La Luce (Kawaguchiko)

※ This is the page for the Italian restaurant in Fujikawaguchiko, by Lake Kawaguchiko, not to be confused with the similarly named restaurants in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Guests are requested to ensure that they have the correct page before making a reservation. ——— The town of Fujikawaguchiko, bordering Lake Kawaguchiko, has many local delicacies. Being in Yamanashi, the traditional noodle dish of hoto is a must-try; Oshino Hakkai soba is another local delicacy, made from the ultra-pure water of Mt Fuji. This is why it’s so surprising that Italian restaurant La Luce is as popular as it is. During peak hours, the average lunchtime wait can exceed an hour, which is why reservations are often made several weeks in advance. With so many local delicacies to feast on, why Italian? Because La Luce is simply just that good. Local Yamanashi ingredients are in abundance at the kitchen here: Kai salmon. Koshu kuroge wagyu black beef. Shingen-dori chicken. These are all shipped from local suppliers, making them as fresh as possible when they pass through La Luce’s doors. They are then made into fine Italian cuisine. Diners who want a taste of the restaurant’s signature Koshu beef wagyu steak will have to move fast; it’s the most popular item on the menu, with only the Japanese blue crab (watari-gani) pasta coming close in terms of popularity. But the pizzas made in the restaurant’s stone oven — crafted with stone from Mt Fuji itself — are also an easy recommendation. Topped with traditional toppings like parma ham and an assortment of mushrooms, they’re perfect for sharing, or for solo diners who feel particularly hungry.