Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen] ~ A Traditional House Café Where You Can Enjoy Food and Drinks from a Different Owner Every Day

Did you know that in Soja City, Okayama Prefecture, there is a traditional house cafe where you can enjoy food and drinks from a different owner every day?

Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen] is a wonderful cafe that serves as a place for aspiring cafe owners who are thinking, “I’d like to run a cafe someday,” to try their hand at it, while customers can enjoy different dishes every day.

The daily owners each have their own distinct style.

There is Japanese and Western cuisine, handmade bread, a ramen shop, distinctive dishes made with mint, and creative dishes that go well with alcohol.

In fact, Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen] is a cafe with a story born from connections between people, beginning with one young woman’s wish: “I want to run a cafe!”

Here’s an introduction to Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen], which grew out of connections among local people.

Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen] makes new use of a 180-year-old traditional house

Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen] was created by renovating the home of Wahei Hori, a pioneer of Western-style painting.

The 180-year-old traditional house had remained unoccupied and unused. It was restored through the management of the NPO Soja Shopping Street Traditional House Utilization Association.

The interior has the nostalgic charm of a traditional house, creating a relaxing, peaceful space.

The garden is clearly visible from the seats inside.

You can enjoy the garden scenery while having a meal.

The interior is spacious, with a gallery and retail area in addition to the cafe.

The gallery has previously held the “Wahei Hori Exhibition,” showcasing works by Wahei Hori.

The retail area sells small goods made by artists from Soja City and beyond.

When we visited, it was Friday, so Hakka cafe, a restaurant serving distinctive dishes made with mint, was open.

We tried the mint tea, which is available every day regardless of the daily cafe.

It was my first time trying mint tea, and it was very refreshing, with a flavor like ginger tea.

I’m curious to see what the daily cafes are like.

Let’s take a look, starting with Monday!

Daily cafes at Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen]

Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen] is a place for aspiring cafe owners who are thinking, “I’d like to run a cafe someday,” to try their hand at it, but the food is professionally prepared.

The food and drinks made by owners specializing in their respective fields are all enticing…!

For details about any cafe that catches your interest, check its social media accounts.

You can also find out what’s being served at the cafe that day on the Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen] Facebook page.

Monday: Gohan-ya Kanade

Gohan-ya Kanade is a cafe serving home-style dishes made with seasonal ingredients from Soja City, Okayama Prefecture, with the hope that people will “enjoy the kind of home cooking we used to eat.”

The seasonal lunch menu features seasonal ingredients, red rice grown in Soja that the city recommends, and Tama tofu, a Soja specialty.

The seasonal lunch menu changes each time.

The menu is posted on Facebook, so be sure to check it out.

Tuesday and Saturday: Fondant Miel

Fondant Miel is a cafe serving colorful Western-style lunches and cafe fare with gentle flavors, prepared by an owner who is a natural food coordinator.

Fluffy hamburg steaks and butter chicken curry are popular dishes, and apparently many customers come back again.

There are also daily cakes, muffins, scones, and more, so you can take your time and enjoy a cafe break.

Fondant Miel is open two days a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and is run by the same owner on both days.

The weekly menu is posted on social media, so be sure to check it out.

Wednesday: cafe & deli   COPAN

cafe & deli   COPAN (Cafe and Deli Copan) is a cafe run by an owner who draws on her experience teaching cooking classes and also holds bread-making classes at home.

Enjoy homemade bread and quiche alongside colorful, healthy side dishes, soup, and desserts.

The menu is posted on Instagram, so be sure to check it out.

Thursday: Mendokoro Sudachiya *Opened in July 2019

Mendokoro Sudachiya serves ramen made by a lovely young owner. The light ramen features a rich amber-colored broth and thin noodles, topped with slices of sudachi citrus.

Look forward to more details from July onward.

Friday: Hakka cafe

Hakka cafe is run by the Hori Family Mint Project, launched in 2016 at the former Hori Wahei Residence.

Japanese-grown mint once accounted for 90% of global production, but today almost all mint is imported.

In fact, Soja City is said to be the birthplace of mint cultivation.

With the theme of “preserving and passing on the story of mint, which is at risk of being lost,” the cafe serves food and drinks made with mint and vegetables from Sumita Farm.

Mint is included in every menu item, so it’s fun to discover which ones taste of mint.

The menu is posted on the Facebook page for “Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen],” so be sure to check it out.

Monday evening: Yoru to Gohan

A dinner-only restaurant run by Hitoto Gohan, a catering team based in Maniwa City that travels around the prefecture.

Enjoy daily set meals featuring rice cooked with seasonal ingredients and small side dishes that bring out the natural flavors of Okayama Prefecture’s ingredients, along with delicious local sake and natural wine.

Recommended for anyone looking to spend a special occasion, with reservation-only course meals limited to one group per day and private banquets for groups.

At the time of reporting (June 2019), the cafes listed above were operating, but other cafes may move in on an irregular basis, and a student cafeteria run by students from Okayama Prefectural University may also open.

Before visiting, check each cafe’s social media for its closing days.

Next, we asked representative Kanamaru Yukiko about the cafe.

Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen] Information

Name	Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen]
Address	2-5-20 Soja, Soja City, Okayama Prefecture
Contact	080-1925-9379
Parking	Available The parking location can be easy to mistake, so be sure to check the directions under Access.
Hours	Monday: Gohan-ya Kanade 11:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. 　　　　Yoru to Gohan 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday: Fondant Miel 11:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Wednesday: cafe & deli COPAN (Cafe and Deli Copan) 11:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Thursday: Mendokoro Sudachiya 11:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Friday: Hakka cafe 11:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Closed	Sunday The daily cafes may also be closed on their scheduled days off. Check their social media and websites in advance. On Sundays, a student cafeteria run by students from Okayama Prefectural University is held irregularly. There are no online announcements, so check in person.
Payment methods	Cash
Reservations	Accepted For reservations, be sure to contact each shop at its own phone number. The phone number for Tsunagaru Cafe [Sen] (080-1925-9379) connects to Kanamaru, chair of the NPO “Association for Utilizing Traditional Houses in Soja Shopping Street,” so please take care when making reservations.
Seating	26 seats total Counter seats: 4 Tables for 4: 4 Tables for 2: 3
Smoking	Entirely non-smoking
Restroom	Western-style toilet
Website	NPO Association for Utilizing Traditional Houses in Soja Shopping Street

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