Inaho お食事処 いな穂 (Kishima, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

Inaho (お食事処 いな穂) is a cozy canteen-style restaurant located in the Kishima district, which we stumbled upon on our way to Yanagawa (柳川) via Highway 444. It was around 3pm on Boxing Day (not a public holiday in Japan though) so we weren’t picky about what to eat as long as it was real food.

Despite the off-hour, the restaurant was still bustling with customers, and we had to wait a little before getting a table.

The 25-seater eatery features a main dining area.

As well as a few counter seats facing the kitchen — perfect for those dining solo or wanting a peek at the action behind the scenes.

The star of the menu is undoubtedly their tonkatsu, or deep-fried pork cutlet. Looking back, we realized we had yet to enjoy any pork cutlets on this trip, so today felt like the perfect time to indulge!

Corn cream croquette (580 yen) — These came filled with a rich, creamy corn sauce and sweet corn kernels — crispy on the outside, velvety on the inside. A perfect complement to the pork cutlet.

Deep-fried pork cutlet in curry sauce (980 yen) — I could spell the lovely fragrance of Japanese curry from my neighbours. So addictive and irresistible.

I had a choice between large and small portion (no medium size 🤔🤔) and since I have been starving for a while, I decided to go with the large portion without thinking twice. Our super friendly server warned me about their generous portion but I insisted.

And she wasn’t kidding — this was huge. But wow, was it worth it! The curry sauce brought everything together beautifully, transforming the steamed rice into something truly comforting. The pork cutlet was thick, juicy, and incredibly satisfying — exactly what you need after going nearly 20 hours without a proper meal.

I absolutely loved the service here. The staff were warm, welcoming, and even spoke pretty good English — always a pleasant surprise in a small-town Japanese restaurant.

Back to our adventure at Yūtoku Inari Shrine (祐徳稻荷神社) earlier this morning. 

Along with Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto and Toyokawa Inari Shrine in Aichi Prefecture, Yūtoku Inari is considered one of the top three shrines dedicated to Inari, the deity of prosperity and agriculture.

The undisputed highlight? A serene walk through rows of iconic red torii gates that lead up the mountain to the Okunoin shrine — a peaceful and picturesque end to a fulfilling day.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: ￥￥

Address: 2694-2 Fukaura, Kishima, Saga, 849-1207, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)954-65-3704

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 10:00pm (Tue - Sat)