Hikariya-Nishi

Chef Masahiro Tanabe apprenticed under Chef Kazunori Otowa at Auberge in Utsunomiya. While training under the pioneering advocate of local production for local consumption, Chef Tanabe learned the importance of using fresh local agricultural products in his recipes. This basic culinary philosophy has led to his current quest at Hikariya-Nishi for wellness gastronomy (gastronomy for a better life) based on the concept of local production for local consumption. He creates new recipes by taking inspiration from daily activities, such as growing some 50 species of vegetables in the company’s farm and interacting with local producers in Shinshu. For example, he uses yubeshi, sweet citron-flavored dumplings cooked as preserves in Tenryu Village, Nagano Prefecture. With only a few hundred produced each year, this precious ingredient is blended into a sauce for meat to create a unique flavor that can only be produced by the chef who works with local ingredients of Shinshu every day. He was awarded the Bronze Award at the Cooking Masters held by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan in 2023.

The wine list offers a wide selection of French, Italian, and Chilean wines as well as local Shinshu wines, which are paired with dishes on the menu upon ordering. The drink menu also includes mocktails made from pomegranate and other homemade syrups. Alcohol-free wine pairing options are also available for guests who prefer non-alcoholic beverages.

With a dining room seating up to 22 guests and three semi-private rooms seating up to two, four, and eight guests, respectively, Hikariya-Nishi is a popular destination for date nights and family celebrations, such as wedding anniversaries and birthdays. It also attracts many tourists who visit the sightseeing city of Matsumoto. In principle, the restaurant accommodates children of third-grade age and older who can eat the same meals as adults but also welcomes younger children if a private room is available. Moreover, English-speaking staff as well as English menus and wine lists are available for overseas guests.
Please enjoy a dramatic dining experience inspired by the bounty of nature in Shinshu at Hikariya-Nishi in a historic building popular among tourists as well as locals in Matsumoto City.

* The availability of this webpage does not guarantee that the restaurant presented provides services in English, unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that English services may also depend on staff availability at the restaurant.

Access
20 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by cab from the castle exit of Matsumoto Station on the JR Shinonoi Line, Oito Line, or Matsumoto Electric Railway Kamikochi Line.