Sawada Chaya

Along Narita Kaido in Yachiyo, the former residence of Prince Higashikuni, Japan’s first postwar prime minister, retains a grandeur befitting its royal history. Given a new lease on life by its current custodian, Sawada Chaya, the historic home maintains its stately architecture as a testament to its prestigious origins. Since taking over in 1964, the restaurant has set a new standard for the neighborhood’s dining scene. The atmosphere is warm, with a memorabilia-laden dining room exuding nostalgic charm. Guests can also enjoy views of the well-maintained garden, complete with a koi pond, while they dine, enveloped in lush trees. Kaiseki cuisine and handmade soba noodles form the foundation of the menu, with each seasonal multicourse dish carefully composed for both purpose and visual appeal. In the kitchen, the team kneads and cuts soba from domestically sourced buckwheat flour, using a perfected recipe that yields noodles with an impossibly firm yet aromatic slurp and chew. By evening, expect the menu to thread with equal parts heavy and light, ranging from dainty starters to impressive charcoal-grilled duck paired with spring onions and seasonal vegetables, and the house-signature soba. The drinks menu features a selection of local sake, thoughtfully curated to complement the cuisine. With a natural view reflecting the changing seasons and every wood-heavy element designed in a refined Japanese style, Sawada Chaya offers a dining experience steeped in the traditions of old Japan.