*This article is a tie-up with Kamifurudan, which enjoys telling the story of Kamikomachi and its surroundings.

One of the pleasures of travelling is the local restaurants that have taken root in the area. Many people think: "If I've come all the way here on holiday, I want to enjoy the local flavours at a restaurant frequented by the locals". Many people may think so.

Kamikomachi also has traditional eateries, bento lunch shops and take-away shops. Whether you want to eat at a restaurant on your way around town or buy food to eat at your accommodation, Kamikomachi is a great place to do both.

Of the many rice restaurants available, we will focus on those that have been loved by locals for many years. You can choose the restaurant that best suits your mood at the time.

1, Loulan Chinese Restaurant, a favourite of locals for 50 years.

First, the Chinese restaurant Loulan Restaurant is located opposite hickory03travellers. This restaurant was set up after training at a long-established Chinese restaurant in Niigata and is familiar to Kamikomachi residents.

Loulan Restaurant opened in Kamikomachi 50 years ago. The father of the sisters who now run the restaurant trained at a long-established Chinese restaurant in Niigata before opening his own restaurant.

At lunchtime, the restaurant is full of local regulars and businessmen!　The restaurant is so popular that it fills up at peak times and some people even have to wait. That's how much everyone loves this restaurant.

One of the dishes that captivates these locals is fried rice (780 yen ). The large slices of sweet onion and soy-sauce flavoured fried pork add just the right amount of flavour. The slightly stronger pepper stimulated my appetite and I devoured it all at once without stopping.

Many people who come here are also fans of the gyoza (500 yen). The slightly sweet bean paste and glutinous gyoza skin are the main attractions of these dumplings. When I was first served, I wasn't sure if I could eat four by myself, but they went down in no time.

There are many other dishes on the menu, including ramen, five-meat fried noodles and Cantonese noodles. Those who go there every day each have their own favourite dish.

Oh yes, when it comes to Loulan, don't forget the steamed meat buns (350 yen a piece). Loulan's steamed meat buns are bigger and more filling than regular steamed buns!　Like the dumplings, they have a slightly sweet filling, so much so that some people find it hard to eat any other steamed buns once they have tried them. They are also very popular with young women, and it is common to see friends and couples buying steamed meat buns together.

Basically, it is a winter-only product that is only served when the weather gets colder, and is mainly sold in front of the shop from around noon on Sundays. The sale ends when they run out, so try to visit around that time.

By the way, I can't go on Sundays!" Don't worry if you can't make it on Sunday. We can also deliver them frozen in the shop. If you really want to eat it, take it home frozen and try steaming it in a steamer.

Incidentally, Loulan Restaurant is still family-run. The family is often featured in local TV programmes, and you should check out the handsome son, who is probably in his third generation, and the grandmother!　If you find yourself in the restaurant and there seems to be room, please talk to them. You're sure to have a good time and a lot of laughter.

Loulan Restaurant

Address: 657-2, Furumachidori 3-bancho, Chuo-ku, Niigata City

Telephone number: 025-229-0135

Opening hours: 11:00-18:00

Closed: Wednesdays

2, Dr Kani, an old-fashioned Western-style restaurant (Dr Kani).

Speaking of restaurants that have been in Kamikomachi for many years, Dr Kaji should not be forgotten: this Western-style restaurant opened in Kamikomachi in 1986 and offers a wide range of Western-style dishes, mainly pasta, omelette rice and pizza.

The restaurant is run by a cheerful couple. As well as the food, the most attractive thing about this restaurant is their cheerful smiles, and they are so full of laughter. People from the shopping arcade often visit after evening gatherings. It is a place of rest and relaxation for everyone, bustling with cheerful smiles and conversation both day and night.

Of course, the food is authentic. The master is a talented chef who trained for three years at a teppanyaki restaurant in Germany.

The most popular menu item made by the master is omelette rice. The simple yet beautifully put together form of this dish reminds me of the nostalgic omelette rice my mother used to make for me. The finely chopped sweet onions accentuate the gentle taste.

Dr Kani will try to offer a variety of Western food, including pasta, hashed rice and pizza made by the master. Ah, yes. The roast pork is moist and tender and really excellent. The evening set menu includes a main dish, dessert and coffee for JPY 900, which is a very reasonable price.

A must-try with Western food at such times is Swan Lake Beer (300 ml, 600 yen), Niigata's proud local beer. It has a fruity taste and aroma made with Hyouko Yashiki no Oka Brewery Weizen yeast. With refreshing Niigata beer and the flavoursome Dr Kani cuisine, you are sure to enjoy an evening out in Niigata.

And speaking of Dr Kani, there is one more thing. The street piano 'Kamifuru Piano ', which can be played by anyone, was installed next to the shop and has become a hot topic. In recent years, street pianos have become popular in many countries around the world, where anyone can play freely at airports, train stations and on the streets. After seeing this, we had been thinking that we would like to try this in Niigata as well, and a regular customer decided to donate a piano, which we installed next to the shop.

Every day, the piano master plays in turn. Sometimes the master also plays, just to be outdone. When the sound of the piano echoes through the shopping street, it gives a feeling of peace and tranquillity.

Dr. Kani

Address: 685-4 Ichibanbori-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City

Telephone number: 025-223-0851

Opening hours: 11:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00

Closed: No regular holidays

3, Warmth like a mother's packed lunch 'Mitani Shoten'.

Kamikomachi is not only a dining destination. There is also a packed lunch shop, a strong ally of those working nearby. There is a large selection of more than 20 handmade delicacies, including boiled and deep-fried dishes and boiled vegetables.

Not only people from the Kamikomachi area, but also taxi drivers and people from further afield who come all the way to the restaurant and say, "I want to try Mitani-san's delicatessen!" and come all the way from far away. It is a popular shop among the locals, where people from all walks of life bring back home their favourites when they come to the Kamikomachi area.

At lunchtime, there is a queue of people working nearby and students from vocational schools. Many women choose the healthy lunchboxes. The Furumachi 3-bancho neighbourhood association's New Year's party is so successful that they have decided to ask Miya-san to cater for them!

The shop is bustling with the chatter of mothers and regulars. I remember the first time I entered the shop a few years ago, my nervous heart was relieved by the energetic laughter. You can tell that the restaurant has been supporting the stomachs of local people for many years.

The most popular is the bento box lunch, which offers a wide variety of side dishes for 500 yen. The side dishes change daily, but the delicacies hand-cooked by the mothers are very popular , with customers saying they have a nostalgic taste!　They are gone in the blink of an eye at lunchtime. If you are interested, please buy as soon as possible.

Finally, another speciality , kuwai senbei (300 yen), is introduced. Kuwai is a water vegetable belonging to the Omodaka family. It looks like a small taro, but tastes like a bitter chestnut and a sweet potato. Kuwai senbei are thinly sliced and deep-fried. They have a stronger flavour than crisps, but their unique bitterness is addictive.

Please also try the kuwai senbei as a lunchbox accompaniment or a snack during breaks.

Mitani Shoten]

Address: 3-555 Furumachidori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City

Telephone number: 025-223-0571

Opening hours: 9:00-17:30 (boxed lunches sold from around 11:00)

Closed: Sunday and public holidays

4, How about some snacks to accompany your town tour?　Café Dandelion's snack workshop

Dandelion, a Kamifurumachi snack workshop, is located not far from Rouran. The shop specialises in take-out and offers a wide range of products, from special keema curry rice to oshiruko and cheesecake.

I often use the special keema curry (390 yen). The keema curry with plenty of minced chicken is very satisfying!　This is enough on its own, but I also recommend adding a hot spring egg (80 yen) or cheese (70 yen) as toppings.

And for those who prefer spicy curry, there is also the option of Thai-style keema curry rice (JPY 450). The spice, with its aroma of coconut milk and tangy hot flavour, will warm you up.

The restaurant also offers a wide range of desserts. The special smooth pudding (280 yen) is a must-try. The pudding is thick but not cloying, and the texture is so smooth that you can't get enough of one and end up buying a second one.

There is also a selection of baked cheesecakes, scones and cookies. All are made in a slightly less sweet way, so they should be easy to accept for those with a sweet tooth.

In fact, Dandelion is not only a snack shop. It is also a sneaker buying shop. It buys and sells unwanted sneakers. They have a stock of not only the products in the shop, so if you have a pair of trainers you want, please ask the owner. You will surely have a fun trainer discussion!

Cheap and tasty curry is very popular with women working nearby!　They often buy sweets as a snack. If you're tired of walking around town for a while, why not take a break at Dandelion?

[Cafe Dandelion's Snack Workshop].

Address: 3-655-1 Furumachidori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City

Telephone number: 025-225-9222

Opening hours: 11:30-18:00

Closed: Thursday (other irregular holidays)

How was it?　There are many unique restaurants in Kamikomachi that have been around for many years.

As well as the reliable taste, the warm communication between the shop staff and the locals is surely one of the reasons why the shop has continued for so many years. When you visit Kamikomachi, please enjoy not only the taste of the shop, but also the conversation with the shop staff.