High-class merchant Inaba Honke. Located around Kumihama. It seems like the home of a local elite, although it's a bit unclear. I wanted to eat shaved ice, so I stopped by and found out that their specialty is botamochi, so I got it to go. Honestly, the shaved ice was quite ordinary. The botamochi had a subtle sweetness of soybean flour, so I could easily eat three of them. Botamochi costs 900 yen. Uji milk costs 550 yen.

On the way back from Kinosaki, I was looking for a place to have lunch on Tabelog and came across this restaurant called "Goshou Inaba Honke". Intrigued by the grand name, I decided to visit. When I arrived at the restaurant a little after 12 pm, the lunch sets were already sold out. I was unsure of what to do, but then I found out that they had bara-zushi available for takeout, so I bought a pack of bara-zushi and 6 pieces of botamochi. I enjoyed them on the nearby beach. The bara-zushi was filling enough for one pack, and the botamochi had a slightly sweet and nostalgic taste. I had a picnic while feeling the sea breeze. As a fan of botamochi, I was completely satisfied with the taste and would love to eat it again.

I became a wealthy merchant through the miso business and cargo transportation industry. During the Inaba family war, my second son who was studying at the University of Tokyo and my eldest son who was studying at Waseda University were conscripted and killed. After being neglected for 50 years, my eldest daughter donated the main house and warehouse in Kumihama to a non-profit organization, which now operates it as a museum with free admission. You can enjoy a meal at the Gimmatsu-tei inside, with the only option being chirashi sushi for 1,100 yen. Reservations offer other options like the Matsuhana-do bento. The famous botamochi is included for some reason, and you can choose between kinako and anko. The botamochi is delicious. I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the house, with its impressive beams and a unique open entrance hall that showcases the family's wealth and status. The building combines modern business cards with Edo-era architecture, and the dining area where I ate felt like stepping back in time to the Edo period. The museum and the history of war are truly remarkable.

I went to eat snow crab, and on the way back, I saw this restaurant and decided to get a bara sushi takeout to enjoy at home. In this area, they are famous for their Tango bara sushi, which is a unique local dish featuring finely shredded sweet and savory simmered mackerel called "saba no oboro." The restaurant is located in a historic and impressive mansion, and it is recommended to visit with plenty of time to stroll around the premises. The Inaba family, descendants of the Inaba clan who served Oda Nobunaga, were wealthy merchants who engaged in coastal trade and monopolized the finances of nearby clans. The main house was built by the 12th generation Inaba Ichiroemon Hidehiro over five years, and the 13th generation Inaba Ichiroemon funded the construction of the former national railway Miyazu line between Kumihama and Toyooka. The bara sushi was delicious, with a sweet flavor throughout. Each restaurant's bara sushi has a different taste, so it would be fun to compare different shops' flavors. Although I only got the takeout this time, I highly recommend taking the time to enjoy a meal at the restaurant. The bara sushi cost 700 yen each, totaling 3500 yen. The taste may vary depending on the chef, and trying different shops' flavors seems enjoyable. Next time, I will definitely dine in to enjoy the bara sushi set meal, which is more cost-effective and includes botamochi, a famous local sweet.笑

Before staying at the Yuhigaura Onsen, I visited a shop that I had always wanted to go to. I ordered two sets of botamochi and coffee for 550 yen each (tax included). Both my husband and I chose anko (sweet red bean paste) for our botamochi. While waiting, we enjoyed the view of the impressive mansion and snow-covered garden. Soon, freshly made botamochi and coffee arrived. They were warm, soft, and delicious. Although I wanted to try kinako (toasted soybean flour) as well, I refrained from ordering it as I didn't want to ruin my dinner at the inn. I would love to visit this shop again when I am in the area, and next time, I want to try their bara sushi too.

On a certain Sunday in December, my family and I went on a day trip with some close friends. It took us 2 hours and 16 minutes to drive from Kyoto city to our destination, arriving at 10:30 am. It was our first visit to this place, where we could explore the historic Inaba Honke, a registered tangible cultural property belonging to a wealthy merchant family. The Oda Nobunaga samurai clan descendant's mansion was built during the Meiji period. The building, furnishings, and garden were all magnificent. In addition to the dining area, there were also pottery and incense making experiences, a souvenir shop, and a mailbox that supposedly transcends time. There were so many things to see and do. At 11 am, we ordered the rose sushi set meal at the in-house restaurant "Ginshotei". While waiting for our meal to be served, we wrote letters on special postcards provided with a stylish design, a pen, and postage included for 300 yen. We chose to send the letters to our child in 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years, pouring our hearts out in the messages. We then dropped the postcards into the mailbox that supposedly delivers them in 2026. It's so exciting to think about receiving the letters in the future! It took 40 minutes from ordering to finally being served, which felt a bit too long. Apart from table seating, there were tatami rooms further back, which seemed quite lively. The rose sushi had a refined acidity and sweetness, and the unusual sea bream rice cracker soup was rich in flavor and comforting. However, the highlight was definitely the mochi. It was the best mochi (rice cake) I've ever had, hands down! I call it "year-round mochi" because I could never get tired of it. I even ordered seconds on the spot and bought some to take home: 3 pieces of kinako (roasted soybean flour) and 3 pieces of sweet red bean paste for 800 yen. These artisan-made delicacies were crafted with care and skill. The staff were all very friendly, making the atmosphere very pleasant. Despite being a designated cultural property, there were no ramps or handrails, but the staff were helpful to wheelchair users. While there was a high threshold to overcome, there were also barrier-free restrooms available. If you ever find yourself nearby, I highly recommend visiting this place!

I explored the wealthy merchant Inabatei and had the purpose of eating botamochi! After ordering, they roll the mochi and finish it with sweet red bean paste and soybean flour. The soft and warm mochi was delicious - with a perfect balance of sweetness in the red bean paste. It goes well with bitter matcha tea. Enjoying a relaxing snack while looking at the garden was the best. The soybean flour also added a nice flavor. I also bought dried firefly squid at the shop! When grilled, it had a delicious taste that went well with sake. The overall atmosphere was nice and the staff were friendly and helpful.

The merchant's house was a wonderful building with a shop and a cafe inside where you can eat and drink. The entrance fee to the building was optional. The ohagi was delicious, not too sweet, and easy to eat. It has a nostalgic feel to it. A must-buy souvenir.

I went to a delicious soba restaurant in Kumihama for the last time before it closes. Since I came all the way to Kumihama, I decided to explore the area. I heard that the ohagi here is delicious, so I got some as a takeout just before closing. It was my first time eating freshly made, soft and warm ohagi in a while. It wasn't too sweet, and I can see why it's so popular. I also wanted to try the bara sushi, but unfortunately, it was sold out. Next time, I'll aim for the bara sushi.

I visited the restaurant on Sunday before 2 pm. I went by car and was relieved to find a free municipal parking lot diagonally in front of the shop. When I entered the building and went further inside, there was a dining area. I ordered botamochi at the register. It was already ready, so I received it immediately. When I had it at home, there was plenty of sweet red bean paste and the roasted soybean flour had a wonderful fragrance! I finished two pieces in no time. Satisfied! It was raining that day, so I couldn't take my time to enjoy the scenery, but the garden was beautiful. This time, I planned to take it home, so I didn't eat at the shop, but it seems they have several sweet treats, so I would like to come back on a sunny day and enjoy them leisurely. Thank you for the meal♪

On the way to Yuhigaura Onsen, we took a short break in Kumihama and visited the "Inaba Honke" store. As we passed through the entrance gate, a dragon appeared. We took some photos here. Inside the building, we ordered botamochi, which is made after you order it. There may be a wait time, but the staff will explain the history of Inaba Honke and you can wander around the building and grounds to pass the time without getting bored. The garden is also well maintained and beautiful. Besides botamochi, they also have barazushi. Looking forward to trying it next time. We might come back again.

■Visit Date: October 15, 2018■Food Received: Bara Sushi Set Meal■MEMOThe restaurant is located in the Inaba Honke, which is said to be the descendants of the Inaba clan, a vassal of Oda Nobunaga in Mino Province. They were wealthy merchants who gained immense wealth through coastal trade, monopolizing the finance of neighboring clans. The large mansion they built still stands there. You can visit the inside of the mansion, and the openness of the second floor is quite nice. The moss and sunlight create a beautiful garden, which is a splendid view to enjoy after placing an order. Unfortunately, you cannot go out into the garden. I visited on October 15, 2018, on my way back to Kyoto with my wife and her parents, a total of 4 people. After touring the mansion, it was lunchtime. There are table seats and tatami seats, and we chose the tatami seats to enjoy lunch while looking at the beautiful garden. We all ordered the Tango Bara Sushi set meal, which comes with colorful bara sushi, the famous botamochi tai senbei soup, and a side dish. Today's side dish was pickled radish. We enjoyed the perfectly seasoned bara sushi and its colors during lunch. With all the windows and doors open due to the nice weather, it was a pleasant lunchtime in a comfortable space. For the botamochi, you can choose between sweet bean paste and soybean flour, and I chose the classic sweet bean paste. The delicious botamochi was enjoyed as a dessert. Having a delicious lunch in the mansion of a traditional wealthy merchant was a truly calming experience. If you ever visit Kumihama, I highly recommend stopping by this restaurant.■Bloghttps://ay-style.net/?p=33837

On the way back from Tajima, I stopped by the wealthy Inaba family in Kumihama. They made their fortune in sake production in Kumihama, engaged in coastal trade through ship rotation, and gained immense wealth, monopolizing the finances of neighboring domains. Kumihama prospered greatly as a waiting port for the Kitamae ships. During a great famine, the Inaba family distributed botamochi to the local people, which is said to be the beginning of the association between the Inaba family and botamochi. They commemorated the birth of Kumihama Station by distributing botamochi and also distributed botamochi when the old national railway Miyazu Line was completed. Now, using carefully selected local ingredients, the Inaba family's botamochi is preserved by the hands of skilled botamochi artisans. At Ginshotei, you can enjoy tea, botamochi, and another specialty of the Inaba family, bara sushi, while admiring a splendid garden. They start making your order fresh, so you can take it home as well as buy it as a souvenir. Each box contains three pieces of botamochi with kinako (soybean flour) and sweet bean paste. As I toured the magnificent mansion and warehouse and looked at the garden, my order was ready. Along with the grand mansion left by the Inaba family, bara sushi and botamochi will continue to be passed down by skilled artisans for eternity. 3102 Kumihama-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture.

In mid-December 2016, I was guided by an acquaintance in Kyotango to Inaba Honke in the Kumihama area. I only had time for a facility tour and didn't have tea, but I bought natural salt and rusk as souvenirs. Inaba Honke started with sake production in the area and became a wealthy merchant by investing in a shipping company. Their house has been turned into a memorial hall where you can feel the atmosphere of that time. I don't have any pictures, but they were selling food at the souvenir corner. I bought natural salt, rusk, and dried fruit (I think it was dried pear) for a total of about 2400 yen. There were decorations of locally made bamboo dolls and a separate building was hosting a photo exhibition of Kyotango. I would like to visit again to try botamochi and barazushi at a dining place called Ginsyousha. Thank you for the meal.

I enjoyed a set of ohagi and chirashi sushi while looking at the snowy garden. Thank you for the delicious meal. Please feel free to stop by for a tour of the mansion.

This year's Obon holiday, my family and I took a day trip to the Japan Sea. We stopped by the Inaba Honke in Kumihama, Kyoto. Inaba Honke is the mansion of a wealthy merchant who gained great wealth through coastal trade in Kumihama. The city of Kyotango now owns it and has opened it to the public as a tourist spot. Their specialties are bara sushi and botamochi. There is a cozy cafe area in a large tatami room where you can relax while enjoying the garden view. My wife and I ordered the botamochi set (500 yen) and the kids got shaved ice. The set includes coffee and gyokuro tea with one botamochi. Legend has it that during the great famine of Tenmei, the head of this household opened the storehouse and served botamochi to the starving people. The botamochi is made by a skilled craftsman named Tadao Tanaka, who used to run a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Izushi. The botamochi, made with slightly sweet red bean paste on a chewy rice cake, pairs well with coffee and is a delight for red bean lovers. After enjoying the botamochi, we took our dog Merry for a walk along the seaside. It was a refreshing walk in a different setting, and Merry had a great time running around.

During the Kuimihama gourmet tour, we had a snack time with botamochi! The mansion of a wealthy merchant is a tourist attraction, and it was truly overwhelming to see the amazing Japanese house and beautiful garden before enjoying the botamochi. After walking around so much, I started to feel a bit hungry. The texture and flavor of the botamochi were unlike anything I had ever tasted before. It had a rice porridge-like exterior with whole red bean paste inside, and it was warm and freshly made. It was so delicious that I ended up buying 5 more for a late-night snack! There were also foreigners visiting, and they were having lunch. However, it seemed like they didn't enjoy the botamochi as they left it uneaten. It was interesting to see the cultural differences!