Tabelog ratingKomen-ya Reel Cafe sits in a twelve-sided, café-like building on the slope above Lake Yamanaka, and its ramen is supervised by Ōnishi Yoshimi of the respected shop Uzu to Kaminari. The signature is soy milk miso ramen, a broth thick enough to pass for cream soup, finished with saffron. Order a tokusei (deluxe) bowl and the toppings arrive on a separate plate: four kinds of chashu, braised or smoked pork and chicken, plus egg and fried onion. Staff suggest tasting the plain broth and noodles first. The shop was selected for Tabelog's Ramen EAST "Tabelog 100" in 2019.
Broth and noodles are praised in nearly every review. Regulars favour the shoyu ramen, a clear chicken broth with real depth, while others prefer the shio ramen, chicken and seafood with springy whole-wheat noodles. The chashu is repeatedly described as tender and melting. Reviewers also single out the weekend-only Jidori soba made with local free-range chicken, the aburi or rare chashu rice bowls, the staff who call each diner by name, and the garden.
The main complaint is the wait: from 30 minutes to two and a half hours, with café-paced turnover and slow service. Some find the broth salty, heavy or greasy. The thick-noodled limited pork niboshi bowls divide opinion, and the Asian rice and some chashu rice bowls drew lukewarm comments. One ten-time regular felt standards have slipped; another found them improved.
Only lunch is served; there is no dinner. Reviewers in 2024–2026 paid around ¥1,150–1,200 for shoyu or shio ramen, ¥1,250 for Jidori soba, ¥1,500 for the miso, ¥1,600–1,650 for tokusei shoyu or shio, and ¥450 for a rare or aburi chashu rice bowl; a large portion added about ¥150. A typical lunch comes to ¥1,000–2,000.
Good value: portions are generous and the quality matches Tokyo's best. Some call it pricey for the area, but by city standards the prices are ordinary.
- Getting there: Fujikyu Bus "Fujikko-go" (counterclockwise) from Kawaguchiko Station (stop No. 6) or Fujisan Station (stop No. 3) to Odakyu Forest Cottage Mae, then a 4-minute walk. By car, about 10 minutes from Yamanakako IC on the Chuo Expressway.
- Booking: reservations are not accepted; it is walk-in only. Write your name on the list at the door, ideally 30–60 minutes or more before opening.
- Payment: cash only. Credit cards, electronic money and QR payments are not accepted.
- Ordering: by ticket machine; an English menu is available.
- Seats: 12 (4 at the counter, two tables for four). No private rooms or private hire.
- Smoking: non-smoking.
- Parking: free roadside parking on the Yamanakako ring road and 5–6 lakeside spaces next to the restaurant; reviewers also use the Teddy Bear Museum lot, a short uphill walk away.
- Families: baby chairs and children's cutlery are available.
