Hello, fellow travelers!
This is Rikotama, writer for Sarukuma!

Today I’m excited to introduce you to a truly special spot tucked away in the mountains of Minamiaso Village, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture—【Cafe Yamanekoken】 (literally “Wildcat House Cafe”).

Coming from central Kumamoto City, take the scenic Green Road Minami-Aso heading toward Aso.

Soon you’ll spot the 【Yamanekoken】 sign on your left side!

From there, you’ll wind your way up a narrow mountain road for a little while.
Heads up: the road isn’t paved, so please drive carefully!

An adorable black cat sign greets visitors at the entrance!

Now let’s step inside this charming log-cabin-style cafe!

Ta-da! Look at this incredible CD collection!

For a moment, I completely forgot I was in an Indian curry restaurant (laughs)!

The interior has the wonderful aroma of natural wood, and our whole family felt instantly relaxed!

Recommended Menu

Here’s a look at the menu!

☆ Vegetable & Meat Double Curry Set — 1,200 yen

※ The two curry varieties change daily!

☆ Kids’ Curry — 500 yen

On the day we visited, the offerings were Dal Rasam Curry and Salt Chicken Curry!
※ Dal Rasam is a tomato-based South Indian curry.

Takeout is also available!

And here’s the Kids’ Curry!
On this day, it was a chickpea curry with sweet potato.

There’s no spiciness at all, and the natural sweetness of the chickpeas makes it a hit—even our preschool-aged son devoured it happily!

And now—the moment we’d been waiting for!
Here comes the Vegetable & Meat Double Curry!

The owner kindly suggested:
“You can enjoy them separately, but mixing the two curries together is even more delicious!”
So of course, we tried it the recommended way!

First, the Salt Chicken Curry…
A deep, complex flavor packed with aromatic spices! And the chicken—
unbelievably tender!

※ Both my husband and I had our chicken stolen by our son!

Next, the Dal Rasam Curry…
With its tomato base and abundance of vegetables, it’s almost like a curry version of minestrone!

It has a nice, satisfying spicy kick too!
Then we tried mixing both curries together!

The gentle heat of the Salt Chicken Curry combined with the tangy tomato of the Dal Rasam—truly amazing!

The transformation in flavor was so surprising that my husband and I exchanged wide-eyed looks (laughs)!
And the marinated vegetables and pickles served alongside the rice were absolutely delightful too!

I can’t wait to come back and try a different combination of double curries!

By the way, there’s a magnificent chestnut tree growing in the cafe’s garden!

The owner kindly told us, “Feel free to take any chestnuts that have fallen on the ground!”

We happily accepted—what a beautiful haul!

Our son loved his very first chestnut-gathering experience!
If you’re traveling around Aso, this hidden mountain cafe is absolutely worth the trip!

Frequently Asked Questions

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