I heard that there is a restaurant that serves raccoon (tanuki) meat, so I went there right away. On the way there, I debated whether I should eat raccoon meat because it's cute, or if I should stop because they are pests, or if I should eat it as a form of offering, or if I should choose a different meat because the price is high. When I arrived at the restaurant at 11:55 AM, the staff told me I could wait inside without worrying. While waiting, I learned that they didn't have raccoon or tanuki meat, but they had boar and deer instead. I ordered boar ramen for 450 yen, boar fried rice for 350 yen, and deer meat appetizer for 300 yen (tax included). The boar ramen was not bad, with plenty of boar meat that was not particularly delicious but had a good amount for the price. The boar fried rice was delicious, with the boar soup adding a rich flavor. The deer meat appetizer consisted of boiled deer meat with a dressing that complemented it well. The restaurant was cluttered with various items stacked up, giving it a unique atmosphere. They notify customers on Facebook when raccoon meat is available. Overall, it was an interesting restaurant with unique offerings.

I tried wild boar ramen for the first time, located deep in the countryside away from Kyoto. The price was surprisingly cheap, with the original ramen priced at 300 yen and the second generation at 450 yen. I went for the second generation as it was recommended. I was surprised to find that wild boar meat had such a mild flavor, almost like lean beef. The soup was a sweet soy sauce base, gentle and comforting. I also ordered fried rice as a set, which was light and crispy. Pouring the same soup over the fried rice made for a unique and delicious dish. The fried rice also had plenty of wild boar meat in it. The meat was so flavorful and easy on the stomach, I couldn't get enough of it. I highly recommend trying it. The owner mentioned they also offer a rare raccoon ramen called "Rascal," which is only available at two locations nationwide. I didn't have the courage to try it this time, but I plan to next time.

[2nd Generation Boar Ramen] In Kyoto, in the town of Ide in Tsuzuki-gun, there is a shop run by a hunter where you can taste game such as boar and deer, and they also serve boar ramen. I had been curious about this place for a while. I arrived at the shop around 3 pm. There is a parking lot nearby. The interior of the shop was not very clean, with items scattered around haphazardly. I ordered the 2nd Generation Boar Ramen for 450 yen after looking at the menu. The friendly owner talked to me about various things. The ramen arrived. The noodles were medium-thick straight noodles cooked soft. The soup was a clear soy sauce broth made from boar meat, but it had no smell, strong taste, or oiliness, and was lightly sweet. The topping was plenty of boar chashu. It was a bit firm but had no odor, and I was happy to see this much boar meat at this price. It was a good experience. It's not the kind of place you just drop by, but as a ramen enthusiast, I'm glad I came. Thank you for the meal.

Inoshishi Ramen Second Generation for 450 yen at Yamajin Umemoto Shoten in Ide-cho, Tsuzuki-gun, Kyoto Prefecture. The eclectic atmosphere of the shop is intriguing for ramen enthusiasts. The modern touch of accepting PayPay is also a nice addition. The broth made from wild boar meat is surprisingly light and has a gentle sweetness to it, without any gamey or greasy flavors. The noodles are medium-thick straight noodles with a cheap texture. Toppings include green onions, sesame seeds, and wild boar meat, which is plentiful and well-prepared without any unpleasant odors. However, both the lean and fatty parts of the meat are quite tough.

During a trip to Kyoto in October 2019, we stopped by a game meat restaurant run by a hunter who values life over profit. I hope this kind of mindset becomes more widespread. They offer two types of wild boar ramen, wild boar fried rice, Rascal hot pot, bear meat, deer meat, and more depending on the day. We ordered the wild boar ramen and deer shabu-shabu as a side dish. The ramen didn't have a strong wild boar flavor and was actually quite delicious. The soup was like traditional Chinese ramen soup and the noodles varied between the two versions. The deer shabu-shabu was thinly sliced and had a nice texture, allowing us to savor the deliciousness of the deer meat.

I finally visited this restaurant that I have been curious about for a while. It is said that you can eat game meat such as wild boar at a cheap price here. It is located about 40 minutes from Kyoto Station. It is a JR station, but the rapid trains do not stop, with only about 2 regular trains stopping per hour at this unmanned station. From there, it is about a 5-minute walk through a residential area to find this prefab hut hidden in the neighborhood. Honestly, I couldn't find the entrance at first... I wandered around a bit until someone came out from inside and led me into the restaurant. This place may seem a bit high level for someone dining alone. I ordered the wild boar ramen that I was curious about, and was immediately asked, "There are good and bad ones, which one would you like?" I chose the good one this time. [Ordered Items] - 2nd Generation Wild Boar Ramen: It seems that the first generation was unpopular, so they improved the taste for the 2nd generation. The transparent soup had no gamey smell, with the wild boar fat melting out to give a slightly sweet and light taste, which was delicious (*´꒳`*). And it only cost 450 yen, very affordable. It was delicious~ I would like to try the first generation as well, and there are many other intriguing menu items like raccoon dog Rascal hot pot, deer shabu-shabu, wild boar and deer pasta, and more. Also, the owner of this restaurant seems to be a fisherman, so you can buy meat at wholesale prices here. I will definitely visit again when I go to Kyoto♪

Exterior: The shop is a prefabricated hut with curtains made of blinds hanging on the outside. Some people might be put off by this sight and decide not to go inside. On the day I visited, there was a specimen placed outside before being processed (after being photographed for proof of extermination, perhaps?). Interior: There are two tables with a total of eight chairs. If you order from the table further from the kitchen, sometimes the dishes are passed around in a bucket relay style from the customers sitting closer to the kitchen (this reminded me of Shinmiyakei in Shingu City). The tables are usually shared. Menu: The main focus is dishes made with wild boar and deer meat. They even have a raccoon (referred to as Rascal in this shop) hot pot. Regular customers were ordering off-menu items like "Deer meat peperoncino without noodles". Two groups of regulars were all enjoying the botan and momiji chanpon hot pot, not minding the gamey taste at all. I decided to try the wild boar ramen for 450 yen. It had thinly sliced wild boar meat, green onions, and sesame as toppings. The tender, lean wild boar meat released its umami flavor with a hint of gaminess, blending nicely with the light soy sauce-based soup. The wild boar meat aroma rising with the steam added to the wild experience, making it a delightful dish. Takeout: Depending on the timing, you can also purchase wild boar and deer meat to take home. On that day, only wild boar meat was available, so I bought some to take home. I made a botan hot pot with it, and it was delicious with minimal gaminess and a clean, sweet taste of the fatty parts, along with a well-rounded umami flavor from the lean parts. It was also very enjoyable. Note: This shop is not suitable for those who only enjoy game dishes that have been refined to eliminate any gaminess.

Umamoto Shoten (Ide-cho, Tsuzuki-gun, Kyoto Prefecture) catches the eye with its signboard for wild boar ramen. If you look closely at the entrance further back, you'll see a signboard for a newspaper shop. What kind of shop is this, haha? The menu on the wall inside the shop includes wild boar ramen, wild boar fried rice, and even wild boar hot pot! And they also offer deer meat dishes at surprisingly reasonable prices! The second-generation wild boar ramen costs 450 yen. At first glance, it reminds Kansai people of "nikusui" with its visual appearance. For 450 yen, you get a generous amount of wild boar meat. Although thinly sliced, it's just right - with a firm texture and no hint of gamey taste. The broth is also made from wild boar, and it's light and refreshing. The slightly sweet taste of mirin accompanies it nicely. The curly thin noodles have a yellowish hue and are cooked slightly firm, with a subtle flavor that complements the soup well. Towards the end of the meal, you might notice another intriguing menu item - Rascal hot pot for 2500 yen. For those curious about deer curry, I apologize. But wait, there are quite a few pasta options on the menu! Haha, no, that's not the point - it's the Rascal hot pot. Yes, it's literally raccoon! With Chinese cabbage and gochujang, and the broth is the same wild boar soup from earlier. This one also has a generous amount of raccoon meat. There were about 4 servings on the sharing plate, I think. Just like the wild boar, there's no gamey taste, and the meat has a solid chew to it! It's almost like the chewiness of beef tripe. It's the kind of meat that you'll be chewing on for a while! Wait, wait, Master! "Well, it's pretty good. The porridge is delicious, right?" he said with a smile, while diving into the bowl filled with rice! No, I can't finish it all by myself, haha. The leftover Rascal meat that I intentionally left behind. Wait, Rascal is such a cute name, haha. When you imagine eating Rascal, you might hesitate a bit, haha. But well, as the Master said, you can't miss out on the porridge. It's so delicious! In the end, I managed to finish the porridge from four bowls! I learned that the owner was originally a newspaper shop owner. After hearing that local farmers were troubled by pests, he obtained a hunter's license to help with pest control. However, the animals caught in traps were either euthanized at the health department or killed by hunting rifles, with their bodies just being discarded. To repay the lives taken, he thought that eating the animals would be a form of tribute. So, he also obtained a cooking license and opened this shop. Now, he is also involved in a wide range of awareness activities, recruitment, and training for hunters to prevent the decline of hunters. Umamoto-san said, "Hunters alone cannot make a living, so I'm actually a newspaper shop owner by profession, and I run this shop as a hobby, which is why I can offer these prices." He kindly offered me coffee as I listened to his story. With their friendly and approachable nature, it's worth striking up a conversation with the cheerful couple when you visit the shop. It's really fun to hear so many interesting stories that you didn't know about. Enjoy the actual dining experience!

The owner of the hunter's shop serves reasonably priced game dishes made from animals he hunted himself. I heard there was such a restaurant in Ide Town and decided to visit. The nearest station is Yamashiro-Taga, but since it's in the countryside, it's better to go by car. I called ahead to confirm the opening hours before going. The restaurant looked like a storage shed with a strong peculiar smell, making it hard to tell if it was open or not. Next to the parking lot, there were barking hunting dogs! It was such a unique and intimidating place that it was hard to enter at first glance. I mustered up my courage and went inside, where there was only one other group of customers. The interior was quite cramped, with various items piled up haphazardly, and there were about three small tables, one of which was buried under stuff! I was seated at an empty table and the owner, an old man, immediately recommended the "Rascal Hot Pot," made from raccoon meat. I was surprised to learn that raccoons are edible! Despite my curiosity, I lacked the courage to order it this time, so I opted for the following instead: - 2nd Generation Wild Boar Ramen 450 yen - Wild Boar Fried Rice 350 yen Even after ordering, the owner kept pushing the raccoon dish...haha. Soon, the ramen and fried rice arrived. First, the wild boar ramen! The soup had a color similar to soba broth and was topped with plenty of wild boar meat, green onions, and sesame seeds. The meat was thinly sliced but had a strong chewiness that released more umami as you chewed, without any hint of gaminess. It had the texture of pork with a slight hint of wildness in the soup, which surprisingly tasted delicious. The fried rice had frozen mixed vegetables, eggs, and, of course, plenty of wild boar meat! It was also delicious without any gaminess. I might even prefer the fried rice! When you pour the accompanying soup over it, the flavor is enhanced even more! Of course, the soup was made from wild boar. It's unbelievable how much wild boar meat was in both the ramen and fried rice for such a low price!! It takes a bit of courage to enter the restaurant, but if you're okay with the chaotic atmosphere, you can enjoy reasonably priced game dishes. The customer at the next table was eating the Rascal Hot Pot and said it was very delicious, so I'd like to challenge it next time. Thank you for the meal!

I finally made up my mind and visited the restaurant. The exterior looked just like I saw on the internet, so I hesitated to go in. Inside, there were two tables surrounded by chairs, and it seemed like a place where you share tables. The menu options were written on the walls or boards, and I chose the 2nd generation wild boar ramen since I was in the mood for ramen that day. The ramen was okay, but the meat was delicious. The group of women sitting in front of me ordered wild boar shabu-shabu, which looked very tasty. They seemed willing to adjust the portion based on the price you mention. The total for two ramen and fried rice was 1250 yen, which is quite cheap. They also sell wild boar meat, so I thought of buying some for a BBQ. The owner mentioned that they used to supply wild boar meat to restaurants in Kyoto but started selling it themselves due to the hassle. Other than the limited parking space and the slightly difficult location, I really like this place. I recommend it to those who enjoy game meat dishes.

Cheap, delicious, and amazing!!

I had a delicious meal of pork, deer meat, and raccoon at a full-course meal. It was so good that it made my nose bleed. Yummy! Pork and deer meat can be found at Umeboto Shoten in Kyoto.

I heard that there is a restaurant in Kyoto Prefecture where a Hunter Chef (a cook who is also a licensed hunter) offers reasonably priced wild boar ramen, so I went to check it out. The restaurant is located in the Yamashiro region, and even though I had passed by the area many times on my way to go hunting, I never noticed it because it was in the opposite direction from the sign (heading north towards National Route 307). The last time I had wild boar ramen was at Captain Iraino in Kyotanba Town a long time ago. The restaurant had a seaside shack vibe with a thatched roof and vinyl sheeting, located in a peaceful residential area. There was a doghouse for hunting dogs and some kind of cage in the corner. The designated parking lot was full, so I parked by the stone monument on the east side. Sorry about that. Inside the restaurant, there were only two tables, giving off a very laid-back vibe. It felt quite relaxed, which may be a good thing considering the location. Two men (possibly college students) were already inside, chatting with the landlady or her daughter about hunting (in cages). As I looked around the restaurant, I noticed many deer antlers, making it feel more like a hobbyist's cabin than a restaurant. One of the antlers had a tag saying it was not for sale and was for processing medicinal products. Deer antlers are used in traditional Chinese medicine and have various benefits for men. I ordered the second-generation wild boar ramen. A middle school girl, who seemed to be the owner's granddaughter, brought me a cup of tea that looked like it came from a Unimat. (It must be summer vacation for students, and she must be helping out?) The variety of condiments on the two tables was impressive. Perhaps they were there to allow customers to enjoy different flavors? After a while, the ramen arrived. At first glance, the wild boar meat was lean with more red meat. When I tasted the soup without rushing, it had a unique flavor of wild boar, but it didn't taste like just wild boar. It wasn't greasy but had a refreshing soy sauce flavor with sprinkled white sesame seeds and a bit more green onions. The noodles... were they frozen noodles? They were curly noodles. The chewy texture was a matter of personal preference, but I felt that the balance between the noodles and the soup was off. However, considering the quality at this price point, it was within an acceptable range. I would like to go back next time to try a different menu item.

I enjoyed a delicious meal at "Imoto Sho" with wild boar and deer meat (located at 42-1 Tagashimo Kawara, Ide-cho, Tsuzuki-gun, Kyoto Prefecture, 0774-99-4302, open from 12:00 to 19:00, closed irregularly). I saw it on a Kansai local TV show before, and they serve a wild boar and deer meat hot pot dish. When I checked their website, it said to call before going as they might be out in the mountains or closed. I called and couldn't get through, so I took a train ride from Kobe's Sannomiya to Yamashiro-Taga, which cost 1490 yen. It was faster to take the new rapid train from Kyoto to Osaka, then transfer to the Nara Line. The station was unmanned, and after a short walk, I found the restaurant. The owner was like a master chef, and his wife had injured her arm, as mentioned on TV. I tried the wild boar and deer meat to boost my immune system, and the healing power was impressive. The food and drinks were reasonably priced, and the atmosphere was welcoming. I highly recommend trying the deer sashimi and the wild boar steak. The experience was worth the effort of getting there, and I even took some leftovers home. The wild boar steak was delicious the next day, just like curry. Overall, it was a great dining experience.

I had bookmarked this restaurant for 2 years and finally visited it. The place is run by a hunter where you can eat wild boar meat. The interior of the restaurant is like a jungle with a variety of seasonings on each table. The meat that came out was a huge portion of deer meat. They also served thick chunks of meat as a bonus in a broth. The taste was light and savory with plenty of vegetables like burdock, carrots, Chinese cabbage, and green onions. The meat was juicy, tender, and had no gamey taste. It was delicious! I enjoyed drinking beer, sake, and highballs during the daytime. For dessert, I had ramen, udon, and wild boar fried rice. Everything was delicious! I definitely want to come back next time to try the deer meat. Wild Boar & Deer Meat Umemoto Shoten 0774-99-4302 42-1 Tagashikawa, Ide-cho, Tsuzuki-gun, Kyoto https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2607/A260704/26017758/

Around 12:10 on March 27, 2016 (Sun), I was searching for a place to try wild boar meat, which I had never eaten before, and stumbled upon a unique restaurant where I could enjoy it at a great deal! The nearest station was a peaceful, unmanned station within the urban network, and after a short walk, I found a small shack with the words "Wild Boar Ramen" written on it. Upon opening the door, I found two large tables and a child eating instant noodles. It seemed like a high-quality place for solo diners! Although it was supposed to open at noon, I wondered if it was already open. I ordered a wild boar hot pot for one person and the wild boar ramen as advertised on the sign. Surprisingly, the ramen came with the hot pot, and I was served a tea-like broth. It was unique and arrived quite quickly. The hot pot was authentic, filled with plenty of vegetables and wild boar meat. I waited for a while after adding the meat, and a fellow hunter-like individual advised me on when the hot pot was ready to eat. The meat appeared to have a lot of fat compared to pork, but it was surprisingly light and delicious. The hunter explained that the white parts were collagen, not lard, and insisted that eating wild boar meat would help heal injuries quickly. I didn't detect any unpleasant odor and found it to be very tasty. There were sesame seeds and shiso dressing on the table, which enhanced the flavor. The hunter highly recommended the deer meat, so I added 150g of deer meat to my order. The initial serving of wild boar was 300g, which was quite a good deal compared to other places where you can order a hot pot for one person. The deer meat could be eaten raw and was incredibly tender with a lean texture. It was also light and delicious, giving off a carnivorous vibe. Finally, I chose udon noodles for the ramen option, and the soup had a rich flavor from the wild boar and deer broth. It was incredibly delicious, and I finished every drop. The hunter praised raccoon meat to the regular customers, saying it was delicious and had even more healing properties than wild boar. The Rascal hot pot seemed impossible for an amateur like me, especially since I used to watch the anime as a child. It was a great restaurant where you could enjoy wild boar and deer meat at a good price. I left feeling full and satisfied, and I would love to visit again. As I was leaving, I noticed a group of people waiting outside who didn't seem like typical customers.

2015/9 Holiday Daytime First Visit to Umemoto Shoten in Tsuzuki District, Kyoto Prefecture. Located in Tagashitagawa, Iwade-cho, Yamashiro Taga Station. I arrived at 13:10 with no other customers present. The restaurant was messy just like on TV, with the interesting ramen corner that impressed Mr. Ishigami. The operation was handled by the owner, an apprentice, and a hostess. The owner mentioned that everyone has different tastes, so they offer a variety of condiments for customers to adjust the flavor to their liking. I tried the Second Generation Boar Ramen for 450 yen, which had a sweet and savory broth made from boar meat. The noodles were soft and lacked wheat flavor, but the boar meat was delicious. The addition of condiments like Sichuan pepper and chili enhanced the taste. Overall, the ramen wasn't to my liking, but I enjoyed the unique atmosphere and the flavor of the boar meat.