The Verdict
Nobu Matsuhisa's black cod miso, a glass of amber ale brewed with Hakone spring water, and a grill counter set nine minutes uphill from Gora Station: that is the pitch at Gora Brewery & Grill, which opened in 2017 as the mountain sister venue to Itoh Dining by Nobu. It is the rare Hakone table that pairs a serious kitchen with its own brewery.
The grill turns out Nobu signatures such as miso-marinated black cod and a spicy Japanese pork rib loin, while the on-site brewery pours beer made with 100 percent Hakone water. Glasses start around 800 yen, dropping to 540 yen at the 1pm to 4pm happy hour, with grill plates priced a la carte above that. The brewery's Hakone Amber took a gold medal at the International Beer Show and its Hazy IPA won Silver at the 2020 International Beer Cup.
The Kitchen
The kitchen carries dishes developed by Nobu Matsuhisa, the chef behind the global Nobu restaurants, with the black cod marinated in sweet miso as the headline plate alongside a spicy grilled pork rib loin and Hakone vegetables. Beer is brewed on site with local spring water; a glass runs about 800 yen, 540 yen during the afternoon happy hour, with grill plates ordered a la carte.
The Room
The room is a glass-walled grill and brewery built into the Gora hillside, with the brewing tanks visible and a terrace that looks out over the forest. It is a relaxed, modern space rather than a formal dining room, open from early afternoon through to a 7:30pm last food order, and it draws both day-trippers stopping between museums and overnight guests from the surrounding ryokan.
Best for a Relaxed Lunch
For a relaxed lunch or an early dinner in Hakone, Gora Brewery & Grill pairs Nobu's grill dishes with beer brewed on the premises. Walk up from Gora Station, order the black cod miso and a Hakone Amber, and take a table on the terrace while the afternoon happy hour runs.
Not For
Gora Brewery & Grill is not for travellers set on a traditional in-room kaiseki dinner or a hushed, formal evening. It closes its kitchen by 7:30pm, leans casual and beer-led, and suits an afternoon or early supper rather than a late-night tasting menu or a quiet anniversary dinner.
Reservations
Gora Brewery & Grill takes bookings through its website and TableCheck and is busy on weekends and through the autumn leaf season. It sits at 1300-72 Gora, about a nine-minute walk uphill from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Line. The kitchen serves from early afternoon to a 7:30pm last order, beer glasses start near 800 yen, and dress is casual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gora Brewery & Grill worth visiting in Hakone?
Gora Brewery & Grill is worth visiting for anyone who wants Nobu Matsuhisa's grill dishes paired with beer brewed on site. Opened in 2017 as the sister venue to Itoh Dining by Nobu, it sits a short walk uphill from Gora Station and is one of the few Hakone tables with its own award-winning brewery.
How much does Gora Brewery & Grill cost?
Beer at Gora Brewery & Grill starts around 800 yen a glass, dropping to 540 yen during the 1pm to 4pm happy hour, with grill plates ordered a la carte above that. It is a mid-to-upper range grill rather than a budget stop, and the Nobu signature dishes such as black cod miso sit at the higher end of the menu.
What should you order at Gora Brewery & Grill?
The dish to order at Gora Brewery & Grill is Nobu Matsuhisa's miso-marinated black cod, the kitchen's signature, alongside the spicy Japanese pork rib loin grill. Pair it with the house Hakone Amber, which won gold at the International Beer Show, or the Hazy IPA that took Silver at the 2020 International Beer Cup.
Where is Gora Brewery & Grill and how do you get there?
Gora Brewery & Grill is at 1300-72 Gora, Hakone-machi, about a nine-minute walk uphill from Gora Station on the Hakone Tozan Line. It opened in 2017 as the sister venue of Itoh Dining by Nobu and serves from early afternoon to a 7:30pm last food order, so it works best as a lunch or early dinner stop.
Also in Hakone
Explore the full Hakone dining guide, or compare it with Itoh Dining by Nobu, Gora Kadan and Hakone Ginyu. See our best fine dining guide.