On the final day of old-calendar Obon, the day of the farewell fires, I visited my father’s grave to clean the area in front of it. It was a hot summer day and looked like rain, so I was worried, but after cleaning and placing offerings, I reported recent news and passed messages to my ancestors and father there along with the incense smoke. When the smoke had finished, a light rain started, so after saying goodbye, I rode the cemetery bus around the cemetery, enjoyed the scenery at Nishitama Cemetery, and headed home feeling satisfied and grateful after a delicious meal at Karatachi. I then also paid my respects in front of the Buddhist altar at home, saw my ancestors off, and finished sharing news over the Obon period. This summer in particular, my daily life has been buffeted by various events, and thinking that my ancestors must also be worried, I spent the summer days with gratitude 😊🙏

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When I visit graves at Nishitama Cemetery, I often have lunch here. They have a wide menu appealing to all ages, the staff are kind, and their infectious disease precautions are thorough, so you can use the restaurant with peace of mind. This time I was hungry, so I ordered katsu-ju! Both the seasoning and portion were perfect for me. My wife had tenzaru soba, and the children had zaru soba. We’ve also used it for memorial services, and the timing of drinks and food service was good, with thoughtful care for older people. There aren’t many restaurants nearby, so do give it a try. They limit the menu during Ohigan, so I recommend checking the menu before going in!

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We booked a private room for a relative’s 1-year memorial service. Perhaps because they’re experienced, everything went smoothly, from preparing the food, drinks, and desserts to payment, which was nice. We ordered the kaiseki gozen “雪,” and were very satisfied with the quantity—it hardly seemed like the lowest-tier option. However, since they close early, you may not be able to use it for a later memorial service.

We made a reservation and ate here after a memorial service. (It was a Saturday, but they said they were only serving customers with reservations that day.) I’m uploading a photo of the irodori gozen. The service was polite and very good too.

I ate here after visiting a grave. The kaki fry teishoku had a crispy coating and was very delicious. It comes with sauce and tartar sauce, so you can enjoy both flavors. The miso soup was delicious too.