Day Trip to Locate the Mysterious Japanese Restaurant Hidden in A Guatemalan Jungle

A short travel adventure

This story was previously included in my private collection. I’ve revived and revitalized it here to reach a wider audience.

In October 2014, my brother and I resided in a dumpy little hostel in a New-Agey little village beside a gorgeous lake where volcanoes pierce the clouds.

Kicking back among some hippy travelers congregated on our communal patio, we listened to them gossip.

Someone said, “There’s a Japanese restaurant in the jungle.”

We promptly inquired, “Where?”

Their answer was typical and non-committal.

“Can’t say.”

We offered the cliché challenge, “Can’t, or won’t?”

Sniff, sniff.

“You should ask around.”

We asked around.

The directions we got were sketchy, and the information was imprecise — a mystery wrapped in all that other puzzling stuff.

“When do they open?” we asked.

“Can’t say.”

One evening, around dinner time, we headed out.

Over a bridge, through the woods, by the river … you know the routine.

Until we came upon this kid ogling the two strange-looking intruders.

We asked him where we could find the hidden Japanese restaurant.

Wide-eyed, he pointed where to go.

What’s not to trust? we thought.

This is where he sent us.

We wandered down that dank, directionless path until we saw a sign.

Note the odd piece of sushi in the corner.

Note the Japanese calligraphy next to the name.

Note the red translation with keen red arrows showing precisely where to head.

Deeper into the jungle, we proceeded down this almost non-existent path.

Suddenly, we came upon a hidden door.

Note the detailed and precisely worded information.

Thank god it was not Wednesday.

Thank god it was almost three o’clock.

Note again the Japanese lettering and the restaurant’s name.

It was almost like finding Narnia.

You won’t believe what lay inside.

The proprietor — a lone Japanese hostess/owner/cook/server — was a little crazy.

That may be politically incorrect, but aren’t we all a little crazy? We are. You know we are.

But the food was every bit as glorious as the surroundings might suggest.

I must say, even the dog was satisfied.

Make that both dogs.