Terroir Ai to Ibukuro

The chef is Shinsaku Suzuki. He studied Japanese cuisine in restaurants starting at the age of 15, and then switched to French cooking. After working at several French restaurants, including Restaurant J in Omotesando run by Masahito Ueki, he opened Restaurant Ai to Ibukuro with his wife Emi in 2011 at Sangenjaya in Tokyo. Four years later, in 2017, wishing to live in harmony with nature, he relocated and opened a new restaurant called Terroir Ai to Ibukuro in Yatsugatake, where a former vegetable supplier was located.

The name of the restaurant — Terroir Ai to Ibukuro — comes from a European proverb: “Love comes through your stomach.” It was born from chef Suzuki’s thought that “how wonderful it would be to grow love by eating delicious food with your loved one!”

The terrier of Hokuto City is special and valued by the restaurant. Hokuto City has three springs that are considered among the 100 best water sources. It has all kinds of sake breweries and is a very rich area for vegetables, fish, and livestock. Chef Suzuki sometimes goes to Yatsugatake to collect wild vegetables and mushrooms, or hunt deer and ducks. Beef is mainly distributed from Shiga. The specialty from the Sangenjaya era is the seasonal vegetable soup. Among them, the brown mushroom soup during the winter is the most popular.

There are about 100 kinds of wine, including natural wines from France and options from neighboring areas such as Yamanashi and Nagano. Non-alcoholic pairings are also available, like an original cordial drink made from Yatsugatake herb tea.

Diners will be surprised by the large roof from the entrance, and will see a historic space that has remained unchanged for 170 years. Huge wooden beams of this sort are rarely seen today, and the seats are made using natural materials such as local wood and soil. You will feel at ease in the tasteful space, with a wood stove, bare beams, and earth walls painted with natural materials.A pleasant breeze will pass from the open tatami room to the audience. Please visit this restaurant for birthday, anniversary, or dinner with loved ones.

* 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 by car from Kobuchizawa Station (JR Chuo Main Line (Tokyo-Shiojiri), JR Koumi Line (Yatsugatake Kogen Line))