When I was still seeing drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk, I stopped by on my way back from a drift ice drive to Shari Town Utoro. I visited "Toubou Cafe Kohikiya," a cafe in a traditional house located at the foot of the Unabetsu Ski Resort on the way from Shiretoko Utoro to the town of Shari. The interior of the cafe has a very nice atmosphere with a traditional house style, making it a very relaxing place. This time, after having lunch, I had a tea time. I ordered the "Cake Set," where you can choose your favorite cake and coffee or tea. As expected from a pottery cafe, the coffee cup and cake plate were lovely. The powdered sugar art on the cake plate also felt warm and cozy. [Baked Cheesecake] At first glance, it looks like a simple cheesecake, but when you taste it, you'll be surprised! I love cheesecake, and I've had many before, but this one was different. It has a rich and creamy texture, with a strong cheese flavor. It slowly melts in your mouth, which is irresistible! When you pair it with freshly ground coffee, it's even better. The coffee comes in either dark roast or medium roast, and it has a refreshing taste and a deep aroma. This combination is something you can enjoy forever. [Caramel Chocolat] *My companion had this cake, but I had a taste of the first bite. Wow, this one is delicious too! Similar to the cheesecake, it has a rich flavor, and then the bitter chocolate flavor comes in later. It also goes well with coffee. You can see the Sea of Okhotsk in the distance from the window, so you can enjoy a relaxing tea time while watching the drift ice. [Takeout Menu] [Shimaenaga Bread] Depending on the time, Shimaenaga birds may come here, and the box is so cute with a drawing of a Shimaenaga. The perch is made of a real branch, which shows great taste. When you open the box, it's so cute that it pierces your heart! This cute white bread, where should I start eating it from...? For a moment, I hesitated, but I went for it from the back and it was fluffy and delicious. [Yoshan Gyoza] I love gyoza! I had it for lunch at the cafe before, and it was delicious, so I bought some to take home. The owner used to run a gyoza specialty shop, so even though it's a cafe, it's a serious and authentic dish. The skin is chewy, and the filling has a lot of vegetables, making it refreshing. But wait... it's super spicy with lots of garlic! This gyoza is addictive. For dinner that day, of course, we had gyoza with rice and beer.

JR Shiretoko Shari Station is a 10-minute drive away. A cafe located near the road leading to the sky and a ski resort. The cafe is run by a pottery artist. The building was built by the owner's parents who love traditional architecture for the pottery artist to work in. I visited on a Saturday afternoon around 1:30 pm. Since it was the off-season before the arrival of drift ice, there were no other customers when I arrived. Later, another couple came in. Since I had already eaten lunch, I decided to have a coffee break. I ordered the Shimatokari 480 yen, which is a light roasted original blend coffee. It was a smooth and slightly acidic coffee. Enjoying the coffee while looking at the sea and listening to the crackling sound of the wood stove was truly special.

I went to a cafe near the ski resort in Shari by myself, but I haven't been able to go in because the opening hours are quite limited and don't match my timing. Last time, I sent a message on Facebook to check if they were open, but I didn't get a response. It must have been a regular holiday. Undeterred, I sent another message on Facebook, "Will you be open the day after tomorrow?" I got a reply this time, "We will be open. Please be careful when you come." Thank you. I headed there during my lunch break, which I worked through, and arrived at 1:30 pm, wondering if they were still open. They were open, but the parking lot was full. I was worried. There were only three counter seats, but only one was for a single person, right? Besides me, there were only women, except for one man who was part of a couple. It seemed like there would be a wait. I ordered pork curry with an egg on top for 1200 yen. I also thought I should buy a souvenir for my wife, so I ordered a pizza for takeout. I couldn't decide between potato and mentaiko or mushroom and bacon, so I called my wife. She chose mushroom and bacon. The pizza arrived in 10 minutes, surprisingly fast. The pickles as a service were cute. The curry was a bit mild, but delicious, and the meat had a nice texture with good flavor. The carrot and potato salad was lightly seasoned and tasty. I don't pay attention to balance when eating, so I had leftover rice. The egg was a nice addition. The pizza was delicious, as expected. It was made from scratch, even the dough, so maybe they also do pottery in a stone oven. They had firewood stacked outside, so it seems likely. It was a nice cafe with a good atmosphere. I should bring my wife next time. Was the onion too salty? The cheese was delicious and crispy. It got tastier as I ate. Where are the photos of the pizza?

This is my favorite cafe. There is a happiness that can only be obtained from this space!

I was planning to stop by for coffee in the evening, but when I saw a flyer at the Shari Michi no Eki, I found out they also serve lunch, so I decided to visit earlier. It was a clear day and the view from the window was amazing. I ordered a curry with a rich flavor and a sunny-side-up egg on top, which turned out to have a lemon-colored yolk. The topping is definitely recommended as it adds a mild flavor and allows you to enjoy two different tastes. All the dishes are served in the famous Shari kiln pottery. I ordered a dark roast coffee and was surprised by its sweet and soft taste. Maybe the taste changes because it's brewed in a pottery dripper? The friendly master and his wife made the conversation enjoyable, and it became a nice memory of my short Shiretoko sightseeing trip. I heard that the wife is a musician, so there might be small music events at the cafe in the future. They are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, open from the afternoon on Sundays, and sometimes have temporary closures, so it's best to confirm by phone.

The atmosphere is nice, and the pottery is enjoyable.

In Shari Town, there is a cafe with a pottery workshop next to it. It is surrounded by nature and has a lovely atmosphere. I ordered the following: - Sunset (S Pot / ¥400) - Baked Cheesecake (¥380) - ★★★★☆ 4 It had a simple and delicious taste. - Caramel Chocolat (¥380) - ★★★★☆ 4 It had a homemade feel and a nostalgic taste. The cafe has a pleasant coffee aroma and a feminine atmosphere. I think it's a place that women would enjoy. If you visit Shari, I recommend checking out this cafe.

When I visited this café during the winter this year, I couldn't make it due to timing issues. It is located across from the Shari Kiln, the easternmost kiln in Hokkaido. This café is a pottery café, where everything from the menu to the tableware is handmade and it's heartwarming just to look at it. The seating is in a sunken kotatsu style, and the space is a collaboration of wood and stone. It's so calming...(^-^) I wanted to take a commemorative photo, but the first page of the menu stated "No photography inside the store." It's true that the sound of a camera in such a quiet café might be out of place. The food menu includes curry, pizza, and doria. There are also several types of cakes, including daily specials. I had the baked cheese curry for lunch, and my partner had the shrimp and mushroom doria. The coffee and tea after the meal were an additional 300 yen. I chose the deep roasted coffee from Haze Coffee beans, which was a nice touch. I added the deep roasted coffee to my meal and ordered the lemon cheesecake of the day. I couldn't take a photo, but all the dishes were made by Shari Kiln, and they were all lovely! They were also available for purchase. There was a gallery next door, so I took my time looking around during the wait. The food had a rustic homemade taste, with more rice than it looked and a good amount of volume. Even men would be satisfied with it. The coffee was served in a ceramic pot, which was also a beautiful piece. The coffee was plentiful and very delicious! I really liked this blend!! The cake was refreshing with a lemon flavor that didn't linger too sweet. It was delicious too~(^o^) Outside the window, there was a contrast between a potato field and autumn-sown wheat. It's very calming. Time seems to flow very slowly here. There was a copy of the "Slow" magazine from Kunau Magazine (a familiar slow magazine for Hokkaido residents), and I was able to enjoy a leisurely post-meal tea time while reading. The atmosphere is very nice, and I think it's a café that women would love. And the coffee is excellent! Definitely recommend it for a break during your visit to Eastern Hokkaido! Highly recommended☆

◆June 2013◆ Lately, I've been really into visiting cafes and exploring different places. I heard that there is a nice cafe near Memeh Bakery in Minehama, Shari Town, so I decided to go check it out during a drive. The location is a bit hard to find, but if you set the address on your car navigation system, you should be able to get there without any issues. It's located between Minehama Elementary School and the Unabetsu Ski Resort. There are signs along the way, so once you get close, you should be able to find it. The cafe is in a wooden one-story building with a traditional Japanese house style, with the cafe on the right, a pottery gallery on the left, and Shari Kiln across the street. The cafe also displays artworks, aiming to provide the enjoyment of both appreciating and using the pottery. On the day I visited, it was nearly 30 degrees outside, but the inside of the cafe was cool, with views of fields and the sea from the windows. The atmosphere reminded me of the Showa era, and it was very calming. [What I Ate] The menu included curry, baked curry, pizza, gratin, and cake. I chose the "Shari Mountain Pork Curry" with a soft-boiled egg on top. It came with potato salad and pickles on the side, served in a white pottery dish made by Shari Kiln. I'm not very knowledgeable about art, but I felt that the presentation of the dish on the wooden table was very pleasing. The curry had a sweetness from the onions and a spicy kick afterwards, similar to a European-style curry from a Western restaurant. It was especially delicious with the soft-boiled egg. [Coffee] They offered three types of coffee: Unabetsu (dark roast), Konabetsu (light roast), and Shimatokari (light roast), which is a blend from my favorite coffee shop in Abashiri, "Hazeya." I prefer dark roast, so I ordered the single Unabetsu for 450 yen. The coffee had a smooth taste with a slight acidity and a long-lasting aftertaste. [Others] After the meal, I visited the gallery and ended up buying a sake cup. I wanted to buy the curry dish and mug as well, but I'll save that for next time. Since it's a 100-kilometer drive one way, it's not easy to visit frequently, but I recommend combining a visit with Memeh Bakery or a drive to Shiretoko for a nice day trip.

My friend found out that they use Haseya coffee beans in Abashiri and really wanted to go, so we went together. Coming from Yokohama, it's not often you find a cafe dedicated solely to coffee, so we were excited to discover one in the vast wilderness of Shiretoko, a World Heritage Site. A cafe in the midst of such vast nature feels like a dream to city dwellers. The spaciousness can be a bit disorienting, as it's not something you see often in the city, and the sign for the cafe was not very noticeable in such a vast area. Once inside, we noticed that the floor was made of soil, as the owner explained that this used to be a kiln. The tableware used was all made from Shiretoko pottery, including the cups and pots. The food was served in dishes that matched the pottery, creating a calming atmosphere. The pork curry we ordered was made with local ingredients from Shiretoko, and even the cups and pots were from the local pottery. We had a nice chat with the owner and got to see the Shiretoko pottery they use. This kind of experience is not something you can easily find in a regular cafe.

It's hard to visit Shira, but I've actually been there once before and found it closed even though it wasn't a regular holiday, so this is my second visit! This time it was open! Yay! I'm so happy! (I saw on the blog that the master often takes breaks due to the fishing season. It's a good idea to check in advance on the blog to make sure.) The sign "Kohikiya" is also made of pottery and looks wonderful. The interior is very chic and lovely! Of course, there are various pottery items displayed that you can carefully look at. It's fun! I also really liked the wooden toys. The cakes were delicious, of course, but the atmosphere of the cafe was so calming and relaxing! It's not often you find a cafe with a "soil" floor! The balance of stone, wood, and pottery is really nice. Although it's a place that's not easy to visit, it's definitely one of the cafes I'd like to visit again if I'm nearby.

In the fishing village area of Minehama in Shiraicho, there is a cafe that I had heard about but never had the chance to visit until now. Located near Nissho Gakuen, the cafe is marked by a green flag on the road leading up to the Minehama ski resort. The building looks old from the outside but has been renovated inside, creating a beautiful and relaxed atmosphere. While I don't drink coffee, the aroma inside was delightful. The main focus is on dishes from the Shiratori Kiln, and you can even purchase tableware if you find something you like. The cafe offers a view of the Okhotsk Sea, where you can see drift ice in the winter. It's a bit off the beaten path, but they do offer takeout options, like the seasonal pizzas: Butterbur Miso and Winter Potato for 1200 yen each. I bought these as gifts for my wife, who enjoyed them without knowing the toppings. Her reaction was, "Hmm... it tastes like simmered dish!" Overall, I plan to return with my wife next time. This cafe is perfect for women with its outstanding Japanese atmosphere and slow-paced vibe. They also serve coffee, tea, lunch menus, and sweets with a Japanese twist. Despite the inconvenient location, I highly recommend it.

I'll go a little off-road here. The area in front of the shop was quite muddy due to the melting snow, so sports car types should be careful. It may not be handmade, but there is a smell of wood, various baked goods, and ground that feels like it's been compacted (I wonder what it's called). Just stepping inside the shop feels like a different space. They have three types of blended coffee: Kofunabetsu, Kounabetsu, and something like Koshiri. They seem to be using beans from Haze Coffee in Abashiri, and it's just delicious. I like the Koshiri one, which has the lightest acidity and a fragrant aroma. The baked cheesecake seems to be homemade and is absolutely delicious. They also have curry, pizza, and other dishes, so this seems like a great place to come for a meal! The magazines inside the shop include my favorite "Ii Tabi," and this place is also featured. When you come to Shari, you'll be torn between going to La Win or coming here! ♪

I stopped by a cafe called "Kohikiya," which is a renovated pottery kiln, as I went to see the drift ice nearby. The cafe owner's father is a potter, and they sell pottery made here in the cafe. The dishes and drinkware in the cafe are all made of pottery. The relaxed and calm atmosphere of the cafe matched well with the surroundings. I highly recommend their curry rice, which was delicious. It's a comforting place to visit when you want to relax. You can spend a leisurely time enjoying a meal or tea at this cafe.

I went out for lunch on my day off and visited a cafe located on the premises of a workshop called Shari Kiln. It seemed to be directly managed. I easily found my way there thanks to handmade signs guiding me. The lunch menu included curry rice, rice sets, and pizza. I decided to try the "Seasonal Pizza." It cost around 1200 yen including coffee after the meal. The pizza had a unique flavor of miso-pickled butterbur sprouts, which is truly seasonal. The thin pizza crust was topped with potatoes, butterbur miso, and cheese, creating a simple yet delicious pizza. I was unsure about the combination of cheese and butterbur miso, but surprisingly, they complemented each other perfectly! The coffee after the meal was also delicious. The cafe had a pottery exhibition and sales area next door, which was interesting to explore while waiting for the food. It was evident that all the dishes were handmade and both cute and functional. I wondered if the size of the pizza was chosen to match the dish or vice versa, a question I will ask the master next time. The view from the cafe was relaxing and enjoyable. Although I didn't try it this time, the matcha roll dessert also looked delicious.