Rest House Mori no Shirabe

We almost missed it after spotting the rest stop sign and driving past, but curiosity got us to turn back. We ended up staying for over an hour, taking a peaceful break with delicious food and a lovely view. Like other people driving around Japan, we enjoy stopping to rest.

We were heading toward Nita Ridge in the Mt. Unzen area and expected to find somewhere to eat at the top, but there was no restaurant or rest stop. We drove here for a late lunch instead. It’s a small cottage rest house run by a husband and wife, with an Airbnb upstairs. I ordered the basil pasta, which was nicely presented, and the chef, the husband, seemed to have a very chic sense of style. The price was reasonable for a privately owned place. Their dog, Palpha, was outside by the parking lot, and we got to interact before leaving.

Tasty food at a lovely cafe tucked away in the forest.

The greenery was such a nice setting, and the staff were friendly. We had fun, and time flew by. It’s unusual to get to try a tent sauna somewhere like this. The river water was cold, but jumping in was fun. We also enjoyed riding around in a buggy, even though it was only a short distance.