Tsukumo Cafeteria

Tsukumo Cafeteria is located in the Ito District in the Northern region of Wakayama prefecture. This restaurant is known for its delicious kamameshi(rice cooked in an iron pot) and can be found near the Daimon gate entrance to Mount Kōya. Tsukumo Cafeteria is a well-established restaurant with a nearly 50-year history. They cook the rice with dashi soup stock taken from Kochi soudabushi and Hidaka kelp, giving it a warm, soft flavor.  Menu items include the “Sansai kamameshi” made with zenmai and other wild plants, and also seasonal items like bamboo shoots in the spring, and Matsutake mushrooms in the fall.  All of the kamameshi come with a set of miso soup, tsukemono(pickled vegetables), and sesame tofu.  The sesame tofu is made only with sesame seeds and kudzu starch, giving it a clean, smooth texture. The nearby Daimon gate is classified as an Important Cultural Property by Japan. The Kongōrikishi statues, which are the second biggest in Japan, are also a sight to see.