An urban restaurant in the middle of nowhere, Tenoha is an innovative space in Higashimatsuyama. This is one of those posts that could sit in drafts for years, because I’ve too much to say about it, that it is daunting. So I will go for an abbreviated version, with just the main points and direct you to an article, in English, which explains some of the innovation of this unusual project.
Tenoha Higashimatsuyama
For many years Tenoha was a different, somewhat rundown restaurant. It closed around the pandemic and I watched with interest as they completely refurbished and reformed it. If I can ever find a photo of the before I will share it! It reopened in December 2022 and I was dead keen to visit as I couldn’t get over the transformation. It is so photogenic from the outside and the inside is fabulous too. What I believe they call inorganic! The workspace looks very comfortable and is airy with lots of light. There are a couple of tables and chairs outside too. I finally got to visit with friends this summer before I went to Ireland. It did not disappoint.
All you can eat vegetables
The menu for the mains isn’t particularly big. There is only a choice of four mains, on the lunch set menu anyway. I got the burger, which was very good. There is also a fish dish, a pizza and gapao rice. But the real appeal of this restaurant is the salad and soup bar. All you can eat fresh vegetables, grown locally, and soup too. They have some vegetables I don’t see very often here, such as beetroot and kale. They also had the most delicious little salmon balls in the salad bar.
There are four different options fort he lunch set. The cheapest at 1380 yen comes with a main and all you can eat salad and soup. We got the second option. A main with all you can eat vegetables / soup and a drink, which we opted to have served after the meal, for 1580 yen. The third option is the same price and replaces the drink with the dessert of the day. The fourth option is the “special set” which comes with everything, for 1780 yen. I had actually planned on getting that, but unfortunately on the day we visited neither of the two “dessert of the day” options appealed to me.
The system
The restaurant was really busy. We had no reservation so we had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated, but it was well worth the wait. You order and pay at the reception before you get seated. Once you have ordered you can help yourself to the salad and soup bar.
Information
| Tenoha Higashimatsuyama | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 1423-1 Kaminomoto, Higashimatsuyama, Saitama 355-0073 |
| Phone: | 0493817290 |
| Hours: | 9.30 am to 5 pm seven days a week, but always check the official site for updates. |
| Cost: | budget for around 1500 yen per person |
| Access: | There is a decent sized parking lot, but it fills up quickly! You can see the Tobu train line tracks from the restaurant, but the station is quite a distance away. The restaurant is equidistant from Higashimatsuyama and Takasaka stations. Both are about a 30 minute walk away. |
| Online: | Official website | Official Instagram |
Information on some of the more unusual aspects of this cafe!:
In the area
- Inaho terrace is practically next door, but there really is nothing else in the immediate vicinity!
- Nomoto Sakura no Sato is a 15 minute walk away
- Jokoji is about a 20 to 25 minute walk away
- Peony walk is just 5 minutes away by car, or a 30 minute walk.
the food and the environment look amazing! Love it!
It’s a really nice spot. Thanks Andy