-city.com/iine/momiji-tei/english.html

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