"Cooking requires a lot of sensitivity. It's something you can't do unless your heart is in it."

Momofuku is a tiny and extremely friendly inn with just three guest-rooms in the remote village of Koguchi. The owner, Mr Hideaki Nakazawa, is a fascinating character. After working as a chef in Osaka and Hiroshima, he retired 15 years ago in order to return to his childhood village of Koguchi. He turned the old family home into a Minshuku inn, with the aim of welcoming visitors who would come to the Kumano region after the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes were recognized by UNESCO in 2004 and were to become a World Heritage site.

Throughout his life, Nakazawa-san walked the trail many times. He knew his knowledge of the area could contribute enormously to visitors’ experiences. His deep connection to the region is reflected in his way of life and in the food he prepares for his guests. Living in his childhood surroundings, Nakazawa-san has maintained the same habits and traditions of his youth. He makes full use of local resources, fishing in local rivers and foraging for wild plants as key ingredients for his cuisine.

The Japanese Kanji characters for Momofuku consist of two symbols with the literal meanings ‘a hundred’ and ‘fortune’. Nakazawa-san took inspiration from his own mother’s name in choosing the symbol for "fortune". Nakazawa-san is also a great Bonsai enthusiast!

We visit Momofuku on our 6-day and our 9-day Self-Guided Kumano Kodo tours.