📜 Restaurant Details
This eel restaurant, located next to the torii gate at the entrance of the "Fushimi Inari Taisha" approach, opened in the 9th year of Tenmon (1540) and was personally named by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi came to Fushimi Inari to pray for his mother's swift recovery from illness and, after visiting, sought a place to rest. The only shop open in the early morning was this one. Delighted to finally have a place to enjoy tea and take a break, Toyotomi Hideyoshi named the restaurant "NEZAMEYA (祢ざめ家)" after his wife, Nene (ねね).
As soon as you approach, you are captivated by the aroma of grilled eel at the entrance. They offer whole eels grilled over charcoal, as well as reasonably priced eel rice bowls. The key to their deliciousness lies in their exclusive secret sauce, which is also used for grilling quail in the restaurant. Located right in front of the Inari Shrine, their convenient inari sushi is also very popular. The tofu skin is simmered with a slightly sweet seasoning, paired with vinegared rice mixed with white sesame and hemp seeds, creating a delightful flavor. Additionally, they offer various dishes such as mackerel sushi, herring soba noodles, and tofu skin udon.
The historic shop is built using materials restored from early Showa-era architecture and was reconstructed in a wooden, traditional Japanese style during the early Heisei period. Although the interior space is small, it is comfortable and always filled with visitors to Fushimi Inari.
