In the Bay Area of Kushiro, there is a building that looks like a red brick port, which is the Hokkaido Kushiro Art Museum. It was opened in October 1998 as a base for art and culture in the Kushiro and Nemuro area. On a rainy day in Kushiro, I happened to visit this place and enjoyed the exhibition introducing the architect Kikou Modzuna, who is from Kushiro (I was surprised to learn that the department store in Hirosaki was also designed by Modzuna). To savor the afterglow, I went to the cafe on the 2nd floor. Although the menu is limited and there are not many sweets to go with tea, the cafe, officially named "SOA" I think, is quiet, clean, affordable, and next to a library space. I have visited this place several times during my stay in Kushiro, as it is a favorite spot. Social distancing is strictly observed, the ceiling is high, and there is no need to worry about ventilation. There are not many cafes in the area, making this a valuable resting space.

I am alone in Kushiro. Last night, I went eating around Nakashibetsu, then moved to Kushiro in the morning to have ramen for lunch. Today, I have some business in Kitami starting in the evening, so I need to leave Kushiro by around 1:30 pm. Since I have some time, I was looking for a coffee shop to relax. I couldn't find any that I haven't been to, but I found a note about the "Hokkaido Kushiro Art Museum Cafe Corner". I decided to check it out. The building was impressive, and although I didn't know about the art museum, I thought I should visit since I rarely get such opportunities. I went to the cafe corner on the second floor, and no one noticed me at first. I sat down, and there were two people there. I wondered who would notice me first. I have a bit of pride, so I didn't call out to them. Maybe I'm using my pride in the wrong way. The yellow chair seats added a nice touch to the atmosphere of the cafe corner. A young person eventually noticed me, so I confidently ordered an iced coffee. It was very quiet in there, and my voice ordering the iced coffee felt out of place. The coffee took about 10 minutes to make, and it seemed like they just mixed hot coffee with ice. It was too weak for my taste. I think they should have made it at least 20% stronger. Overall, it was a great place to enjoy a quiet moment, but the coffee was a bit disappointing.

While my companion was running, it was my free time♪(lol) I went to the Kushiro Art Museum to see the ongoing "Inuit Wall Hanging Exhibition". After seeing the colorful and imaginative wall hangings by the Inuit women of Canada's indigenous people, I suddenly noticed that there was a cafe on the 2nd floor, and when I searched, there were no reviews. Perfect for leaving my mark (lol). I visited the cafe corner of the Kushiro Art Museum. The menu is operated by volunteer staff at the art museum, so it's reasonably priced. I sat at a table of my choice and ordered a hot coffee (regular) for 250 yen and a light sablé for 100 yen (I think there were about 4 types available) with cinnamon. The coffee was probably from a major brand, and at first it was acidic! But as I drank it, I got used to it and it was a cup worth more than the price. The sablé was made by the Kushiro Employment Support (Type B) facility called Sun Flower, with silica gel in each piece to keep it crispy. The cinnamon was just a hint, and it was a nice accompaniment to the coffee. Since my mom used to volunteer at the local art museum in the past, when I talked to the cafe staff, I was invited to volunteer (lol). There is no reward, and you have to pay for your own transportation, but you can see special exhibitions for free through self-study. How about it, people of Kushiro! After seeing the exhibition, I enjoyed the cafe and that was my meal. Thank you for the meal.