French
Okumuratei

01

A little history at the table

I sat at a wooden table surrounded by timber framing and pale wall panels. The house stays present throughout the meal; the Inuyama tourism guide identifies the former Okumura residence as a nationally registered tangible cultural property. For me, this connects dinner to the castle town outside.

It is a lovely idea for a castle-town itinerary: let the architecture remain part of the day when it is time to sit down for a meal.

02

Small plates, plenty to look at

The first courses were carefully presented without feeling crowded: vegetables and sauces arranged on broad white plates, followed by soup. It suited a meal where I was enjoying the historic house as much as what arrived at the table. The dishes were from my visit, so I would check the current course rather than expect the same menu.

Together, the plates give this part of the meal a light, uncluttered look. The dishes shown are from this visit; the exact menu will depend on the course and season you book.

03

The camera gets a course too

I did pause over the fish course with my phone in hand; sometimes the plate has to wait for its portrait. Fish with vegetables and sliced meat with mushrooms and dark sauce gave the meal its more substantial middle. I would leave enough time to enjoy the courses after putting the camera down.

04

A colourful finish

I ended with berries, a red-topped layered dessert and a small glass dish of fruit. After the more substantial courses, the table changed colour again. I would keep dessert inside the meal's time allowance rather than rush it to reach the next stop.

This is the sort of sit-down meal I would leave time for, with room to enjoy the final course before heading back into town.

05

Make the course fit the budget

For my luxury-on-a-budget approach, I would start with the current course menu and compare the complete bill: food, drinks and any extras. The historical setting adds interest, but the price still needs to fit the day’s plans. Choose the course that interests you, check the quoted total and leave room in the budget for drinks.

06

Before you go

The restaurant is at 395 Inuyama Higashikoken, about five minutes on foot from Inuyama Station. The official restaurant website currently states that dinner requires a reservation and lunch gives priority to reservations. Confirm the opening day, course and seating when booking.

The same property also has the teppanyaki restaurant La Maison Cachée Ittou. Select French Okumuratei when booking the dining experience featured here.