Dog-Friendly Lunch at Inoue Seikouen Restaurant Chuzayemon, Shodoshima

Dining with My Dog at an Olive Farm Restaurant on Shodoshima

Back in June 2024, my wife and I were on a sunny road trip around Shodoshima — a small island in Kagawa Prefecture, famous for its olive groves — when she spotted this place in a travel magazine. It turned out to be one of the best finds of the whole trip.

I take my French Bulldog Elmo on drives all the time, but actually sitting down at a restaurant and eating together? That almost never happens. The closest we usually get is drive-through food eaten in the car. So just knowing we were heading somewhere that welcomes dogs had me excited before we even arrived.

The place is called Inoue Seikouen Restaurant Chuzayemon. It’s run by Inoue Seikouen, one of Shodoshima’s most well-known olive brands. They grow their own olives and produce everything from olive oil to various food products — and this restaurant sits right on their farm. The view alone is worth the visit.

What Is Inoue Seikouen Restaurant Chuzayemon?

Inoue Seikouen is a beloved local brand that’s been cultivating olives on Shodoshima for years. Their olive oil and farm products are well known across Japan. Chuzayemon is their on-site restaurant, where the menu naturally leans into that olive heritage — and you can really taste the difference.

It’s got a solid reputation too. Over 650 Google reviews with a 4-star rating, which for a lunch-only spot on a small island says a lot.

But the thing that matters most to me? Dogs are welcome. Not just on the terrace — there’s also an indoor space where you can bring your dog. For anyone traveling with a pup, that’s a genuinely rare find.

Access and Basic Info

Address	61-4 Kamo Ko, Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun, Kagawa
Phone	0879-75-1188
Hours	10:30 AM – 3:00 PM (Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays)
Parking	Available (confirmed on-site)
Official Website	Visit website

Our Lunch Experience: Olive Views and Good Food

Terrace Seating with Elmo

The first thing that hits you when you pull up is the olive grove stretching out in front of the restaurant. It’s massive. Not “oh, a few olive trees” — more like “this goes on forever.” I genuinely said out loud, “okay, this is something else.”

We were seated on the terrace, which looks right out over the grove. A sea breeze coming off Shodoshima, an olive farm as far as you can see, and a dog under the table. Hard to imagine a better lunch setup.

Elmo was thrilled. He’s not used to being inside — or even near — a restaurant, so he was on full alert from the moment we sat down. Sniffing everything, pacing around, giving us that “when does the food come?” energy. Honestly, watching him be so excited made the whole thing even better.

Margherita, Ajillo, Pasta — Everything Was Good

We ordered a margherita pizza, ajillo (a Spanish-style dish of ingredients slow-cooked in olive oil and garlic — very popular in Japan), and pasta. All of it was solid, but the ajillo was the standout for me.

The bread that comes with it for dipping? I went back for refills multiple times. That doesn’t happen to me. But when the olive oil is this good — made from olives grown right here on the farm — you just can’t stop. It had this fresh, almost grassy richness that you don’t get from supermarket olive oil.

We also had some kind of juice that I remember being really good — I forgot to photograph it, and honestly I can’t remember exactly what it was. But I do remember thinking it was delicious, so that counts for something.

The staff were genuinely warm and attentive. They set out various condiments and olive oils at the table, and it felt like they actually cared about the experience rather than just going through the motions.

For Elmo, I gave him a few pieces of pizza crust — the plain edge with no toppings or oil. He demolished it. Sitting there watching my dog eat at the same table as us, I kept thinking: this is such a simple thing, but it really does make everything feel better.

The Fried Bread — A Regret for Next Time

Apparently the restaurant is known for their fried bread, which I only found out after we’d already eaten too much. We also had other food stops planned for the day, so I made the call to skip it. I still think about that decision. Next time I go, it’s the first thing I’m ordering.

What Stood Out — and What to Keep in Mind

The Good Stuff

The view is genuinely stunning. That olive grove stretching out from the terrace is one of those scenes that makes you glad you made the trip. The ajillo with house olive oil and bread was the kind of simple thing done really well — I don’t usually refill bread multiple times. And the staff were kind and attentive throughout.

Most importantly for dog owners: both the terrace and an indoor space are dog-friendly. That combination is rare, and it made the whole experience feel genuinely relaxed rather than like we were making do.

Things Worth Knowing

Missing the fried bread is entirely my own fault, but I’m still a little bitter about it. Beyond that — the restaurant is only open for lunch (10:30 AM to 3:00 PM), and it’s closed two days a week (Wednesday and Thursday). If you’re visiting Shodoshima on a tight schedule, definitely check the hours before you go.

Final Thoughts

Inoue Seikouen Restaurant Chuzayemon ended up being one of the highlights of our Shodoshima trip. Great food, an incredible setting, genuinely welcoming to dogs, and staff who made us feel looked after. It all came together in a way that’s hard to find.

If you’re traveling to Shodoshima with your dog, this place deserves a spot on your itinerary. And if you’re the type who, like me, doesn’t often get to sit down and share a meal with your dog — trust me, it’s worth planning around.

I’ll be back. The fried bread isn’t going to eat itself.