Near the Akaya Oodori (Totoro Forest) in Itoshima, there is a unique shop with an exterior that looks like a Cat Bus. It's called Robatayaki Jidori Yamaran. I recently visited and enjoyed a luxurious lunch course. I chose the Miyazaki Jidori Chicken Course, which is made with Miyazaki Jidori chicken that is raised stress-free for over twice the normal time. The meat is tender, flavorful, and cooked by customers themselves with a special sauce. The set meal includes Itoshima Milky Queen eggs, which can be enjoyed with the chicken or as a sukiyaki-style dish. Additionally, there are options like Maguro Three Varieties Donburi and fresh squid sashimi, which can be ordered for just 1000 yen extra with the course. The squid can be grilled after enjoying it as sashimi. Although there is no specific children's menu, the restaurant is child-friendly with highchairs available. My son enjoyed his meal as well. I mentioned Yamaran on social media and received a free dessert of Yame tea, vanilla, or mixed soft serve ice cream. There are also takeout drinks available at a window with a cat face design. The entrance looks like a bus stop from a famous movie, and taking a photo with a red umbrella next to it is recommended. The pleasant breeze and delicious food make this place a must-visit.

I visited in late November 2022! It was a holiday, so I had the day off from work and decided to drive from Fukuoka City after receiving a message from an acquaintance. When people think of going towards Itoshima, they might have an image of an oyster shack. But this time, instead of the oyster shack, we decided to visit this place for the first time. It's a place that I've been seeing a lot on Instagram recently! I don't usually search for restaurants on social media, but the reasonable prices made me think that I would like to visit someday. Luckily, I got an invitation and decided to go! It took about 40 minutes by car from Fukuoka City. We arrived at around 11:30 am, just in time for the opening, so we were the first customers to enter! The exterior of the restaurant was like the Catbus from "My Neighbor Totoro"! It had a modern design that left a lasting impression. It's a place that children would really enjoy. Inside the restaurant, there was an open and clean space with a white and wooden traditional feel mixed with a modern touch. The menu was divided into two main categories: Miyazaki Jitokko (local chicken) and Kagoshima Jidori (local chicken). Since there were two of us, we ordered one dish each to share. The side menu had fresh items that were appealing to tourists. There were also Kumamoto horse sashimi and Itoshima's specialty oysters. Each table had a charcoal grill, so it felt like a BBQ experience. The proximity to the charcoal made it feel quite hot. This might be a point of contention for some people! I tried the Miyazaki Jitokko, and the thigh and breast meat were tender and flavorful, very delicious! The tenderloin had a nice texture and seemed like it would go well with alcohol. I was the designated driver this time, so I couldn't drink. The atmosphere of the restaurant was great, and the staff were clean and recommended! I think it might get crowded on weekends, so I recommend visiting on weekdays if possible! It's a good place to come with friends or even in a group! Compared to an oyster shack, where it can get crowded and uncomfortable due to the heat or cold, this place is more comfortable with temperature control. If you have a designated driver, those who can drink alcohol will have a lot of fun. However, it is quite a distance from the city, so that is something to consider. There is also parking available, so there are no additional costs, making it easy to visit! Thank you for the meal! I will visit again!

We visited "Robata Jidori Yamarashi" on this day. The restaurant is located in Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is best to visit by car, although you can also take a local bus to get there. The restaurant is located right next to Ondo Park, which faces the Genkai Sea, and the pathway to the observatory has become known as "Totoro's scene" on the internet, earning the nickname "Itoshima Totoro Forest" (not officially endorsed by Studio Ghibli). The restaurant itself has a Totoro-inspired exterior and has become a popular spot for photos. I visited Yamarashi with three friends on a weekend afternoon. We arrived just before the opening time of 11:00 and were seated about 12 minutes later. The restaurant features a self-service style where you grill your own food over a charcoal grill. We ordered using a modern system where you order from your smartphone. A friend who was familiar with the restaurant helped us order, and we started our feast! We shared the following dishes: - Jidori chicken with salt (1300 yen) - Jidori chicken with sauce (1300 yen) - Gizzard (680 yen) - Liver (680 yen) - Breast meat (680 yen) - Heart (680 yen) - Thigh meat (680 yen) - Horse sashimi (1280 yen) - Asparagus (price unknown) - Grilled egg (180 yen each) We also had the following drinks: - Premium Malt's beer (600 yen) - Kaku Highball (550 yen) Eating chicken in this way was a refreshing change from the usual skewered yakitori. The chicken used in the restaurant is Miyazaki Jidori, a special breed of chicken that is raised for a longer period compared to standard broiler chickens. The meat has a unique texture and flavor, and it was a fun and enjoyable experience to grill and eat it together at the table. The restaurant is a great place to gather with friends and family, enjoy good food, and have a lively time around the charcoal grill. As mentioned earlier, there are many spots to enjoy nature in Itoshima, including the Totoro Forest nearby. It is a great location to incorporate into your itinerary if you are visiting the area. On the day of our visit, we saw many out-of-town tourists with rental cars, so if you are interested, be sure to check it out!

Went on a drive with friends during the day and decided to stop by this restaurant. The interior was clean and spacious. We ordered using our smartphones, which was pretty high-tech! Personally, I prefer ordering from the staff. The chicken head dish was surprisingly juicy and I liked the salt flavor more than the sauce. It was a bit disappointing that the vegetables were just carrots. They also had horse sashimi, but it tasted average. Overall, thank you for the meal!

This time, I tried the following dishes: - Miyazaki Jitokko Course / ¥2,000 - Premium Horse Sashimi / ¥1,280 - Seseri (chicken neck) / ¥680 - Itoshima Mountain Jumbo Asparagus 3 pieces (limited edition) / ¥680 - Grilled rice ball / ¥150 Free refill for rice Total: ¥4,790 I recommend the Jitokko chicken and horse sashimi! The charcoal-grilled chicken is incredibly delicious! The asparagus is surprisingly bigger than my face! ✈︎ Location: 767-1 Shima Ashiya, Itoshima City By car: 43 minutes from Nishitetsu Tenjin Phone: 092-332-2016 Hours: Weekdays 11:00-15:00, Weekends and holidays 11:00-17:00 Closed irregularly Parking available Instagram: @yamaarashi0321 Budget: Up to ¥2,000 Payment: Cash, credit, PayPay

Today's lunch was at a newly opened restaurant. It's rare in this area, not focusing on fresh fish. Since they only open for lunch, when I arrived, I asked, "Is it still okay for lunch?" The staff replied, "Yes, it's fine." I asked if it was a self-grilling type or if they had set meals. They confirmed it was grilled. After some thought, I placed my order. The staff seemed confused when I didn't use my phone to order. I ordered: - Plum (6 items) - Local chicken thigh - Local chicken breast (the chicken was delicious!) - Vegetable assortment (wanted a bit more) - Dago soup - Tamago (rich and creamy) - Rice (easy to start with) The charcoal grill was strong and hot. After eating, I chatted with the owner for a while.