The Verdict
Itoh Dining by Nobu is a teppanyaki restaurant in Gora, a short walk from Gora station in the hot-spring town of Hakone. It is a collaboration between Itoh Dining and Nobu Matsuhisa, the chef behind the global Nobu group, and it brings his style of cooking to a counter built around the iron griddle, with views out across the Hakone mountains.
The menu runs as a teppanyaki course, hors d'oeuvres, a seasonal soup, a Hakone green salad and grilled fish in a sweet miso marinade, before the centerpiece, an A4-grade Kuroge wagyu steak or lobster with scallops, finished with dessert and coffee. Lunch courses start from around 3,000 yen and dinner from about 5,000 yen, using premium wagyu, Tsukiji seafood and Hakone vegetables.
The Kitchen
Itoh Dining by Nobu is a teppanyaki collaboration with chef Nobu Matsuhisa, cooked at the counter on the iron griddle. The set courses build from hors d'oeuvres, soup and a Hakone green salad to grilled fish in sweet miso and a centerpiece of A4 Kuroge wagyu steak or lobster with scallops. Lunch starts from around 3,000 yen and dinner from about 5,000 yen, using premium wagyu, Tsukiji seafood and Hakone vegetables.
The Room
Itoh Dining by Nobu is built around a teppanyaki counter where chefs grill in front of you, with large windows framing the Gora hillside and the Hakone mountains beyond. The setting is contemporary and calm, designed for watching the cooking up close, which makes it well suited to a special dinner for two, a solo seat at the counter, or a meal that follows an afternoon in the onsen.
Best for an Anniversary
For an anniversary in Hakone, Itoh Dining by Nobu pairs the spectacle of teppanyaki with the Nobu name and a mountain view. Book a counter seat for dinner, take the wagyu course, and let the chef grill the A4 steak in front of you for a special evening after a day in the hot springs.
Not For
Itoh Dining by Nobu is not for diners after a traditional in-room ryokan kaiseki or the cheapest meal in Hakone. It is a teppanyaki restaurant with a premium wagyu centerpiece, so it does not suit a guest set on a multi-course kaiseki experience, a tight budget, or anyone who would rather not eat at a counter facing the grill.
Reservations
Itoh Dining by Nobu takes bookings online and by phone, and counter seats fill in peak seasons, so reserve ahead. Lunch courses start from around 3,000 yen and dinner from about 5,000 yen before drinks and a service charge. It sits at 1300-64 Gora, a short walk from Gora station on the Hakone Tozan line, and dress is smart casual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Itoh Dining by Nobu in Hakone worth it?
Itoh Dining by Nobu is worth it for a special teppanyaki dinner with the Nobu name behind it. The restaurant grills A4 Kuroge wagyu and Tsukiji seafood at the counter, with views over the Gora hillside, and works well as an evening out after the onsen. Dinner courses start from about 5,000 yen, so it is an occasion meal rather than a cheap one.
How much does Itoh Dining by Nobu cost?
At Itoh Dining by Nobu, lunch courses start from around 3,000 yen and dinner courses from about 5,000 yen, before drinks and a service charge added at dinner. Prices rise with the grade of wagyu and the seafood chosen. It is a mid-to-upper-range teppanyaki restaurant, built for a special meal rather than an everyday one.
What is on the menu at Itoh Dining by Nobu?
Itoh Dining by Nobu serves set teppanyaki courses that move from hors d'oeuvres, a seasonal soup and a Hakone green salad to grilled fish in a sweet miso marinade, then a centerpiece of A4 Kuroge wagyu steak or lobster with scallops, finished with dessert and coffee. The kitchen uses premium wagyu, Tsukiji seafood and Hakone vegetables.
Where is Itoh Dining by Nobu in Hakone?
Itoh Dining by Nobu is at 1300-64 Gora in Hakone, a short walk from Gora station on the Hakone Tozan line, in the upper Gora hot-spring area. It is easy to reach on the main Hakone loop of train, cable car and ropeway, which makes it a convenient dinner stop after a day among the mountains and onsen.
Also in Hakone
Explore the full Hakone dining guide, or compare it with Gora Kadan, Hakone Ginyu and Kinnotake Tonosawa. See our best Japanese restaurants guide and the best restaurants for an anniversary.