サル男
Ine is a small seaside tourist destination. Recently, there have been fewer tourists staying in Ine, and more people are staying in boat houses, but there are limited restaurants for dinner if you choose room-only accommodation. Well, it's also during the pandemic, so I decided to make a reservation just in case. I contacted the restaurant I was aiming for, but both of my targeted restaurants were closed on the day I wanted to visit. With almost no other options, I made a reservation at this restaurant. But it was a good thing I made a reservation. When I visited on the day, there was a sign saying "Fully booked for reservations." I almost became a dinner refugee. "Umimiyako" is located in a corner of "Funaya Biyori," a public-private tourism exchange facility in Ine. Until "Funaya Biyori" was established (from the facility's website), in Ine Town, there were few places for tourists to stop and relax in the area where boat houses lined up in Ineura, and there were even voices saying that there were no places to eat depending on the day and time. With the aim of enhancing the reception system for tourists to enjoy Ine at a leisurely pace, we decided to develop a tourism exchange facility that would serve as a stopover point for sightseeing, such as strolling around Ineura. In addition to "Umimiyako," "Funaya Biyori" also has a cafe and a festival boat mooring area. There is also a space where you can sit back and relax while looking at the boat houses, truly a facility created for tourists. "Umimiyako" opened in 2017, so the building is still new and clean. And most importantly, since it is a facility created for tourists, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the boat houses from inside the restaurant. This view is the most wonderful. I ordered the "Assorted Nigiri Sushi" (2,200 yen). Eight pieces of sushi with soup. And the "Ine-grown Rock Oysters" (1,200 yen). Basically, the main dishes are course meals (courses consisting of grilled fish, sushi, sashimi, etc.). But for me, who eats little, the amount was too much. When I asked if there were any single items, they said, "Just sushi." So, I ordered sushi and the seasonal specialty rock oysters. I sat in the middle of the counter. You can see Ine Bay from here. It was a blissful time to savor the seafood and local sake while looking at this view, but... Since it was during the pandemic, the counter seats were full, but the restaurant was quiet. Everyone was eating quietly and politely. When they did speak, it was in a soft, hushed tone. Of course, it's better than speaking loudly, but it was kind of tense (laughs). I'm naturally clumsy, so I was awkward with how to use chopsticks. The "Ine-grown Rock Oysters" (branded as "Natsutama"?) were very large. I wondered how to eat such a big one, but it was already cut into two pieces. I had ordered a drink, so I wanted the oysters to be served before the rice dishes, but the sushi was served first. Drink enthusiasts who care about their appetizers are picky about such details. I actually wanted to enjoy a drink with the scenery as the sun set, but no one was talking, so everyone finished eating quickly. Before I knew it, all the other customers had settled their bills, and I didn't want to be the last one, so I hurriedly left the restaurant. It felt like a waste.