When you think of your favorite cafe, is there a place that comes to mind?
Nestled amid the peaceful scenery of Nitta, Kurashiki City, “Ichigo Biyori” is a charming cafe that will make you want to tell someone about it.
Here, you can enjoy sweets made with perfectly ripe strawberries, carefully grown in the adjacent strawberry greenhouse, as well as delicately flavored treats made by pastry chef Naomi.
Here’s a look at the charms of Ichigo Biyori, where time seems to slow down.
The information presented here was accurate when this article was published in March 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What kind of place is Ichigo Biyori?
Ichigo Biyori is a cafe operated by the Social Welfare Corporation Kurashiki Yume Kobo. It opened in September 2024.
Kurashiki Yume Kobo is a Type B Continuous Employment Support Facility, where facility users work alongside a pastry chef, making use of their individual strengths.
Type B Continuous Employment Support Facility
A welfare service that provides people with disabilities who have difficulty working at a regular company with opportunities to work and engage in productive activities without entering into an employment contract, while supporting the development of their knowledge and abilities.
The same grounds are also home to the restaurant Challenged and a strawberry greenhouse. The strawberries used at Ichigo Biyori are grown in that greenhouse. Depending on the season, you can also buy freshly harvested strawberries directly or go strawberry picking.
The spacious parking lot is another plus, making it easy to stop by by car.
A relaxing space for the whole family
Inside, soft sunlight streams in, and the view through the windows adds to the comfort of this lovely space.
Cute little decorations are displayed here and there, adding an even softer touch to the atmosphere.
It’s also nice that there’s plenty of room for families to sit comfortably, and the cafe is easy to use with a stroller or wheelchair.
You place your order and pay first, then you can relax at your table.
Even the time spent waiting for sweets felt pleasant as I gazed out at the peaceful scenery.
A look at the strawberry menu
At Ichigo Biyori, you can enjoy sweets that bring out the delicious flavor of perfectly ripe strawberries. Here are some of the menu items that especially stood out to me.
The signature item: “Strawberry Farm’s Perfectly Ripe Strawberry Parfait”
The first thing you should try when you visit Ichigo Biyori is the Strawberry Farm’s Perfectly Ripe Strawberry Parfait.
The moment it arrived, it was piled so high with strawberries that I almost exclaimed, “Wow!” It was so lavishly topped that it looked ready to tumble, and the portion was so generous I wondered, “Can I finish all this?”
But after one bite, those worries quickly disappeared.
The sweet-tart strawberries, the gentle sweetness of the whipped cream, and the rich flavor of the vanilla and pistachio ice cream. Then there’s the crisp, crumbly texture of the cookies. With plenty of treats besides strawberries, including a special strawberry chiffon cake and berry fruit jelly, there’s something to enjoy right to the last bite.
This deeply satisfying parfait offers more than just a beautiful appearance—you’ll discover a different delicious flavor with every bite.
Strawberry-Packed Parfait
This parfait is packed with strawberries.
It’s recommended for anyone who wants to savor the strawberries themselves.
The adjacent strawberry greenhouse grows Akihime, Kaorino, and Benihoppe. They reportedly check the berries in the morning and evening and harvest them when they’re at their best that day.
Because strawberries don’t ripen after picking, the timing of the harvest is important.
I was also shown around the strawberry greenhouse and learned that they use many techniques to grow sweet strawberries.
Sweets crafted with care by the pastry chef
At Ichigo Biyori, cakes are popular too, not just parfaits.
The sweets are made by pastry chef Naomi.
She previously ran a workshop called Atelier Naomi, and her proven skills and experience are reflected in the sweets at Ichigo Biyori.
In fact, I’ve been a fan of Naomi’s treats for some time.
After trying them again at Ichigo Biyori, I can say their deliciousness is truly exceptional.
There are three kinds of cake available right now, and deciding which one to choose is part of the fun.
The selection includes Basque cheesecake and strawberry tart, showcasing Naomi’s meticulous approach to baking.
A wide selection of drinks
There’s also a wide range of drinks, from strawberry-based options to classic coffee.
It’s also a delight to enjoy the deliciousness of strawberries in so many different ways, with drinks such as strawberry soda, strawberry milk, strawberry cream soda, and strawberry honey ginger ale.
As someone who loves hot drinks, I was also curious about the winter-only menu.
The hot strawberry chocolate is sweet and satisfying, while the hot strawberry milk with amazake has a gentle, delicious flavor. In addition to sweets, being able to enjoy carefully crafted drinks like these is something unique to this shop.
There are also items available for takeout, so it’s nice to be able to choose what you enjoy based on your mood that day. I hear shaved strawberries will also be available in summer, making me want to visit outside the strawberry season, too.
We spoke with Mimura Hideyo, chairperson of Kurashiki Yume Kobo, who devotes himself to growing strawberries every day while eagerly learning about cultivation in order to deliver delicious strawberries.
Ichigo Biyori Information
| Name | Ichigo Biyori |
|---|---|
| Address | 3281-7 Shinden, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 080-3871-1515 (during business hours only) |
| Parking | Available |
| Hours | Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (last order 4:30 p.m.) |
| Closed | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Seating | 27 seats; 14 counter seats; 5 tables |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Child-friendly facilities | 2 child chairs; strollers welcome |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair rental |
| Website | Ichigo Biyori |
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