In a residential neighborhood about a five-minute walk from the Bikan Historical Area is the Kurashiki Astronomical Observatory, Japan’s first privately operated observatory, established in 1926.
In April 2022, the book café “Clear Passage of Starlight” opened on the observatory grounds.
You may find it hard to picture what a “book café at an observatory” would be like.
Here’s an in-depth introduction to this rare observatory café in Japan.
The information presented here was current when this article was published in September 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.
The observatory and book café: What’s the connection?
The café is in the former home of Minoru Honda, a world-renowned amateur astronomer who protected the Kurashiki Astronomical Observatory for many years.
Honda was known for discovering comets and novae one after another from his base in Kurashiki.
After Honda and his wife passed away, the house stood vacant for a while. Part of it was renovated and opened as a café.
The interior has a lovely atmosphere, with an elegant chandelier, retro furniture, and lots of books.
The furniture from that time is still in use.
▼ The seats at the back have large windows that let in sunlight, making the space bright and pleasant.
▼ The seats by the window looked like a comfortable option even for solo visitors.
▼ The shelves are lined with lots of books about stars, the moon, and astronomy.
▼ Tools and furniture actually used by Minoru Honda. They evoke the atmosphere of the time.
▼ The café also sells miscellaneous goods.
A handmade menu packed with local ingredients
Everything on the café menu is handmade by the owner’s wife, who is an accomplished baker.
She started baking as a high school student and has also attended classes taught by well-known instructors.
The regular menu includes gateau chocolat and New York cheesecake.
There are also cakes and tarts made with seasonal ingredients from Okayama.
Care is taken with the drinks, too. The tea menu features selections made with tea leaves recommended by the owner’s wife, a tea lover.
There is milk tea made with Ringtons tea from England, as well as black tea from Singapore’s TWG Tea.
Information current as of September 2022. Prices include tax.
Carefully crafted aromatic coffee
The hot coffee (500 yen) is made with freshly ground specialty coffee beans sourced from Aroma Coffee Roastery in Shimonakano, Kita Ward, Okayama City, and ground to order.
The aroma of the coffee put me at ease.
A generous helping of seasonal ingredients: Okayama white peach tart
Seasonal tarts and cakes are also available. When I visited, I tried the “Okayama White Peach Tart” (600 yen).
It had a luxurious flavor that wasn’t too sweet. It paired perfectly with coffee.
Classic New York cheesecake
This is the popular New York cheesecake (600 yen).
A generous amount of “Grana Padano,” a hard cheese used as commonly in Italy as “Parmigiano-Reggiano,” is grated over the whipped cream.
The sweetness and subtle saltiness make it addictive for cheese lovers.
Drizzle honey over it partway through for a delicious change of flavor—you get to enjoy it two ways.
Recommended ginger milk
Ginger milk (600 yen) is an unusual item you won’t find at other cafés.
It combines milk with “Ginger Syrup Kohaku” from Ginger Diamond, a ginger specialty shop in Honjo-cho-naka, Fukuyama City. It’s an unexpected pairing, but the drink is easy to enjoy.
Adding extra ginger partway through deepens the flavor, and apparently the moment the syrup is poured makes for a great photo.
Baked goods are also available to go
In addition to dining in, you can also take baked goods to go.
There are various kinds, including florentines, boule de neige, madeleines, and sablés (200 yen each). Although it’s a café, you can buy baked goods without dining in.
There were customers coming in to buy baked goods while I was there, too.
Next, I spoke with the couple who run the café, Hiroyuki and Naoko Hara.
Hoshi no Hikari no Sumiwatari Information
| Name | Hoshi no Hikari no Sumiwatari |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-19-10 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-4589 |
| Parking | Available |
| Hours | Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 12 seats |
| Smoking | Non-smoking throughout |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
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