Japonesia — Restaurant in Omihachiman

This restaurant is absolutely a hidden gem.

I'll start by saying that my sister is a vegetarian, and finding vegetarian food in Japan is very difficult if you don't speak the language. Luckily I speak very little, but enough to say that vegetables are good for her, and meat is bad.

The fine people at Yaponeshia Shokudou(the name of the restaurant in romanji, as provided by the chef) not only had the patience to explain their menu to us, but also went through the effort to make an ENTIRELY NEW vegetarian dish for my sister. When they say home-cooking, they mean home-cooking. Their flexibility and hospitality has been unmatched by any other restaurant in Japan so far, and the food was all delicious.

Each dish had a custom flair. My miso soup had lots of onion and other vegetables in it which made it taste very fresh(all the vegetables and meats were locally produced), my mother had a different kind of tofu from the rest of us in hers, while my sister had a different soup stock entirely that was made without fish. My mom and I both had chicken, but hers was skinned with a delicious red sauce, while mine still had the skin and came with a refreshing green tomato salsa to accompany it. I was completely shocked and overjoyed at the diversity, unlike any i had experienced before.

The ingredients were all of outstanding quality, and they use very healthy recipes. Brown rice, a balanced array of food groups, and the most intensely flavorful Ginger Beer I've ever had. If you just care about the food you can rest assured, Yaponeshia Shokudou can satisfy your palette.

The staff were kind, considerate, and accommodating. At the end of the night we had a bunch of leftover rice, and upon leaving the chef stopped us and asked if we'd like it to go(a rare option in Japan). We agreed, and he went through the trouble to not only pack up our rice, but turn it into onigiri, AKA balls of rice with delicious ingredients packed inside. He asked us first of course, but that kind of generosity is entirely new to me, and my family, when it comes to restaurants.

I would rate this restaurant as five stars in every sense. I've never written a restaurant review, but their kindness and the quality of their food moved me to do so for the first time. If you're staying in Omihachiman(I highly recommend the Machiya Inn, first of all), you should absolutely stop by this warm, quaint little restaurant for an energizing meal. Yaponeshia Shokudou, for the wonderful experience you've provided, "arigatou...

Japonesia offers a delightful dining experience with its savory rice and vegetable dishes, which are not only flavorful but also quite filling. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, creating a relaxed vibe perfect for a meal with friends or family.

However, while most of the dishes are satisfying, I wouldn’t recommend the small fish as it didn’t quite meet expectations in terms of flavour. unfortunately the Lake Fish is not available, or else I would have ordered it.

Overall, a solid choice for those craving a hearty meal, but the small fish may not be the...

Delicious local fare, ultra friendly service, very reasonable prices. No-fuss, tasty dining open after other places close. A little English is spoken, and we had no trouble ordering. We had karaage (fried chicken), fish, and pork meal sets. It was more than enough food, very fresh, and some new flavors I hadn’t tasted before. Easy...