We visited a restaurant called Ukai-Toriyama in Hachioji.
Located at the foot of Mount Takao, about an hour's drive from the city center, we set off in the evening with my friends Kou and Tomiie, feeling like we were embarking on a short trip.

We've been friends for 20 years, so we're very comfortable and at ease with each other.
By the time we arrived, the sun had already set, and we got out of the car.
Kou had been to this restaurant several times before and invited me, saying it was a great place. When we arrived, I was surprised by how vast it was.

It felt like a theme park...
How many detached rooms were there within the expansive Japanese garden?
There were Japanese tea houses scattered throughout, creating a wonderful atmosphere.

I later learned that the 6,500-tsubo (approx. 53,000 sq ft) property features 38 guest rooms, including Gassho-style houses, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and tea houses belonging to the Maeda clan of Kaga. It's a space that makes you re-appreciate Japan. They say you can even see fireflies in season.
Japan possesses a unique culture, honed over a long history, that it can proudly present to the world. This place felt like a condensed representation of it all.

We walked along a path lit by bonfires in the meticulously maintained Japanese garden,
with a stream along the way and a thatched-roof grill house where only ayu (sweetfish) were being grilled, all of which delighted the eye.
We were led to a private detached room with a lovely ambiance.
The room had a sunken kotatsu, and the garden view from the room was full of charm.

Dinner with DJ Satoshi Tomie & Kou Kimura

The specialties are duck sukiyaki and charcoal-grilled dishes, so we immediately ordered those famous dishes.
It was a wonderful place where you could enjoy the changing seasons throughout the year.

Ukai-Toriyama
www.ukai.co.jp/toriyama/