As a rather small and compact town, Tsuwano, in the countryside of Shimane prefecture, is filled with impressive sightseeing spots and should be on everyone’s bucket list! Read more about it HERE!
Tsuwano has a lot to offer, including many delicious places to eat and drink. Here is a list of a few of my favorites – but I still have many more to try!
After a bit of sightseeing, stop by Saranoki Shointei to shop for souvenirs and to drink coffee in their Western-style cafe space. Or, if you prefer Japanese tea like me, there is a traditional space overlooking a beautiful garden where you can enjoy matcha with a delicious sweet that is made on-site.
Although Yoshinaga is a rice shop, drop in for some Japanese candies and to see their lovely garden – with a pond filled with 300 koi. Buy some fish food and feed them yourself! A small bag of local rice makes a wonderful souvenir (for those living in Japan).
For lunch, dine on tasty juwari soba noodles (made only of buckwheat) and konyaku sashimi at Chishanoki , near Tsuwano Station. Everything is handmade and served with a smile. They offer a special vegan option and the menu, with excellent descriptions, is bilingual. Chishanoki is also a great place to enjoy a traditional Japanese dessert.
A ‘stream’ filled with koi runs through Yuki, a restaurant boasting an old-fashioned atmosphere and tasty local cuisine. The specialty is grilled eel, but you can also try uzume-meshi (if you aren’t able to participate in Shikinokasha’s dining experience – see below!). Yuki is located directly across from the Tsuwano Japan Heritage Center.
Wataya is hidden down a narrow alley behind the hotel-ryokan, Yutorelo Tsuwano. Located in a renovated traditional house, Wataya offers delicious teishoku-style meals for 1,000-1,200 yen (choose from fried chicken, tempura, ginger pork, chicken and vegetables in a black vinegar sauce…). They also serve an excellent dinner set for only 3,300 yen. Wataya is open for lunch and dinner.
Kosuke is another great option for lunch or dinner. The owner carefully prepares lots of Japanese favorites – yakisoba, fried chicken, tonkatsu, curry with rice,… – all at reasonable prices.
For a truly special dining experience, Shikinokasha offers ‘Tasting Traditional Tsuwano Cuisine’ in their art gallery/rental space. After explanations and a little bit of hands-on preparation of the main dish (uzume-meshi) in the kitchen, participants sit down to a delicious meal filled with local seasonal specialties. We enjoyed the uzume-meshi, eggplant, somen noodles with summer vegetables, konyaku, assorted pickles, etc. The food is prepared by a mother-daughter team with some ingredients coming straight from their own garden. Highly recommended! (Reservations required)
Komien Kamiryo Tea is a fantastic cafe run by a Japanese woman and her French husband – both also speak English. In another beautifully renovated historic building, sit at the long wooden bar and try their specially blended zara-cha, a tea with ancient origins. I’d also recommend their tasty desserts – like this seasonal citrus-flavored cake. Fresh brewed coffee is available. Their teas also make perfect souvenirs.
There are three sake breweries in Tsuwano where you can do some tasting, Zaima Sakaba, Kasen Shuzo and Furuhashi Shuzo. Zaima Sakaba has a small museum that visitors can visit. Sometimes a tour of one of the breweries is possible (with advanced notice). These fox-themed bottles make great gifts (and the sake inside them is delicious)!
Cafe & Hostel TMC sits in front of Yasaka Shrine and is usually open from 11-6. Their menu includes simple meals, sweets (pound cake is a favorite), coffee/tea, smoothies, craft ginger ale, and more.
Scattered around town are numerous shops selling delicious traditional Japanese sweets, including Chikufuken, Kaiseido, Sanshodo Kashin’an, and others.
Still on my list to try are many places – including two Italian resturants, Artigiano and Pino Rossi. I think that dinner reservations are required at both restaurants, but you can stop by Pino Rossi anytime to pick up one of their delicious desserts. One review I read said that Artigiano offers gluten free options.