Maskay guide

Where to try keichan in Gero: Suginoko or Hagiya?

Suginoko serves Ena chicken on a hotplate; Hagiya offers meat and sauce choices.

Maskay editorial team Updated
Gero is famous for its hot springs, but its Hida food culture offers another reason to stop: chicken, cabbage and a hotplate. Keichan changes with its sauce and serving style. Suginoko, in Ogawa, grills Ena chicken thigh with garlic and soy and suggests yakisoba to finish. Hagiya, in Yunoshima, lets diners choose meat and seasoning and offers set meals. At Suginoko, chicken and vegetables brown at the table. When sauce remains, noodles are added to absorb it. Reviews praise the flavour and staff help; others mention limited vegetables or extras raising the bill. Hagiya has a more structured meal with several combinations and generous servings, though some visitors note waits and delays. Keichan is everyday Hida and Oku-Mino cooking, not one fixed recipe. Towns have variations based on miso, soy, garlic and seasoning. Comparing the restaurants reveals a change in pace as well as flavour: Suginoko invites table-side cooking and noodles to finish, while Hagiya makes it easy to sit in the hot-spring centre and order a set meal. Hagiya is a short walk from the station. Suginoko lies outside the pedestrian core, and a taxi or car may be useful; sources give different travel references. Listings also disagree on hours and closures. Call ahead if lunch falls between bathing and a train. Choose Suginoko for interactive cooking, or Hagiya for variety and a central location.

Profiles of the recommended places: Suginoko Keichan Restaurant · Hagiya Keichan Restaurant

Bottom line

Suginoko offers table-side cooking; Hagiya offers choice in the centre. Call first because listings differ.

Editorial selection

Options to compare

These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.

01
Keichan restaurant

Suginoko Keichan Restaurant

1311-1 Ogawa, Gero, Gifu 509-2203, Japan

4 /5 620 reviews

Suginoko specialises in keichan, chicken and cabbage cooked on a griddle, a dish found across Hida and other mountain areas of Gifu. Its version uses Ena chicken thigh with garlic-soy sauce; diners finish cooking at the table as the cabbage softens.

Why it made the selection

Ena chicken grilled with garlic-soy sauce, finished with yakisoba.

Hours: Local guide: lunch 11:00 am–3:00 pm (last order 2:30 pm), closed Mondays and on irregular dates. Confirm first. Verified: October 12, 2026
View Maskay profile → Official website ↗
02
Local cuisine restaurant

Hagiya Keichan Restaurant

547-7 Yunoshima, Gero, Gifu 509-2207, Japan

4.2 /5 118 reviews

Hagiya makes keichan a matter of choice: diners can select chicken cuts and sauces rather than follow one fixed recipe. The griddle finishes cooking at the table, while set meals add rice and small sides. Its Yunoshima location keeps it in central Gero’s hot-spring district.

Why it made the selection

Customisable keichan with a choice of chicken and sauce, plus set meals.

Hours: Local sources differ on hours and closing day; call to confirm. Verified: October 12, 2026
View Maskay profile → Official website ↗
Verification

Sources & references

Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.

  1. Official website of Suginoko Keichan Restaurant ↗ Primary source Suginoko official site · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  2. Official website of Suginoko Keichan Restaurant ↗ Primary source Gero Tourism Association · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  3. Official website of Hagiya Keichan Restaurant ↗ Primary source Hagiya official site · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  4. Official website of Hagiya Keichan Restaurant ↗ Primary source Gero Tourism Association · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  5. Official website ↗ Primary source Gero City Tourism · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  6. Official website ↗ Primary source Gero Tourism Association · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.

  7. Exact branch Google rating and reviews ↗ Secondary source Wanderlog · Accessed October 12, 2026

    4.0/5 and 620 Google reviews, checked 2026-10-12.

  8. Exact branch Google reviews ↗ Secondary source Wanderlog · Accessed October 12, 2026

    Google 4.2/5 and 118 reviews as displayed 2026-10-12.

Keep exploring

Related questions