2015 has started. For the 'coffee start' of the New Year, we went to Hiyoriyama Fifth Station, which opened in October last year.

The shop is located in Hiyoriyama, Higashiboridori 13-bancho, Chuo-ku, Niigata City.

Exterior. Stylish modern black and white construction.

Take these stairs to the entrance.

The middle staircase is the entrance to the shop and at the top of the staircase (where the shimenawa is in the photo) is Sumiyoshi Shrine.

Shop front.

Once inside, there is a café area where you can order from the menu.

I bought a coffee and pastry set and my partner bought a coffee and bread set.

While waiting for the menu to be prepared, we took a break at the wood-burning stove in front of us.

The manager of the shop was just there and added some firewood. Very warm.

The ground floor was a café space, but we were allowed to use the gallery space on the second floor, so we went upstairs.

The staircase is also stylish.

The menu you ordered is served immediately.

Coffee seems to be hand-drip brewed with beans from Horiguchi Coffee, which has a shop in Tokyo, and Hiyoriyama's original blend.

It was clean and easy to drink.

The pastry was a rare cheesecake. The cheesecake was layered. It was delicious with coffee.

My partner's pan set was a pan with mochi and anko (sweet bean paste) inside.

I forgot to take a photo, but the surface of the bread dough was as smooth as a baby's cheek ‼︎ (please visit and check ‼︎)

When we went to the shop, it was luckily a sunny day and the director, Mr Nouchi, asked us, "Would you like to see the rooftop too?" Mr Nouchi, the curator, asked me if I would like to see the rooftop.

Click here to see the view from the rooftop.

Hiyoriyama was a sand dune mountain overlooking Niigata Minato at the mouth of the Shinano River in the Edo period and was apparently the highest point in Niigata town. The view from the rooftop was also spectacular.

'In spring,' she said, 'you can see the fresh green of the trees from the shop.'

Mr Nouchi, the director of the Hiyoriyama Fifth Station, said that he hoped that more people would enjoy the town walking course (climbing Mt Hiyoriyama) from Minatopia to Mt Hiyoriyama as the goal of the path tour, to help people walking around the town and as a symbol of Minatomachi's character. The manager's wife wanted to open her own bakery and is particular about coffee and bread.

Take a break in a cosy space while listening to stories about the Minato Town and the city tour. Please come and visit us.

Shop information

Niwakayama 5-chome, a mountain range in central Japan (between Japan and South Korea)

• 2962-1 Higashi-horidori 13-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata-shi, 951-8065 Japan
• OPEN: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
• 11:00 - (last order) 16:00
• indeterminate rest period (e.g. from work)
• http://www.hiyoriyama5.com/evolution.html