GUNMA

Bikuya

A Half-Century Legacy of River Fish and Rustic Mountain Cuisine in Haruna

Savor authentic country cooking at Bikuya, a family-run restaurant in Gunma Prefecture specializing in fresh river fish, wild mountain vegetables, and handmade soba.

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Get a taste of traditional Japanese country cuisine in the mountains of Haruna, where every dish tells a story of the land and waters that shaped it.

Nestled in the historic Haruna region of Gunma Prefecture, Bikuya has been serving exceptional river fish cuisine for over five decades. Founded in 1971, this beloved establishment specializes in char (iwana) and yamame trout, complemented by wild mountain vegetables, wild boar-pork hybrids (inobuta), and hearty rustic staples like soba, udon, and okkirikomi noodles.

The restaurant's name, "Biku," refers to a traditional basket used by fishermen to hold their fresh catch—a symbol of storing "happiness and memories." This philosophy runs deep in Bikuya's history. The founder, an avid river fishing enthusiast, left his corporate job in the 1970s to pursue his passion, establishing one of Japan's rare river fish farms specializing in char and yamame trout rather than the more common rainbow trout. He opened a fishing pond in 1971, later transforming the fish hatchery into a restaurant in 1974.

Bikuya sits on land steeped in history. During the Edo period, this very location hosted lodgings and teahouses that welcomed pilgrims journeying to Haruna-jinja Shrine. Even after the inn closed, a teahouse continued operating into the early Showa era, sustained by the site's exceptional spring water—the same pure water that makes Bikuya's dishes so special today.

What really sets Bikuya apart is its commitment to authenticity. Over 90% of ingredients are made from scratch, with the owner personally harvesting seasonal mountain vegetables and mushrooms, tending a vegetable garden, and maintaining live tanks of river fish. Every element reflects Haruna's natural bounty: the soil, water, and mountain air that define Gunma's rugged character.

While many visitors now think of Bikuya primarily as a soba restaurant, its true identity remains rooted in its origins as one of Japan's exceptionally rare river fish specialty restaurants. The current generation honors this legacy while expanding the menu to showcase the full spectrum of country cuisine, inviting diners to slow down and savor dishes that change with each season.

©Toshiko Sakurai

Address

360 Harunasan-machi, Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture

Phone number

+81-27-374-9255

Business hours

11:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Last order at 4:00 p.m.)

Holiday

Tuesdays and Wednesdays (Closures may shift when these days fall on public holidays.)

WEB site

https://bikuya.blue.coocan.jp/

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