Tabelog ratingASHIHANA is a small French restaurant run by a husband and wife from a log cabin near Kai-Koizumi Station. Its premise is unusual. The chef forages wild mushrooms in the Yatsugatake foothills himself, often 15 to 20 species in a single day. Before the meal his wife brings them to the table in a basket and explains each one. The cooking is classical French built around that day's haul, and some courses let you taste local and imported morels, or several kinds of porcini, side by side. From March to June the focus moves to sansai (wild mountain greens) and spring vegetables. Mushrooms run from July to November, and winter dishes do not centre on them.
Nearly every review praises the soups and consommés. The most mentioned are the potage of akayamadoritake (a Japanese porcini) and the morel soup. Guests also single out the oeufs en meurette (poached egg in red-wine sauce), the vegetable terrine and the local venison main. Many describe the couple's service as warm and knowledgeable.
Complaints are minor. One 2024 lunch guest mentioned flies at the table and tables close enough to overhear neighbours. Another found the room hot in summer. Prices sometimes differed from those on the website, and a few guests found an all-mushroom course very rich.
Between 2024 and 2026, reviewers paid around ¥5,000–6,600 for the short lunch course and ¥11,000 for the full course. The mushroom-lover's and morel courses came to about ¥16,500, and one bill with soft drinks reached ¥18,260. Reported upgrades were venison for +¥1,650, Koshu wine beef sirloin for +¥3,300 and a matsutake add-on for ¥3,300. Expect to spend about ¥5,000–6,000 at lunch and ¥10,000–15,000 at dinner. Reviewers consider this generous for the quality. Even the short lunch is filling, and bread refills are free.
- Access: 1 minute' walk (83 m) from Kai-Koizumi Station on the JR Koumi Line. Trains are infrequent, so a car is easier. There is parking for about 5–6 cars.
- Booking: dinner is by reservation only, made by 5:00 PM on the day. Lunch can be served without a booking if seats are free, but in mushroom season (summer to late autumn) book well ahead. Same-day cancellations are charged 100%. Phone: 0551-32-6835.
- Payment: credit cards accepted (VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners). QR code payments accepted. Electronic money is not accepted.
- Seating: 6 seats with semi-private rooms, plus a private room for 4. Groups of up to 16 can be seated, and the restaurant can be hired privately for up to 20.
- Children: welcome, with a kids' menu and space for strollers.
- Pets: dogs are allowed in the private room by arrangement.
- Smoking: fully non-smoking.
- Language: no reviews mention an English menu.
