A friend invited me to visit the Furumachi branch of Chamonix, a long-established coffee shop in Furumachi-dori 5-bancho. Last year's Niigata Repo featured the Kami-Ookawa-mae branch, but this time it was the Furumachi branch. Among the many coffee shops in Niigata, you can enjoy authentic home-roasted coffee at Chamonix.

As I rarely go out, I was nervous at first because a "real coffee shop" is so different from other places, but it was a very nice shop, so I would like to introduce it to you.

Furumachi 5. With your back towards Hakusan Shrine, pass the Daishi Bank and you will see the entrance to Chamonix on your right. The entrance to Chamonix is marked by a banner that reads: 'A blissful moment with coffee'. The entrance to Chamonix can be seen on the right hand side of the road past the Daishi Bank, with your back towards the Hakusan Shrine.

Up the stairs to the second floor...

Retro look and the words 'home-roasted coffee shop Chamonix'.

Let's go inside as soon as possible.

Wow, what a stylish space... this is the atmosphere created by a long-established coffee shop...

Proceed through the restaurant and take your seat. While you wait for your order, your heart races ...

Orders received.

Whoooo ... looks good just from the picture ...

On holiday mornings, you can relax and sip a good cup of coffee.

Even the casual chats felt like special moments.

Hmmm, this is the way to spend a rich holiday ...

The shop has a good selection of beans, roasters and mills.

The Chamonix Furumachi shop uses beans roasted every morning at the Kami-Okawa-mae shop and delivered to them.

There is also a terrace outside. I'd love to have a drink outside when it gets warmer ...

At first I was afraid to step into a real coffee shop, but even though I am not used to going to coffee shops, I was very satisfied with the space.

Whether you are a coffee connoisseur or not, why not spend a wonderful time with a cup of coffee at Chamonix when you visit Furumachi? With its retro, relaxed atmosphere and the fragrant aroma of coffee, you will surely feel the time pass by richly.

Incidentally, Chamonix introduces recommended coffee and cakes on its website ( http://www.geocities.jp/chamonix_coffee/ ) (and provides expert information on roasting machines for advanced coffee drinkers).

If you are visiting Chamonix, you should definitely take a look.

Shop information

Chamonix Furumachi

• 591, Furumachidori 5-bancho, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata
• Shop page: http://www.geocities.jp/chamonix_coffee/
• Niigata Hometown Guide: http://www.niigata-furumachi.jp/spot/%E7%8F%88%E7%90%B2%E9%A4%A8%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A3%E3%83%A2%E3%83%8B%E3%83%BC/