this looks like something out of  an "Alice in wonderland" trail here

perfect

if you're going to go out to a more remote  place like this

it does take sometimes

those extra couple of trains

because we are going deep into  the countryside of Nara

to Icoma

but this time we actually got to go on one of these express trains  where you're paying a toll

but it means that you get the kind of luxurious experience

in eight years in japan i've never ever actually sat in a room like this before

where you got downstairs  into these luxurious chairs

it's pretty cool

all right we made our way now to ikoma station

so it's  one of these out of the way places

this is in Nara prefecture

and it's beautiful it's mountainous  it's actually where we filmed the Yoga retreat video in our last one

but definitely off the  beaten path has this beautiful hosanji

temple and one of these places that you must explore  in japan if you want to find like we have

one of these cool places that is a little more off  the main trail that you'd usually find

we're about to hop in a cab now because that is actually  the only way that you get to this pizza place

if you don't have a car

and it's a place that we  want to take you for that specific reason

it's a little more off the beaten path

and you would be  a local or you're hanging around here and you're hooked up with wheels if you're going to get to  it

but for us it's going to be a taxi

all right we've grabbed our cab from the station now

because yamaoka pizza is in the mountains

we are already going up the incline and it takes about 20 minutes  to get there

remote

and the cost of the taxi ride if you're going to do this is about 2200 yen

so you gotta want that pizza

and we really really do

we're making the effort today

even if  it's gonna take us up a mountain to get it

here we are at the entrance to yamaoka pizza

and  before i came in from the other side

so this is a little different but

as you can see when you come  up onto the mountain you get everything it has the offer

it's so beautiful and lush

this looks like  something out of an alice in wonderland trail here

of course it doesn't hurt that we  have the rainy day as well so that  

rain is adding extra life to all  the foliage here as it gets wet  

it's very cool

well our reservation is in the  next six minutes so we should get going

it has rained a lot here so we have to watch our step

or our feet are going to get absolutely soaked

this is absolutely gorgeous guys

so this way we  get a beautiful view of nara

up here you can see

look at what they've done with it it looks so  rustic

but once we get inside they've really made great efforts to maintain the place

and make it beautiful

to not only just look at from the outside but from the inside as well

what an unbelievable spot this is

yeah once you get inside you get this  wonderful view out all across the whole way  

and then there's the restaurant but  there's also a kind of cafe section  

so we're gonna check it all out

really explore the space

here we go

beautiful

oh Konnchiwa!

Nice to meet you again

Can I come in? -Yes, please!

This is Oto from the Cafe side

Our neighbor

Oh ok! Separate store?

Yes, separate store. Her name is Oto, and she is running the cafe

I'm Dave -I'm Mariko. Nice to meet you

Thank you

so beautiful

so beautiful

okay please come in

so they were just making the uh the point  there that

and this is something i did not know

was we have the cafe here

but there's  also the pizza place and they're separate

so they're working together

but i didn't know they  were totally different companies

so separate but together

that kind of idea

we've ordered the nepolatina

i may not be saying that right pizza

it's got some anchovies it's got tomato mozzarella  garlic anchovy and oregano

sounds delicious

we as well ordered the organic salad

and when asked what  is the one thing that we absolutely must try

we were recommended the oven baked onions

and that's because it's actually from

a local organic farm in IKOMA

that they source this from

and they say  it's like nothing else you've ever tasted before

i'm excited

Yamaoka pizza is special

the views  are amazing from it

the food is great

it is so peaceful when you are there

the heart and soul  of course is the food coming out of the kitchen

and at yamaoka pizza they have a special way to  prepare it

each pizza is baked with love inside a large stone oven

the shape and design of a stove  oven make sure that the top and bottom of the pizza cook evenly

giving you a totally delicious  and beautiful to look at result

some of the food is here we are still waiting for the pizza

but  so far we've got the mushroom ajillo

and the oven roasted onion

and the thing about the onion  it's organic and it's grown in the mountains of IKOMA

and it just looks looks sublime

it comes  with a chili sauce and the mushrooms you've got different types of mushrooms

we've got i can see  shitake and enoki and shimeji and stuff

and just it came in sizzling

and oil and just the  smell of the spices and the mushrooms and the

everything is just mind-boggling

so um yes let's  dig in

let's let's get into it

let's give it a try

guys you have to smell it

oh okay here it goes

organic mushrooms

nice oregano

great  seasoning

just

this is

this is ridiculous

food in this place is sublime

it's amazing

oh just guys

take my word for it

or... don't

just just come here and eat it

just try it

all right i would be remiss to not try myself  

it's getting a slice into these locally  grown organic onions

here we are

what stands out immediately

very very simple

straightforward

minimal number of ingredients

but the amount a variety of flavors that you get from this

it's delicious

it's buttery

it's sweet

it's a little bit spicy

herbaceous

top shelf

top shelf

they've knocked it out of the park with this one

the first orders of food were so tasty

but of course the star of the show is the pizza

it was hard to wait for it

but when at last it  did arrive we were not disappointed

the colors were rich and the dough looked so light and fluffy

that it might float away if we didn't eat it soon

all right

doing the honors now

talk about incredible presentation that they have here

it's so good

lots of care with the ingredients

perfect

the oregano

you don't have so many  ingredients that they clash with each other

the oregano with the garlic

perfect

buttery

mmm

and the sauce

the sauce is killer

we have that as well with the onions

and we predicted it would be this good

so a little tip for you

if you've ordered the ajillo

and now you don't know what to do  with your crusts although they're delicious

it's a little dip in the ajillo oil  from before

and then you've got

incredible combination

these guys are pros

after having the amazing  starters and incredibly savory pizza

there's not much that could possibly be better

that  is of course other than more pizza

and yamaoka has the perfect follow-up option

dessert  pizza

we ordered what is called in japanese ichijiku or in english, " fig"

it was drenched in  chocolate sauce

and served with vanilla ice cream

if you listened carefully you could hear

Michal and i growing fatter just looking at it

the chocolate

oh my goodness and the  ice cream is...

okay all right all right

just calm down Michal!

you got this

wow

let's get  a quick taste

with the fig,

i love it

so let's try it

I'm going home

try it

like just just do it

sorry

oh my god

great

a place is good because of the people

therefore it was a high priority for me to speak  with both the owners

i wanted to know how anyone ever finds themselves in a place like this

high on a mountain hidden away from most people

what was it about this place that drew  them to it

and why did they do what they do?

this is why i love living in japan so much

finding  these hidden away spots is just so much fun

people often say you never know what you're going to find  if you take the road less traveled

i think that's only half true

you might not know exactly

but  in my experience if you take that road in japan

it always leads to amazing people

and great food

thanks so much for tuning in to catch this video guys

i really really appreciate it

if you had to  make a choice

which would you go for

which pizza in the video

the savory

or the sweet

i find myself  leaning towards the savory

in any event thank you again

that's all for this one

i hope to catch  you in the next

take care out there

bye for now