Local-food buffet with 60 dishes opens in western Japan, hopes to revitalize community

Shimonoseki, a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, has recently opened a novel buffet-style restaurant called Shizenha Dining Mori to Akari, or "Natural Dining: Forest and Light." The establishment, which opened its doors on July 22, is nestled within the former municipal horticultural center in the Tomitocho district, adjacent to Yasura Garden - a multipurpose complex that also houses the Yasuoka branch office of the municipal government.

The restaurant, operated by Local Entertainment Design, a company dedicated to public-private regional revitalization projects in the city, offers a wide array of dishes, totaling around 60 options. These include pork belly rolls made with locally-sourced green onions from the Yasuoka region, as well as seafood caught in nearby coastal waters. In addition to the varied menu, 20 different types of drinks are also available.

A significant portion of the restaurant's ingredients are sourced from producers within Yamaguchi Prefecture. The single-story wooden structure covers approximately 413 square meters and can accommodate up to 106 guests. Notably, about 80% of the timber utilized in the building's construction was sourced locally within the prefecture. The site further includes a retail area that sells herb seedlings and other related items.

The company president, Kei Nakamura, expressed his vision for the restaurant, stating, "We hope to work closely with Yasura Garden and nearby childcare facilities to become a center of community activity and contribute to local development." Lunch service is available from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, while weekend and public holiday lunches are served from 11 a.m. Dinner is only offered on weekends and public holidays, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.