This time, I had a small theme for my trip to Matsumoto, which was “Give me points!”. I won’t go into details, but my goal for this trip was to enjoy it as affordably as possible by using points whenever I could. With that in mind, I chose Shinshu Sakaba Yamazato (信州酒場 山里). This restaurant is part of a group called Shuraku (酒楽), with several locations in Nagano Prefecture. You can make reservations through Tabelog, and you can even use T-point beforehand. Perfect for the theme of my trip! My goal was to enjoy horse sashimi and Shinshu salmon.
I arrived at 5 PM, and by 7 PM when I left, there were already about three groups waiting. It seems to be a very popular spot, so reservations are essential! By the way, it was great that I could easily make a reservation for just one person. It’s about a 3-minute walk from the castle exit of JR Matsumoto Station. Very accessible.
The restaurant is on the second floor. When you go up the stairs, you’re welcomed by a tranquil garden.
The restaurant has over 100 seats, and there’s a large banquet room in the back that can accommodate big groups. But don’t worry, even solo diners are welcome. The counter seats, near the entrance, are quiet and peaceful. However, it might be a bit chilly in winter.
The menu is filled with a variety of Shinshu regional dishes. If it’s your first time, I recommend starting with the “Today’s Specials” and the first pages of the regular menu. Interestingly, there was also a rare dish like grilled bee larvae.
Speedy menu items. Orders are usually placed via smartphone.
After the meal, I also ordered some tea (free) through my smartphone.
I had two appetizers: something like a boiled vegetable dish and vegetable chips. The table charge was 500 yen.
There was a coupon on Tabelog for a free one drink, so I enjoyed a beer. Since I just wanted a little drink, the size was perfect. The vegetable chips and beer paired wonderfully. There’s a speedy menu, but honestly, you can enjoy the appetizers alone.
On the speedy menu, there was Asparagus Mayo. Boiled asparagus and mayonnaise. The asparagus was fresh and delicious.
First up was Shinshu Salmon Sashimi. This was actually my first time trying it. Shinshu salmon is farmed salmon from Nagano Prefecture. It’s raised with the best local water and natural feed, which helps create a rich, flavorful salmon. The color of the flesh was beautiful, and it tasted amazing.
It was quite fatty, but without being overly rich. I could have eaten more.
Although there was a single-serve option for Doshanko horse sashimi, I knew it wouldn’t be enough, so I ordered a full portion. That was the right choice. The lean meat was full of umami. It was very delicious.
Since the sashimi was so delicious, I wanted a bit more Shinshu salmon, so I ordered Shinshu salmon namero at the end, and it was absolutely amazing! The sweetness of the salmon spread in my mouth, creating a perfect balance of flavors. I actually liked it more than the sashimi. Although it looked like it might be quite rich, it wasn’t overpowering, and the smooth, sticky texture was irresistible.
The drinks kept flowing. This is Kawakami Kawanakajima Junmai Nigori Sake. They had a variety of local Shinshu sake!
Since Wakasagi (smelt) is strongly associated with the Shinshu region, I also ordered Wakasagi karaage. The crispy coating and the tender, fluffy fish inside were absolutely delightful. It was so delicious!
This also made the drinks go down easily. This is “Ura Saku no Hana” sake. It paired perfectly with the dishes, and I ended up having a second serving (the photo is from the second round).
Everything I ate was incredibly tasty, and it felt like I was unlocking the door to Shinshu’s regional cuisine, which brings a sense of excitement about future discoveries. I definitely want to visit another one of their group’s restaurants the next time I go to Nagano.
About
Name Shinshu Sakaba Yamazato (信州酒場 山里)
Open Dinner
Reservation Available (Tabelog)
URL Shuraku official
Google Map
