In a residential area about a 5-minute walk from the Bikan Historical Area, there is the Kurashiki Astronomical Observatory, established in 1926 (Taisho 15), which is Japan's first private astronomical observatory.
In April 2022, a book café called Hoshi no Hikari no Sumiwatari opened on the premises of the observatory.
You might find it hard to imagine a "book café at an observatory."
Let me introduce this rare observatory café in detail.
The connection between the observatory and the book café?
The building of this café was the residence of Honda Minoru, a world-renowned amateur astronomer who protected the Kurashiki Astronomical Observatory for many years.
Mr. Honda was known for discovering comets and novae based in Kurashiki.
After Mr. Honda and his wife passed away, the building was vacant for a while before part of it was renovated to open the café.
The interior has a charming atmosphere, surrounded by stylish chandeliers, retro furniture, and many books.
The furniture is also used as it was back then.
▼The seats at the back have large windows, allowing sunlight to stream in, making it bright and pleasant.
▼The window-side seats seem easy to use even for one person.
▼There are many books about stars, the moon, and astronomy lined up.
▼Tools and furniture actually used by Mr. Honda can be seen, giving a sense of the atmosphere of the time.
▼Various miscellaneous goods are also sold in the café.
Handmade menu full of local ingredients
All the café's menu items are handmade by the owner’s wife, who is skilled in making sweets.
She started making sweets in high school and has experience attending classes with famous instructors.
The classic menu items are gateau chocolat and New York cheesecake.
Additionally, there are cakes and tarts made with seasonal ingredients from Okayama.
The drinks are also carefully selected, with the tea menu featuring leaves recommended by the owner’s wife, who loves tea.
There is milk tea made with leaves from Linton's in England and black tea from TWG Tea in Singapore.
Information as of September 2022 (Reiwa 4). Prices include tax.
Specialty aroma coffee
The hot coffee (500 yen) is made from flavorful specialty coffee beans sourced from Aroma Coffee Roastery in Okayama City, Naka-ku, Shimonakano, and is ground fresh upon ordering.
The aroma of the coffee was soothing and calming.
Seasonal ingredients galore, Okayama white peach tart
There are seasonal tarts and cakes available. During the interview, I had the "Okayama white peach tart (600 yen)."
It has a luxurious taste that is not too sweet. It paired perfectly with the coffee.
Classic New York cheesecake
This is the popular New York cheesecake (600 yen).
It is topped generously with "Grana Padano," a hard cheese that is commonly used in Italy, similar to Parmigiano-Reggiano, over fresh cream.
The sweetness and slight saltiness make it addictive for cheese lovers.
Adding honey while eating changes the flavor, making it delicious in two ways.
Recommended ginger milk
Ginger milk (600 yen) is a rare menu item not found in other shops.
It is an unexpected combination of "Ginger syrup Kohaku" from the ginger specialty store Ginger Diamond located in Honjo-cho, Fukuyama City, and milk, but it has a pleasant taste.
Adding more ginger during drinking deepens the flavor, and the moment you add the syrup makes for a photogenic moment.
Baked goods are also available for takeout
In addition to dining in the café, baked goods are also available for takeout.
There are various types such as florentines, bouldernage, madeleines, and sablés (200 yen each). Although it is a café, you can purchase baked goods even if you do not dine in.
During the interview, there were customers coming in to buy baked goods.
Next, I spoke with the couple Hiroyuki Hara and Naoko, who run the café.
Data of Hoshi no Hikari no Sumiwatari
| Name | Hoshi no Hikari no Sumiwatari |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-19-10 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-4589 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Monday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | Available |
| Seats | 12 seats |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
