【Summer vacation drive】Eating the pork houtou at the popular "Kozaku" Yamanakako store

The destination for the Yamanakako drive is the local cuisine restaurant "Kozaku," which is sure to have a line. On this day, we tried the most popular pork houtou while waiting in a line of 20 groups even before the restaurant opened. The pot filled with plenty of vegetables satisfies both body and soul.

A weekend drive to Lake Yamanaka! We tried the famous restaurant “Kosaku” that has a long line

One of our purposes for driving towards Lake Yamanaka this weekend was to visit the local favorite and tourist-recommended regional cuisine restaurant “Kosaku.”

Kosaku, which operates nine branches mainly in Yamanashi Prefecture, is known as a top-notch restaurant for Kōshu Hōtō. Among them, the “Lake Yamanaka branch” boasts exceptional popularity, and by noon on Sunday, more than 20 groups were already lined up.

We arrived around 1 PM. The parking lot had many vehicles with license plates from other prefectures, and a line had already formed. We also wrote our names in front of the restaurant and waited for about 40 minutes. However, the wait time was rather part of the journey as we enjoyed the natural ambiance of Lake Yamanaka.

A moment at Lake Yamanaka is one of the true delights of travel.

By the way, we also stopped by the shores of Lake Yamanaka before lunch. The clear air and the lake surface reflecting Mount Fuji feel refreshing. Surprisingly, there were many free parking spaces along the lakeside, allowing us to enjoy a leisurely stroll with the family.

After walking along the lakeside, we returned to the air-conditioned car, and it became lunchtime while still feeling the afterglow of our trip.

I tried the local specialty, pork houtou.

Now, after being shown to our seats, we ordered the classic "pork houtou" (1800 yen) from the image above. The family I was with had,

"pumpkin houtou" and

We ordered "chanko houtou" each. The moment a bowl generously piled in an iron pot was served, we were overwhelmed by its impact.

What caught my eye first in the "pork houtou" was the amount of wild vegetables. Additionally, countless root vegetables such as pumpkin, potatoes, taro, carrots, burdock, scallions, and shiitake mushrooms were simmered together, creating a substantial volume just from the vegetables alone.

Moreover, they were all tender without falling apart, firmly absorbing the deliciousness of the broth, and it was a taste that penetrated the body.

Furthermore, the houtou noodles were exquisite. The original noodles made in-house were thick and chewy. Yet, they held together without falling apart, not too hard, and harmonized with the soup without becoming soggy until the end.

The flavor base was a broth infused with the umami of the vegetables, along with the original miso from Kozaku. It was neither too thick nor too light, yet rich in depth, achieving a delicate balance that allowed us to eat without getting tired of it.

Additionally, when you add a spoonful of "Shichimi Roasted Garlic" placed on the table, the roasted aroma and spicy kick spread instantly, dramatically changing the flavor impression.

The flavor modification that makes it hard to stop using chopsticks was one of the joys of eating.

In a calm Japanese-style space, we had a leisurely family lunch time

The interior is a tranquil space mainly featuring wood. A suitable atmosphere for lunch during travel flows by. During this hot season, we encircled a hot iron pot in a cool air-conditioned restaurant, sharing each family's taste, feeling satisfied both in our stomachs and hearts afterward.

The reason why people say "I want to eat here even if I have to wait in line" is that the flavor, volume, and space all provide a quality that is completely satisfying. This bowl firmly remained in my memory as a conclusion to our drive around Lake Yamanakako. Kind to the body, the Koshu houtou warms the heart as well. As a stop during a drive, Kozak at Lake Yamanakako is definitely a place to check out.

Kozak Yamanakako Store
Location: 234 Yamanaka, Yamanakako Village, Minamitsuru District
Business days: No regular holidays
Opening hours: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

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