Daigenta Canyon sits just outside Yuzawa. There is a lake out there that sits under Mount Daigenta, a camping area, an outdoor center offering canoeing, nordic walking and nature tours as well as some great hiking. An even better reason to go is the delicious Taverna Vicini.
You see it on your right hand side as you pull into the main parking area for Daigenta Canyon. It is an Italian restaurant and the building itself would not look out of place in the countryside in Italy. Out the front is a small shack selling ice cream to the outdoorsy folk and behind that is a large covered terrace with trees growing in amongst the tables.
Taverna Vicini belongs to the same owners who run the most famous Italian restaurant in the area, Pittore on the slopes of Iwappara, as well as Alpina at the top of the Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway. All of these served up amazing food, and the owners travel yearly to Italy to guarantee that their offerings are as authentic as possible. Taverna Vicini specializes in bread where its sister restaurants are known for their great pizzas. The signature of the house in Daigenta is freshly made panini bread served with cold cuts and salad. Taverna Vicini is only open in the green season from mid-April until October, and the panini platter is a great summer lunch that is just right for two people to share. I have been here a few times and the picture of the panini is so good I find it very hard to get further than that on the menu. There are plenty of other dishes available including pastas, salads and other tasty treats from the oven. The restaurant prides itself on the quality of the coffee, and if you are not driving, the beer comes in very thin glasses for perfect summer refreshment.
Head inside the taverna and there is a bakery with a table laden with freshly baked goods. Even full from a superb lunch it is difficult to walk past these goodies without buying something for later. No coincidence then that you have to pass the table to pay your bill!
