Planning a trip to Hokkaido, Japan? If you're exploring the picturesque town of Biei, a visit to Junpei restaurant is a must-do for experiencing authentic K-food. To avoid the notoriously long queues, booking a bus tour that includes a reservation is your best bet for a seamless dining experience and saving precious travel time.
How to Get into Biei's Junpei Restaurant Without Waiting
During my summer trip to Hokkaido last year, Junpei in Biei remained a highly sought-after dining spot, with many reviews mentioning significant wait times, especially during lunch. Fortunately, we were part of a bus tour that had a pre-arranged reservation, allowing us to walk right into the restaurant without any delay. Bus tours are an excellent way to explore Biei comfortably, especially if you don't have a rental car, and they offer a huge advantage for popular eateries like Junpei by saving you valuable time. The seamless entry thanks to the tour's reservation was a highlight, letting us bypass the crowds waiting outside.
A Taste of Junpei's Signature Dishes: Ebidon and Ebitem Curry
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Junpei's star dishes are the Ebidon (shrimp tempura over rice) and Ebitem Curry. I opted for the Ebitem Curry, priced at approximately $10.50 (JPY 1,606), which featured impressively plump shrimp tempura. The batter was perfectly crispy, and the shrimp inside was tender and juicy. It offered a comforting, Japanese home-style flavor. My husband chose the Ebidon (approx. $10.00, JPY 1,551), which came with shrimp tempura about 1.5 times larger than mine. While the tempura looked a bit darker, the taste was excellent. I personally found the curry a great choice, as eating just rice and tempura can become a bit monotonous for me, and it was a good alternative to a standard tendon (tempura rice bowl).
Things to Consider When Visiting Junpei in Biei
The shrimp tempura at Junpei boasts a delightful texture, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The accompanying miso soup was also flavorful, though we didn't get a refill due to the busy atmosphere. The restaurant itself is quite spacious and generally clean. However, I did notice a small chip on one of the bowls I used, which was a minor concern. Despite this, given the limited dining options in Biei, Junpei is a worthwhile stop for a satisfying meal. It's a solid choice for a casual lunch.
What to Know Before You Go to Junpei, Hokkaido
If you're planning a visit to Junpei, especially if you're using a bus tour, it's crucial to confirm if the tour includes a meal at Junpei and if a reservation is secured. Without a reservation, you risk spending a significant amount of time waiting. Junpei is located at 4-4-10 Honmachi, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, and operates from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. They are closed on Mondays, so always check their operating days before your visit. While the food is generally good and enjoyable, it's not an exceptionally unique flavor profile. However, it offers a pleasant culinary experience and contributes to the memorable aspects of a trip to Biei.
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