About a three-minute walk from JR Chayamachi Station, there is a stylish wooden building.
With its entrance open and an inviting atmosphere where anyone can drop in, it is called “Chayamachi Harenohi.” It opened on June 4, 2026, and it has now been open for nearly five months.
On the first floor, there is a cafe with guest chefs who change daily, a flower shop, and a gallery, where you can enjoy delicious food and spend time your own way.
We spoke with Kameyama Yuka, director of Chayamachi Home Care Clinic, which created Chayamachi Harenohi.
The information provided was current when this article was published in November 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What kind of place is Chayamachi Harenohi?
When you visit Chayamachi Harenohi, the first things to catch your eye are its spacious terrace and beautiful, deeply overhanging eaves. The airy first floor features a cafe with a different menu each day, a flower shop called “Kobo Hanayoshi,” and a gallery for exhibitions and workshops.
“Hare days” are special, uplifting occasions such as festivals and celebrations.
“Ke days” are ordinary days spent doing everyday chores and work.
The name Chayamachi Harenohi expresses the hope of bringing a little special time (hare) into everyday life and lifting people’s spirits.
About the first floor
Kobo Hanayoshi is a permanent shop on the first floor of Chayamachi Harenohi. The rest of the space is designated as a community space and is used in the following ways:
- Guest chefs who change daily
- Events such as children’s cafeterias, consultation sessions, and exercise classes
“Guest chefs” you’ll want to visit every day
At Chayamachi Harenohi, a cafe operates in a “guest chef” format, with a different chef each day. There is no dedicated chef; restaurants and chefs from across Okayama Prefecture and beyond take turns in the kitchen.
There is a wide variety of offerings: Japanese food, Western food, sweets, and coffee. Each business also decides its own hours, such as whether to serve breakfast or lunch.
Some regulars have been coming frequently since it first opened, saying, “Even though it’s the same place, I get to try different flavors every time, so I never get bored.”
This arrangement also gives chefs without their own restaurant a place to test their skills. For owners of small businesses, Chayamachi Harenohi—with its seating, professional kitchen equipment, and easy-to-use parking—offers a great opportunity to meet new customers.
The schedule of participating businesses is posted each month on the official Instagram account and elsewhere. It’s fun to check the schedule and visit wondering, “Which business is here today?”
Events such as children’s cafeterias, consultation sessions, and exercise classes
Chayamachi Harenohi hosts a variety of gatherings, including exercise classes, children’s cafeterias, and meetups for parents of children who require medical care. However, the space is not rented out exclusively. These events take place in one section of the cafe during regular business hours.
For example, the “Harenohi Exercise Class” is held at 11 a.m. on Thursdays, while the guest chef’s cafe continues to operate as usual.
When it’s time to exercise, some chairs and tables are moved aside to make room. Afterwards, everything is put back. You can join the exercise class or not; you can also sit in an available seat, watch as an activity gets underway, and drink your coffee. That’s perfectly fine, too.
Everyone is free to spend their time at their own pace.
A layout that makes it easy for anyone to come in
The aisles inside are wide enough for large medical strollers.
The entrance ramp was redesigned with as gentle a slope as possible so that vehicles can pull up right to the edge. We’re told that the eaves were made deep to help keep the ramp dry on rainy days.
Inside, seasonal flowers and plants are beautifully arranged every day by the team at Kobo Hanayoshi.
About the second floor
There is a clinic that operates by appointment only.
The second floor is a clinic, so entry is prohibited to anyone other than authorized personnel.
We spoke with Kameyama Yuka, director of Chayamachi Home Care Clinic, which created Chayamachi Harenohi.
Chayamachi Harenohi details
| Name | Chayamachi Harenohi |
|---|---|
| Address | 360-12 Chayamachi, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | For inquiries about individual guest chefs or events, please contact them directly via DM on their respective accounts. |
| Website | Chayamachi Harenohi |
![Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen] exterior 1](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/23055159/sen-22.jpg)
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