Hagino Tofu

Hagino Tofu sits behind a heavy noren curtain marked with a single, bold kanji character, distinguishing it from the neighboring hot spring inns. While most tofu shops in Japan operate as wholesalers, this space remains a dedicated kitchen where the owner prepares fresh batches using the specific mineral-rich water drawn from the local Hakone springs. Locals arrive early in the morning to purchase individual blocks of silken tofu before the daily supply runs out, often carrying them away in small, plastic-wrapped containers.