Italian Cuisine Villa Delpino, Hinohara-mura Village

A popular Italian restaurant in Hinohara-mura Village run by an owner-chef with a background as a sommelier.

“Villa Delpino” is a charming, locally loved Italian restaurant nestled near the scenic “Hossawa no Taki Falls” walking trail in Hinohara-mura Village, located in the western part of Tokyo and known for its beautiful natural surroundings. The restaurant is run by an owner-chef who is passionate about Italian wines and trained as a sommelier. He brings to life the regional flavors of Tuscany, particularly those he experienced while strolling through Florence, and pairs them with perfectly matched wines.

Mr. Matsumura, the owner, first became fascinated with the profession of sommelier while working part-time at a wine bar in Ginza during his student years, eventually earning his certification. Later, he traveled to Florence, Italy, where he dined on regional dishes of Tuscany such as “Ribollita,” a hearty soup made with white beans, celery, onions, and other aromatic vegetables, often served with bread. This experience deeply influenced his cooking style.

Upon opening his restaurant in Hinohara-mura Village, Mr. Matsumura was struck by two things: the incredible quality of the “water” and “air,” which he found far superior to those in the city, and the fact that “the homemade meals prepared by the local grandmothers were incredibly delicious.” He felt that Hinohara-mura Village had a similar charm to Italy. This connection was due to the local ingredients grown in the pure air and water, and the food cooked with the natural taste preferences of the people living there. Italy also has its own traditional “mamma” (mother) and “nonna” (grandmother) flavors, and the culture of making the most of local seasonal ingredients was something he recognized in Hinohara-mura as well.

At this restaurant, Mr. Matsumura pursues the unique flavors of this place, using abundant seasonal vegetables from Hinohara-mura Village and Akiruno City, just as he experienced with local Tuscan cuisine focused on “farm-to-table” principles. The bread served is made from natural yeast at the nearby popular bakery “Mori no Fu” adding another layer of local flavor to the dining experience.

Lunch: A Single, Chef’s Choice Dish

Only the best dishes of the day are served.

For lunch, the restaurant offers only one course, a set menu of “one appetizer and two pasta dishes” (1,500 yen, tax included), made with the best ingredients of the day, as described on the menu board. While desserts and drinks are available separately, on the day of our visit, the pasta dishes were “Penne with cream sauce, tuna, and yuzu from Hinohara” and “Spaghetti with tomato sauce, broccoli from Itsukaichi, and bacon.” Dinner is by reservation only, from 2:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

The interior of the restaurant, built about 40 years ago by a master carpenter, exudes a cozy atmosphere with a large, single-slab wooden table. From every seat, you can enjoy a view of the surrounding trees. The small, open kitchen has around 12 seats, and Mr. Matsumura runs the entire operation solo. When you order wine, he carefully selects a wine that pairs well with your meal. On this occasion, instead of a wine glass, the wine was served in a thick-rimmed, cup-style glass. The reason, Mr. Matsumura explained, is that it allows you to “enjoy the wine without overthinking it,” much like the traditional Italian trattorias where wine is served in similar cups.

How about trying some authentic Italian cuisine made with ingredients grown in Hinohara-mura Village, known for its delicious water and air, and surrounded by nature? As a place that still remains just a day trip from the city it’s definitely worth the visit, and if possible, you might want to make it an overnight trip to fully enjoy the experience.

DATA

Restaurant Name	VillaDelpino
Address	5493-1, Honjuku, Hinohara-mura, Nishitama-gun, Tokyo
Phone	042-598-1054
Hours	11:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Reservations required after 2:30 PM until 10:00 PM)
Closed	Wednesdays, Thursdays, and irregular holidays
Languages Spoken	Japanese, English
Menu Languages	Japanese, English, Italian
Official Website	https://www.facebook.com/hinohara.delpino/?locale=ja_

The first pasta dish, "Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce, Itsukaichi Broccoli, and Bacon," features tender, locally grown broccoli from Akiruno, which beautifully blends with the sauce, almost as if it’s part of the pasta itself.

The "Penne with Cream Sauce, Tuna, and Hinohhara Yuzu" features yuzu from Hinohara-mura Village, preserved in salt, which adds a refreshing citrus flavor and a hint of saltiness. This perfectly complements the rich, creamy sauce, creating a pasta with a balanced and never-boring taste.

The "Ribollita," a winter classic at the restaurant, is served alongside a thick-rimmed glass of wine for casual drinking, much like the traditional trattoria style in Florence.

The calm and graceful manner in which the cork is quickly removed, accompanied by a brief explanation of the wine, reflects the wealth of experience in service that the owner has gained over the years.

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