Tendoso

The most beautiful cafe.

This hot spring inn is a century old, yet remarkably well maintained. The hot spring pools are clean and spacious, the rooms are large, and the banquet cuisine is delicious and beautifully prepared. Prices are quite reasonable too.

We went for the A and B lunch sets, 2,500 yen each, with non-alcoholic drinks, trying to make up after a marital argument. It’s a stylish cafe. I had snow crab cream croquettes with rice, while my wife chose Tenhime pork rolled cabbage with bread. The meal came with salad, soup, the main dish, coffee, and tiramisu. It was simply delicious. I’d really like to stay in one of their detached, single-story guesthouses sometime.

**July 2024, weekday lunch** I got to the restaurant just before the last lunch order. At lunchtime they only serve set courses, with a choice of meat or fish. I think the fish was shrimp curry. I went with the Japanese-style hamburger steak. It was perfectly round, with chunks of summer vegetables like bell pepper and bitter melon underneath when I cut into it. It came topped with grated daikon, green shiso leaves, and wasabi, and tasted full of the season. The thick soy-based sauce was a little thinner than teriyaki and reminded me of the sauce for mitarashi dango. It was incredibly delicious. The salad, cold corn soup, and panna cotta were delicious too. I’d like to come back for a leisurely lunch. **September 2020, weekend lunch** The interior and food were stylish, and I had a special time there. There were lots of sweets that looked delicious, but I was told parfaits and similar desserts are only available at teatime, after lunch. The atmosphere is so nice that I’d love to come for a late lunch and stay through teatime. If I had to nitpick, it would be nice to have a lunchtime option to upgrade the dessert size. It also seems like a good place for business dinners.