Hida Takayama: Komo Dofu and Hoba miso at Kajibashi Shokudo (かじ橋食堂)

On the second morning of our trip to Takayama, we woke up early and left our hotel to grab breakfast. It was still dark and very cold, so we decided to warm up at a Seven Eleven, which had a cozy atmosphere.

After that, we went to Kajibashi Shokudou (かじ橋食堂). To be honest, we originally wanted to go to another restaurant, but it was closed for the winter season. I heard many restaurants close during this time, so if you plan to visit Takayama in the winter, be cautious about the restaurant schedules.

No guest except us because of snowstorm.

This restaurant serves local Takayama specialties, such as Hooba Miso and Komo Dofu. They also offer more typical dishes like katsudon, tendon, and ebi furai.

Because of the heavy snow and the early hour, we were the only guests when we arrived. However, later on, a man (likely a tourist from China) and a regular customer came in.

I, of course, ordered the Komo dofu set. It came with kombu seaweed, pickled daikon radish, and boiled spinach dressed in sesame sauce (goma-ae). It was a healthy and refreshing breakfast 🙂

“Komo Dofu” is a type of steamed tofu wrapped in slatted wood, a local specialty of Hida-Takayama. It’s firmer than momen tofu (regular firm tofu) and has a springy texture. It’s likely a preserved food, and it absorbs seasonings very well. While it wasn’t bad, it was seasoned only with soy sauce and sugar, which made it quite simple. I needed a little extra flavor, so I added some shichimi pepper. The spice definitely enhanced the taste.

It was a very simple and local breakfast, and I felt grateful for the experience.

My friend had the Hooba Miso set. “Hooba” refers to magnolia leaves, and Hooba miso is grilled seasoned miso (with ingredients like mushrooms and vegetables mixed in) served on a magnolia leaf. However, there was only miso on the leaf, and it was a bit too sweet for my taste.

Although the snow began to let up, the roads were still completely covered, and it remained very cold. So, we decided to return to the Seven Eleven to warm up again. Thanks, Seven Eleven! 🙂