In a quiet neighborhood in Kumamoto, a small, discreet restaurant blends in with the other houses with its white walls. But don’t let its looks fool you—this is one of Kumamoto’s most famous restaurants: ""Shinyashiki Kofukuron"". An open kitchen restaurant with an island that’s equal level with the counter, it’s almost like an invitation from the owner to see everything that goes on, both good and bad.
The owner chef is Shinji Tohara, who comes from Kumamoto himself. After training in Osaka and Tokyo as a chef, he left for Paris to further hone his skills. He then came back to Japan and was building up experience at a French restaurant in Yokohama when, in 2011, he decided he wanted to showcase the wonders of Japanese cuisine at his hometown, and opened his own restaurant. It hasn’t gone unnoticed, either; this restaurant was awarded world gourmet guide award in the Kumamoto edition .
Here, delicately crafted yet modern Japanese dishes of unembellished beauty are served in an awe-inspiring theatrical atmosphere. “I want customers to enjoy dishes that are simple and delicious, that don’t need any sort of explaining for them to feel that there’s something special about the food,” the chef says. He looks at the day’s catch and works from there, leaving things to the whims of nature, and prepares each dish so that diners can enjoy the ingredients at their peak. He also takes care to choose a clean, crisp cooking sake without an aftertaste so that it doesn’t interfere with the flavor of the dish too much. With all kinds of sake being chosen regardless of brand and replaced regularly, customers can look forward to a fateful, once-in-a-lifetime encounter between a sake and a dish in their next order.
There are 6 seats at the counter and 2 cozy private rooms that can seat up to 6 people. “The most important thing to me is for customers to have a relaxing time and enjoy a good conversation. There are a lot of courses, so I would love for them to savor the experience and spend a good 3 to 4 hours,” says Tohara. It’s easy to imagine the unforgettable time one would spend here, with their loved ones and good food all around.
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* The availability of an English version of this page does not guarantee that the restaurant can provide services in English unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that, even if stated, there may still be days when English speaking staff are unavailable.
【Access】
■A 20-minute walk from Kuhon-ji Kosaten Station(Kumamoto Tarm A)
