About the Restaurant

Hello, fellow travelers!
This is Sanji, your Sarukuma writer!

The weather has turned chilly lately, and there’s nothing I crave more than a steaming hot spring ♨️

Today I’m introducing a wonderful spot located in
Kurokawa Onsen, Minamioguni Town, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“Jinenjo Ryori Yamatake”.

This charming, traditional kominka-style (old folk house) building sits along Route 442, just a stone’s throw from the entrance to Kurokawa Onsen.
The rustic exterior captures the very essence of Aso country charm.
Parking is available right in front of the restaurant.

While Aso is famous for its soba shops and charcoal-grill restaurants surrounded by stunning nature,
Yamatake’s specialty is jinenjo (wild Japanese yam) cuisine.

As someone who absolutely loves the slippery, sticky textures Japanese cuisine is famous for, this place was a must-visit for me!

So off I went!

Step inside and you’re greeted by a traditional irori (sunken hearth).

Despite the cold day outside, the glowing charcoal kept the inside cozy and warm!

The window seats offer a lovely view of the inner garden.

Recommended Menu

This time, I went with the popular “Yokubari Zen” (Greedy Set) and the “Oguni Dengaku Zen” (Oguni Dengaku Set).

For the rice, you can choose between plain white rice or “mukago gohan” (rice with mountain yam bulbils).

Mukago are tiny bulbils that grow on the leaves of the yam plant — essentially baby yams.
Without hesitation, I went straight for the mukago rice!

And since they have an irori hearth, the dengaku (skewered grilled foods) is a must-try too!

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After a short wait, the food arrived — and what a sight to behold!‼️

Yokubari Zen (Greedy Set)
Mukago rice, jinenjo dago-jiru (yam dumpling soup), gameni (chicken and root vegetable stew), nishime (simmered vegetables), two small side dishes, pickles, and a kanten dessert — all for just 1,580 yen!

The Oguni Dengaku Zen (1,700 yen) adds five skewers of dengaku to the Yokubari Zen!!!

What an incredible spread!

Yamame trout, taro, tofu, konnyaku, shiitake mushrooms, and even river crab!
You grill them right at the irori hearth and dip them in flavorful miso.

Adding dengaku for just 120 yen extra is such a steal,
I highly recommend going for the Dengaku Zen without hesitation!

Unlike the typical wheat-flour dumplings, the jinenjo dago is wonderfully silky, melty, and fluffy.

The seasoning is gentle and comforting.

This time I also ordered the jinenjo tororo soup (grated yam soup) as a side dish for 550 yen.

I ended up devouring three bowls of rice with it! Haha!

Beyond the incredible flavor,
this jinenjo cuisine offers outstanding value for money.

What better way to enjoy Aso during the cold season than to drive out, soak in the famous Kurokawa Onsen hot springs,
and then warm up by an irori hearth while savoring traditional jinenjo cuisine and dengaku? It’s a uniquely Aso experience you won’t want to miss.

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before visiting.