Hoto Fudo, Kawaguchiko Ekimae

Zaru soba was good but bit pricey. The signature food Hotou was good but 1 bowl is enough to for two people. The udon in it was bit harder than other palaces.

The restaurant was crowded with people lining up outside. Hotou is said to be very popular in this area. But personally I didnt think it was that good. But if you would like a try, let's eat!

Just huge bowl of udon, if you’re into that homemade stuffs taste, then it’s for you.

The food is not much tasty. It's just good with reasonable price. The decoration is great. I like it.

We tried the houtou futou noodle soup. The portion is very generous, good for two persons to share if you are not a big eater :)

They always serve in a big bowl of food so don't be surprised.It gets crowded during lunch time, so better be there earlier. Great taste of food and service is also great.It is just in front of Kawaguchi Station so it is easy to find.

Big pot of udon, very enthusiastic staff, lots of room and not too crowded when I visited at dinner time Saturday night.Interior looks very traditional Japanese, it brings a certain warmth. They also have traditional Japanese tatami seating (uncomfortable if you are not used to it).The udon tasted quite OK, very big portion. Recommended by the staff to share, very true.The rice pork is served in a big bowl but not a very big portion, one average person can finish one portion.Too bad they don’t have lots of variety in their menu.

Their vegetarian ramen was very very niceAnd dont forget to try their Horse Sashimi as well

The noodles were very nice and we really enjoyed the broth. The wait for the food was a bit too long but probably the chef was trying to make sure they were perfect.

Hotou was a very filling noodle soup and was enough to be shared by two small eaters. The shop made delicious Hotou noodle soup with lots of local vegetables (no meat) and awase miso. This was especially true during winter when the winter chill soaked into your skin while you enjoy the magnificent view of Mt Fuji.

Lack of service and attentiveness. We ordered 7 items for 7 paxs, we were given only 6 utensils. Informed the staff more than thrice from before the food was served till we almost finished. One of family member wasnt able to eat, we prompted them several times but they said they will deliver it but failed to do so. We had to go in front of the counter and told them off before they are willing to give us another set. Food was average, the udon taste like ban mian or thicker type of udon which is flat. Only one type which is vegetarian. Theres horse meat which we didnt try. One bowl of noodle is enough to feed two adult pax.

This place is located just in front of Kawaguchiko Station so it's easy to find it.This is a kind of udon but tastes like miso soup.The size is quite big.

As a guy from Chinese most famous noodle make province. The noodle here is the only place I found in the world that as good as the one from my hometown. The noodle soup is thick, rich and very delicious and the noodle itself is sooo tender. Love it!

Solid and good price. They basically serve one thing which is a huge bowl of hoto (think of fat udon noodles) with some options for sides. Nothing beats a huge bowl of hoto on a cold day.

We had a blast at this place and the food was great. Traditional style noodles that almost taste like dumplings. The soups are HUGE so bring your appetite.

Great noodle restaurant opposite of kawaguchiko station. Prefect place to have some dinner before head back to Tokyo after one day explore kawaguchiko.

Very nice and filling. We had the original bowl which was very big and we weren't able to finish. Even though it was vegetarian, it was still very tasty for someone like me who usually always orders a meat dish.

Overpriced simple food

Taste so good and fresh! One of the best alternative to have a hotpot with carbos in Kawaguchi area, if you order only a portion, it could be shared with your travel mate since the portion itself is big enough for at least 2 people

The restaurant is known for its famous local dish. The noodle is delicious, really thick and the portion is huge, not to mention it is all vegetables and could be eaten by everyone. The place itself is really nice and has that traditional japan interior. Be prepared as waiting time for table and food might take a while as the place is full of people. Also be careful as the cauldron for the noodle is really hot. Best time to visit around autumn or winter.

Gorgeous noodles (hōtō, ほうとう)! One of the best ramen I've ever tried!!😍

Fun place to eat after a day of visiting Fuji-san. The local specialty, houtou noodles, are cooked with miso soup and vegetables in a hot pot. It comes to the table hot and bubbly.

I went just after 3 in the afternoon. It was not crowded. Huge portion. Nice, hearty soup - perfect for a snowy day. Despite what some of the other reviews say, I found the staff to be very friendly. I guess it helps that there weren’t many people. Glad I went when I did as they put a board out saying the restaurant was closed at 4 pm. Not sure if they were taking a break or if the times are wrong on Google.

Waoo. Vegetarian options and delicious. Hearty food to brave the cold. Local dish served in huge cast iron pots. Nice interior too.

Food is tasty and portion is huge for one person! We ended up sharing one between two and were still full. Lovely staff and cute restaurant. Worth a visit while you are in the area to try the local specialities. The hoto was delicious!

Fast service and warm food for the cold winter day. Hoto was hearty while horse sashimi was tender, but sadly was frozen. Pig innards stew was rich.

Hoto is OK but I rather have ramen. You probably have to be Japanese to appreciate it.

This is the best noodle shop in Kawaguchi. Located just opposite the bus station. This shop can be easily missed as it doesn't has window, so do look for a corner shop with wooden plank wall. The noodle texture tasted quite similar like the Chinese thick cut noodle - 刀削面. The portion is big and value for money. Is good for two person sharing. Definitely will come back again!

“Houtou” is a local cuisine. Basically flat noodles and vegetables served in an extra hot iron bowl. Good place if you want a simple quick fix. This is a famous shop here locally with several branches. Small menu. Just don’t expect anything fancy or too much service!

This place was highly recommended by locals, but I don't think it's worth to wait in line although the portion was generous, but it's the food I would skip because nothing was special. The service was not great, they served by batches, so people who got in later might get the food before you did. Also, they were super busy, they didn't want to refill drinks.

Nice food to warm up before hiking

The noodle is delicious in miso soup base. Large pot and we only order 3 pot for family of 5. Must try the chili. Good friendly service from the lady boss. One of the best meal in my visit to Japan.

Seemed like a place that you have to hit while you're in Kawaguchiko Station. One order of noodles was enough for both of us. It was delicious and I'm glad we tried it, but I prefer a less doughy noodle. No wait when we arrived, got along just fine without English.

Nice Hotou Fudo noodle specialities from Yamanashina. Big portion. Good for sharing. It's thick noodles cook in hot pot with vegetable. Particularly good if have it during come weather

Warm and hearty, conveniently located near the train station and bus depot. The star hotou noodles are vegetarian and the servings are generous, enough for 2 people to share

Nice traditional Japanese noodle restaurant. Noodle is nice , vegetable and soap also very delicious. Staff are helpful but a little bit busy. Must try.

We really loved dining in here. Portions was big and the noodles were really delicious (coming from someone who ordinarily dislikes thick noodles) and the service was great.

It's the local noodle at Kawaguchigo area and worth giving it a try. The soup is nice and serving is huge. We share a bowl with 2 adults. For the horse meat sashimi, it is tasteless. I won't try it again in future. It's just opposite the bus station.

Lived up to the hype, worth waiting in line for it. Also conveniently located

Interesting food and match to the winter time.

Anyone who thinks this place is less than 5 stars doesn't appreciate the nuances of food. Fantastic food with home made noodles you won't easily find elsewhere in Japan. Lovely staff. Order the big vegetarian one in the iron pot if you can. Also has a tatami seating area for those keen to remove shoes.

Loved this place! Would recommend sharing!