We heard that Chorogi is good for preventing dementia, so on a sunny weekday around lunchtime, my wife and I decided to go to Chomogi Village in Kameoka for lunch. It is located on the second floor of "Mori no Station Kameoka," a little way up from the main road in the midst of nature. As we walked from the parking lot, we saw a herb garden and lodges where you can stay, making it a fun area for families with children. The building used to be an American school, and it has a stylish Western brick design. The restaurant on the second floor is bright and spacious, with local produce also being sold nearby. We ordered the spring herbal set for two. The set included Chorogi pickles, a herbal soup with "Toki" herb, vegetable-filled chirashi sushi, tempura, and other gentle dishes for the body. The gelato we ordered at the end was also delicious. We learned that Chorogi is good for preventing dementia, which is why they started cultivating it as part of the village revitalization effort. Many of the staff were elderly, so maybe the Chorogi is working its magic? As we chatted, my wife and I decided that we would come back for the "Autumn Herbal" season.

During a shopping trip for black soybeans, I noticed that Sakae-san's udon shop was full of bikers and cars on tour. I decided to try a new place called "Gin Soba Seiichi," but unfortunately, they were closed for a while. Feeling a bit disappointed, I headed back and found a seemingly run-down restaurant that turned out to be bustling with customers. Despite the slightly chaotic service from the elderly staff, the food was prepared with care and tasted delicious. I ordered the Yakuza Gohan and Chorogi Udon, which were both worth the price of 1350 yen. The restaurant also had a combined cashier and store, where I witnessed some confusion with customers making bulk purchases. Overall, I would rate the experience a 3.0 for the slightly lacking customer service, but the quality of the food made up for it.

I decided to visit a restaurant serving medicinal cuisine on my way to the beautiful mountains. The restaurant is located in Chorogi Village. Chorogi Village itself is in the mountains, so it's not a place you can easily drop by, but it's a hidden gem. It has a camp-like atmosphere with cottages and very clean toilets. There was also a shower room. Medicinal plants like perilla and herbs used in medicinal cuisine are grown on the premises. There is also a pool, so it might be nice for families with children to visit in the summer. Despite being a hidden gem, we visited on a holiday and it was quite empty. There were only two other groups at the restaurant besides us. By the time we left, we were the only ones there. Despite the great facilities and delicious food, it was surprisingly empty. If it were closer to home, I would definitely visit more often. I ordered the medicinal set meal, while my husband ordered the medicinal curry. Each side dish was delicious! We visited in the summer, so the menu was focused on cooling the body down. The perilla mixed rice, bitter melon with sesame dressing, and yam noodles were all delicious with a gentle flavor. I tried to recreate them at home later, but they didn't turn out as delicious as the ones at the restaurant.

In mid-December 2016. I participated in the Kyoto Kameoka Half Marathon again this year. The venue, after a year, was still lively as ever. There were booths set up, so I bought some Chorogi from Chorogi Village. When I got back home, I marinated it in umeboshi vinegar, and it turned out pretty good. It's not very appetizing when eaten as is, but marinating the Chorogi in umeboshi vinegar from the sea spirit and letting it sit for a while makes it delicious. After marinating the Chorogi for about 3 months, it took on a nice color. It has a crunchy texture of root vegetables, but I didn't find it particularly strong in flavor. If I see Chorogi for sale at a local farmers' market, I plan to buy some. I heard that this Chorogi Village in the mountains of Kameoka City offers medicinal cuisine, so I want to find an opportunity to visit. Thank you for the meal. Ouchi Yakuzen don't forget 0771-56-8807 Kyoto Prefecture Kameoka City Miyamaecho Kamimaenagano 15 NPO Chorogi Village 10:00-16:00 Closed on Mondays to Wednesdays.