🍜 Kamameshi Tamaya

The Daianji Temple in Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture, is famous for its mandala woven over a thousand years ago and its vibrant Pure Land garden. The "Tamaya," located in front of Daianji Temple, is a renovated Edo-period inn built in 1853. The highly praised kamameshi (rice cooked in a pot) uses ingredients sourced from Nara Prefecture, including Yamato pork, vegetables, and "Hinohikari" rice purchased directly from farmers. After ordering, each portion is cooked on-site at the dining table. While it is delicious to eat directly, the restaurant recommends a unique way to enjoy it called "Sendomeshi (せんどめし)." The first bowl is eaten as is to savor the original flavor; the second bowl is made into a mixed rice with egg, and the third bowl is topped with a special broth to create chazuke (tea over rice), allowing you to enjoy three different ways to eat the same dish. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is calm, with table seating and bar seating facing the courtyard. The restaurant is only open during lunch hours, but it closes once the meals are sold out, so it is advisable to make a reservation before visiting. Since the kamameshi takes about 30 minutes to cook, many people order first and then take a stroll to nearby attractions like "Daianji Temple."

A famous kamameshi restaurant located in front of Daima-ji Temple. The shop is a renovated Edo-era inn that is over 170 years old. The kamameshi uses local vegetables and meats as ingredients. The restaurant's unique "Sendomeshi（せんどめし）" dining style is very popular. Many people order first and then take a stroll to nearby attractions.