It is about 50 minutes by car from the centre of Niigata City and about 10 minutes by car or bus from the nearest station, Kamo Station. A short walk from there brings you to a cute wooden building that looks as if it has wandered into a Jiburi-Anime film. This is CAFE & SHOWROOM MACHITOKI.

The former Nanaya post office has been refurbished and opened.

Proceed through the stepping stones and open the slightly heavy door, and you will be greeted by the owner's wife with a friendly smile. There are a total of six tables on the first and second floors. Although the shop is not large, it is overflowing with customers on Saturdays and Sundays, with some even waiting for a seat to become available. Many customers use the restaurant as a café, so the peak hours are from 2pm to 4pm. If the time suits you, it is better to aim for other times of the day.

Shiratama Anmitsu, established in 1887, using white bean flour from the family's factory.

When they settled into their seats and looked at the menu, the words 'shiratama anmitsu' caught their eye. It is said to be the most popular item on the menu and many first-time customers order it.

The spring 'shiratama anmitsu' contained strawberries.

Owner Watanabe's parents, who are also designers, have been in business since 1887 at Watahide Shoten, a shiratama (white bean curd) shop, and at MACHITOKI they serve shiratama anmitsu (including hojicha, 570 yen including tax) using shiratama made in the family's factory. The fruits included are different depending on the season - strawberries in spring, kiwi in summer and sweet potatoes in autumn - so you can enjoy different tastes no matter how many times you order the same dish.

Owner-designed white bean flour from the Watahi Shoten shop.

Incidentally, white bean flour made in the owner's family home can also be purchased on the ground floor. In the past, people used to make shiratama from the powder. However, it seems that these days there are fewer opportunities to do so. It is precisely because of this that kneading and making shiratama with your children will be a memorable experience.

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A wide range of snacks and drinks other than shiratama!

Both hot sandwiches cost ¥550 including tax.

Hot sandwiches are also offered as other light meals. There are two hot sandwiches in total. 'Ham & Egg' and 'Meat Sauce'. The sandwiches are well-stuffed, so just one is enough to satisfy you. (Although it's not a hot sandwich, it's still a good choice! I also ordered anmitsu (sweet bean paste)...)

Maple cinnamon milk (420 yen including tax)

I would also personally recommend the Maple Cinnamon Milk. It is a simple drink, but drinking it in the relaxed atmosphere of an old house can be a relaxing experience.

Recommended when you are a little tired and want to relax your shoulders. However, it is not recommended when you have work to do, as you often relax too much and lose the afternoon's work (laughs).

A range of design products with an adorable look!

The café also stocks design products made by the owner. Design products might make you feel a little nervous, thinking that they might be difficult to handle, but the products on sale here are all usable in everyday life. You can't help but end up buying too much.

A typical product is the Mr Johnson plate. Mr Johnson is a character based on the concept of "Always a traveller, no matter how old you are". The products are completely handmade, so each one has a different expression and different behaviour, making it fun to take your time and choose the right one.

Other simple jars, mugs and condiments are also placed here. For a limited time only, there is also an exhibition, so there are products related to the exhibition! Just looking at the sundries is enjoyable enough.

In March 2018, the second floor of the building was opened as long awaited!

The building that used to be a Nanaya post office was renovated and the DESIGN & WEBSHOP 'MACHITOKI' was started in December 2012 in the same location as today. At first it was used as an office, but customers who lived nearby came to buy products. These people said that it would be a waste to use such a beautiful place as just an office, and they started to think about opening it as a café. In March 2015, the space was opened to the public as SHOWROOM&CAFÉ MACHITOKI.

With the restaurant being featured in various places and the number of customers gradually increasing, the second floor finally opened in March 2018, as the owner had always said that the view was beautiful and that he wanted to open the restaurant because it was a great place to be.

The range of types of books on design and living is varied.

Many books are also set up on the second floor. Since the café opened, the tables have been arranged in a spacious and comfortable layout, as the owners wanted to make it a café where people could read books alone in comfort. Some customers come to read books alone.

The owner and his wife say, "We are glad we did the second floor. We visited them on the second floor and found it to be a relaxing and calming place to spend time, with light streaming in through the large windows.

CAFE&SHOWROOM MACHITOKI is quietly nestled in the mountains. Why not visit when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and take a break? Although the location is a little inconvenient, it is recommended if you want to spend some time relaxing. Visit to relax and take a breather.

Shop Information

「CAFE&SHOWROOM MACHITOKI」

0 Address: 856 Kurozui, Kamo, Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

00 Opening hours: 11:00-16:00 weekdays, 11:00-18:00 weekends.

00 Closed: every Monday and Tuesday.

〇Tel：0256-53-0026

〇HP : http://machitoki.com

〇Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/machitoki/

〇Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/machitoki/?hl=ja