I visited this cafe after going to Myojin Mountain and was intrigued by the name "Hirokawa Machiko." It seems to be the local mascot character here. The cafe is small and cozy, with a variety of sweets and food options available. I tried the taiyaki with black bean filling, which was delicious. I would love to come back and try the matcha flavor next time. They also offer takoyaki and other light snacks. If I'm in the area again, I will definitely stop by.

I stopped by a shop selling taiyaki, but there were few customers and the staff weren't busy, so I decided not to buy. I'll just get some coffee and go home. The coffee is too sour. Thank you for the meal. By the way, the building is too fancy (laughs). I wonder who runs this place. If it's 100% publicly owned, it feels like some big force is at work. It's a mystery, but still, isn't it bad to have so few customers on a Sunday afternoon? Well, I guess they knew that even before they built it. Thank you for the meal!

Spacious parking lot, clean toilets, and a spacious interior with three different branches offering a variety of menus. I ordered the hamburger plate and the hamburger was delicious! Next time, I want to try the takoyaki.

During a drive to Yame, I stopped by the "Hirokawa Town Industrial Exhibition Hall". Hirokawa Town is the center of production for Kurume Kasuri, a traditional craft in Fukuoka Prefecture. The exhibition hall showcases and sells traditional crafts such as Kurume Kasuri. I love kimonos, but unfortunately, I don't own any Kurume Kasuri from Fukuoka. It has a very natural look, which may be why it is subtly understated. However, I think it would be wonderful to stylishly wear a pair of Monpe pants made of Kurume Kasuri. While Kurume Kasuri is no longer a common everyday wear for the masses, it is now seen as a high-end craft. But small items made from it are relatively affordable. The mascot of Hirokawa Town, "Hirokawa Machiko", even has LINE stamps. She is known for her freckles and friendly smile. The cafe on the same premises, "HIROKAWA Sato Cafe Machiko no Oyatsu", offers sweets made with local specialties like Amaou strawberries and Yame tea. I had planned to order an Instagram-worthy Amaou strawberry soft serve or parfait, but my friend had already bought a plain white soft serve for all of us. It was delicious though. The cafe also sells local produce and products, including Miyama City's specialty Celery Candy and Celery Rice Crackers. I couldn't decide and ended up not buying them. Machiko-chan's merchandise is also available at the cafe. Keep it up, Machiko-chan!