Daikoku Shokudo
A long-established diner in Kamiyamada Onsen, founded in 1966 (now run by 2nd-generation owners Natsume-san and spouse). Just 14 seats. Lines form on weekends and holidays. Known for chicken-broth soy ramen, thick wonton noodles, and the signature 'nintare katsu' (garlic-marinated pork cutlet, one-of-a-kind). Lunch only. Cash only. Despite the limitations, locals keep coming back.
116 Tabelog reviews, score 3.43 — #4 in Chikuma-Sakaki. TripAdvisor 9 reviews, 4.0 — Chikuma #6. 'Must-queue on weekends and holidays,' 'flavors unchanged since 1966,' 'thick chewy wontons,' 'nintare katsu is one of a kind.' Negative reviews mostly about limited hours and seats, almost never about taste.