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Countryside Cafe & Kitchen, The Merry Hunter
| Area name | Hamada Area |
|---|---|
| Practitioner | Takashi Imada |
| Hands-on Experiences | Nature Experiences/Culinary Experiences/Others |
| Accommodation | Day Trip Experience |
| Meals | Available (Meals are prepared with others) |
A 30-minute drive from Hamada city, deep in the Chugoku Mountains, The Merry Hunter is located in Yasakacho, also known as Doburoku Village for its unrefined sake.
The operator, Mr. Imada, has a hunting license and hunts wild boar around the mountain village with his trusty canine companions. The dining table is piled with a mountain village feast, including yakiniku or sukiyaki made with boar meat hunted by Mr. Imada, dishes made with edible wild plants, and nishime boiled vegetables. All ingredients are sourced locally.
In addition to experiencing countryside life, there are plenty of options for new experiences which bring you closer to nature, such as accompanying a hunter on a real hunt.
"I kill the game and serve it to my guests. They learn that this is the true secret of hospitality," says Mr. Imada. Co-existing with nature, never forgetting to give thanks and appreciation for its bounty, is an enjoyable and humble way of living. At times nature shows its severe side, but living at The Merry Hunter in a mountain village provides valuable experiences of how to live as a person and reminds us of how people used to live their lives.
See all experiences
Experience wild boar hunting
| Experience category | Nature Experiences |
|---|---|
| Period | November to February |
| Suitable age group | Ages 20 and up |
| Number of participants | 2 to 4 people |
| Time required | Around 6 hours |
| Fee | 20,000 yen/person |
| Things to bring | Boots, raincoat, knife, etc. |
| Necessity of reservation | Yes (reservation by phone or fax at least 7 days in advance) |
| Experience content | You can accompany Mr. Imada, a licensed hunter, and his trusty canine companions as they go hunting for wild boar around the mountain village. Although Mr. Imada usually smiles, when he trains his gun on his target, his eyes become true hunter's eyes and his expression becomes the epitome of seriousness. When they actually bring down a boar, you can experience the true wildness of nature as you watch the carcass being butchered and then cook the meat for eating. As the fresh meat is gradually butchered by the skilled knife, it gives off no gamy smell, and its delicious flavor is brought out even more by the locally harvested vegetables!! |
| Note | You can accompany the hunter even without a hunting license, but hunting can be hazardous to some extent. If you wish to participate, please inquire for more details. (*After mid-March. Details subject to change.) |
Experience picking edible wild plants in the spring
| Experience category | Nature Experiences／Culinary Experiences |
|---|---|
| Period | Spring (please inquire early) |
| Suitable age group | Ages 10 and up |
| Number of participants | 2 to 6 people |
| Time required | Around 4 hours |
| Fee | 3,000 yen / person |
| Things to bring | Boots, hat, gloves, etc. |
| Necessity of reservation | Yes (reservation by phone or fax at least 7 days in advance) |
| Experience content | Surrounded by abundant nature, Yasakacho is a treasure trove of mountain foods. In addition to a plentiful variety of edible wild plants, some of which are unusual, your many new discoveries may include uncommonly seen insects and flora. You can learn much about the nature of Yasaki. Join the knowledgeable and very experienced Mr. Imada as he guides you into the mountains. Enjoy his congenial chatting as he treats you to a delicious culinary experience, teaching you how to harvest the edible wild plants as well as how to cook them. |
Star ☆ watching
| Experience category | Nature Experiences |
|---|---|
| Period | All year round |
| Suitable age group | Ages 6 and up |
| Number of participants | 6 to 20 people |
| Time required | Around 4 hours |
| Fee | 3000 yen/person (*Dinner included) |
| Things to bring | If you own binoculars or other viewing devices, please bring them with you. |
| Necessity of reservation | Yes |
| Experience content | Nighttime in Yasakacho is very quiet. In the pitch dark silence, all you can hear are the sounds of insects and the wind. As you walk through the mountain village caressed by the night breeze, looking up into the heavens reveals a myriad of blazing stars. You will be amazed by the sheer number of them! In the summer, many fireflies flit about Yasaka at night. Enjoy the vast panorama of this natural light show. Dinner is included, so you can sit beneath the starry sky sipping unrefined sake together and talking about your dreams or the true pleasures of countryside living. |
Experience making tofu and konnyaku
| Experience category | Culinary Experiences |
|---|---|
| Period | All year round |
| Suitable age group | Ages 6 and up |
| Number of participants | 2 to 6 people |
| Time required | Around 6 hours |
| Fee | 3,000 yen / person |
| Things to bring | Apron |
| Necessity of reservation | Yes (reservation by phone or fax at least 7 days in advance) |
| Experience content | At The Merry Hunter, you can experience making processed tofu and konnyaku. Tofu and konnyaku made with only locally sourced ingredients have a flavor and texture which is surprisingly different from those sold in stores. The tofu and konnyaku you make can be used in nishime boiled vegetables or sukiyaki made with wild boar. |
Mochi-pounding experience
| Experience category | Culinary Experiences |
|---|---|
| Period | All year round |
| Suitable age group | Ages 6 and up |
| Number of participants | 4 to 10 people |
| Time required | Around 5 hours |
| Fee | 3,000 yen / person |
| Things to bring | Apron |
| Necessity of reservation | Yes (reservation by phone or fax at least 7 days in advance) |
| Experience content | You can experience mochi-pounding using mochi rice grown with cold air and clear water in The Merry Hunter's rice paddy. Here, the mochi is made not with a machine but with mallet and mortar. Pounding mochi takes lots of stamina, but setting a good rhythm and working in sync with your partner produces top notch mochi which is stretchy and has a very fine texture!! You can bring it home as a souvenir or gift. Please don't hesitate to inquire. |
| Note | *2-3 boxes of mochi can be made. |
Canoe experience
| Experience category | Nature Experiences／Sports Experiences |
|---|---|
| Period | All year round |
| Suitable age group | Ages 10 and up |
| Number of participants | 2 to 6 people |
| Time required | Around 4 hours |
| Fee | 5000 yen/person (*canoe instruction fee) |
| Things to bring | Canoe |
| Necessity of reservation | Yes (reservation by phone or fax at least 7 days in advance) |
| Experience content | The canoe is a craft which moves about the water quickly, but it can be handled well even by a beginner with a little bit of practice. The canoe's most attractive aspect is the invigorating feeling it gives of being one with nature. Outdoor expert, Mr. Imada, will provide simple instruction on how to handle a canoe which even beginners can understand. The pleasant feeling of quietly gliding across the lake as a gentle breeze blows across the water's surface. The canoe experience held at Onagami Dam will fill you with a feeling of freedom. Why not tour around in a canoe while enjoying fully the seasonal changes of the nature around the dam. |
| Note | *Please bring a canoe or sea kayak. |
Experience playing in the river and sea
| Experience category | Nature Experiences |
|---|---|
| Period | All year round |
| Suitable age group | Ages 6 and up |
| Number of participants | 2 to 6 people |
| Time required | Around 5 hours |
| Fee | 3,000 yen / person |
| Things to bring | Bathing suit, sandals, towel, hat, etc. If you have fishing gear which you know how to use, please feel free to bring it. |
| Necessity of reservation | Yes |
| Experience content | The river water running near The Merry Hunter is cold and clear. It is an important natural habitat for the pond snails on which firefly larvae feed. Here, you can enjoy the experience of playing in the water as well as river fishing. Mr. Imada will prepare the necessary gear for fishing, but you can gather earthworms and other bait near The Merry Hunter before going to the river. There is enjoyment to be had from preparing things yourself rather than having everything set up for you. In addition to learning about living off the land, you will also acquire skills for thinking and acting on your own. This experience will make you strong in body and mind. Also, you can enjoy swimming in the ocean along the beach near Hamada city, 30-minute drive away. |
Facility details
| Facility name | Countryside Cafe & Kitchen, The Merry Hunter |
|---|---|
| Practitioner | Takashi Imada |
| Address | 333-1 Takauchi I, Yasaka-cho, Hamada-shi |
| Inquiry phone number | +8190-6830-3748 |
| Business hours | Always open |
| Closed days | Every Thursday |
| Transportation method | ■By car Hamada Motorway → Hamada Interchange → National Highway #9, Hamada Bypass → via Prefectural Highway #34 (approximately 30 minutes) |
| URL | |
| Note | Lodge experience fee: Adult, 8000 yen/person/night (please inquire for child rates) *Meals are prepared together. |
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- #1
- ご利用に関しては事前に予約が必要です。
- #2
- 普通の民家ですので、寝間着や洗面具などのアメニティ用品はございません。
各自ご準備ください。
- #3
- 体験メニューは各家庭ごとの独自メニューで対応します。
内容・体験時間等により料金が異なりますので直接ご確認ください。
- #4
- 受入家庭は親戚を迎える気持ちで接します。旅館や民宿とは違うことをご理解いただき、
田舎の親戚に帰ってきたようなリラックスした気持ちで、
普段着のままの田舎のおもてなしをお楽しみください。
- #5
- 原則、食事の提供はお客様との共同調理となります。
しまねのおいしい田舎料理を調理段階からお楽しみください。
- #6
- 携帯電話がつながりにくい地域がありますので、受入家庭に事前にご確認ください。