About Yamaya
Originally, Yamaya was a food catering business located next to the house owned by a legendary, wealthy merchant, the 11th YOKOTA Gorobei, from the end of the Edo Period through the beginning of the Meiji Period. Mr. Yokota’s house was on the site on which the Saitama Resona Bank’s Kawagoe Branch is currently located. In either 1868 or 1869, the first Yamaya owner, Hambei, bought another of Mr. Yokota’s residences, a lavish guest house, whichi is now Ryotei Yamaya. The current owner is the 5th generation descendant of Hambei.
Regarding the Yokota family, their ancestors came to Kawagoe from Ohmi (now Shiga Prefecture) at the beginning of the Edo Period. The main business lines of the family were manufacturing of soy sauce, grain brokerage and financial operations. The 9th Yokota contributed a huge amount of money to the Kawagoe Domain at the domain’s request and he fulfilled his duties in order to maintain the domain. Therefore, the domain gave him a rank similar to Commissioner of Finance and promoted him to the samurai class.
*To change image, click the arrow key on or near the photo.
*Click to enlarge the photos.
The 11th Yokota was so wealthy that his name “Kawagoe Yokota” appeared on lists of millionaires in the Kanto region as “Yokozuna” (grand champion). They say the price of rice varied every time he set foot in Edo or Osaka. The gorgeous guest house he built within a garden of 3,300m2 welcomed Kawagoe Lord Matsudaira and a variety of distinguished guests.
Yamaya, with a history of nearly 150 years, has also received innumerable guests and has survived through difficult times before, during and after World War II. We treasure the appreciation our guests express for their dining experience. The compliments on Ryotei Yamaya dining experiences that we receive from our guests are our greatest treasure.
Ryotei Yamaya offers our legendary service, the scenic beauty of our luxury garden in all seasons, and our “Kaiseki-ryori” dishes made from seasonal foods for your working dinner, private party or wedding reception.
*To change image, click the arrow key on or near the photo.
*Click to enlarge the photos.
