Kume Kichi

Jiggly, jelly-like konnyaku, sometimes known as konjac in English, is often touted as a superfood. Made from amorphophallus konjac, a type of starchy potato, konnyaku has high levels of dietary fiber and is used to make products like low-calorie noodles. At Kume Kichi, a restaurant in Mori, Shizuoka, the menu features konnyaku served in various ways.

The konnyaku meal set is a popular choice, and you can choose from either fish, pork, or oden as your main dish, which comes served with a range of vegetable and konnyaku sides. I honestly didn't know what to expect from the konnyaku since it wasn't a food I've tried before, but I was pleasantly surprised. The side dish of konnyaku noodles, for example, tasted enough like regular yakisoba (fried noodles) to me, and I would happily order them again. The vegetable sides were plentiful and included things like kabocha squash, marinated sweet potato, and a brightly colored salad. I couldn't even get close to finishing everything, but enjoyed sampling a bit of each element on the plate.

If you appreciate aesthetics, you'll also enjoy visiting Kume Kichi. The restaurant is housed in a traditional-styled building and there is a bamboo garden directly outside, providing a wonderfully soothing atmosphere as you enjoy your meal.

The restaurant has relatively limited opening hours - from 11 am until 2 pm on weekdays, and 11 am until 3 pm on weekends. Do note that they are closed every Tuesday if you plan on making a special trip. It's a lovely lunch spot if you're visiting the neighboring Okuni Shrine, or exploring some of Mori's tea culture.