To really experience the Japanese countryside, one ought to delve into the delicacies of the local cuisine. There is no better place to this in Kameoka than at Tsuru Tsuru Ya. I have eaten there many times and have been consistently impressed with the high-quality, local ingredients used in the handmade udon recipes. I recommend the Hozugawa udon. With its subtle bonito-stock broth and hearty mix of eggplant, lotus root, dikon-oroshi, tempura fired seaweed, and shrimp all layered on top handmade udon noodles, it is the ideal fuel for a day of exploring Kameoka.
Tsuru Tsuru Ya’s owner and Master, Hata-san, has a very distinct appearance. One will immediately recognize his silver-dollar frames encasing the centimeter thick lenses, his unkept, wavy grey hair, and the ever-present trail of alcohol on his breath. Should you visit Tsuru Tsuru Ya alone at a slow time, don’t be surprised if Hata-san sits down with an oversized bottle of Japanese brew and strikes up a conversation. Although Hata-san doesn’t speak English, this has never seemed to stop him in the past from long conversations whilst imbibing his new best friends. After a few beers and over a great lunch, even the shyest of travelers will soon look forward to another stop at Kameoka’s Tsuru Tsyru Ya.