Do you have a place in mind when you hear "favorite café"?
Nestled in the tranquil scenery of Nitta, Kurashiki City, Ichigo Biyori is a charming café that makes you want to tell someone about it.
Here, you can enjoy sweets made with fully ripe strawberries carefully grown in the adjacent strawberry house and gentle-tasting confections crafted by patissier Naomi.
Let me introduce the charm of "Ichigo Biyori," where time flows slowly.
What kind of place is Ichigo Biyori?
"Ichigo Biyori" is a café operated by Kurashiki Dream Workshop (hereinafter referred to as "Kurashiki Dream Workshop"), which opened in September 2024.
Kurashiki Dream Workshop operates as a Type B Employment Continuation Support Facility, where users of the facility work alongside patissiers, utilizing their individual strengths.
Type B Employment Continuation Support Facility
This welfare service provides opportunities for work and production activities without employment contracts for individuals with disabilities who find it difficult to work in general companies, supporting the improvement of their knowledge and abilities.
On the same premises, there is also a restaurant called "Challenged" and a strawberry house. The strawberries used in "Ichigo Biyori" are grown in that house. Depending on the season, you can also enjoy direct sales of harvested strawberries and strawberry picking.
Additionally, the parking lot is spacious, making it easy to stop by by car, which is another attractive point.
A space where families can relax
Upon entering the store, a lovely space filled with soft sunlight and a pleasant view outside unfolded before me.
Cute little items are decorated here and there, enhancing the gentle atmosphere of the store.
Moreover, the spaciousness makes it easy for families with strollers or wheelchairs to enjoy their time comfortably.
It follows a style where you order and pay first, allowing you to relax at your seat afterward.
While waiting for the sweets, I felt the comfort of gazing at the tranquil scenery.
Introducing the menu featuring strawberries
At "Ichigo Biyori," you can enjoy sweets that make the most of the deliciousness of fully ripe strawberries. Here are some particularly memorable menu items.
The signature menu is "Fully Ripe Strawberry Parfait from the Strawberry Farm"
When you visit "Ichigo Biyori," the first thing you should try is the Fully Ripe Strawberry Parfait from the Strawberry Farm.
The moment it arrives, you can't help but exclaim "Wow!" as it is piled high with strawberries. It's so lavishly served that it looks like an avalanche could happen, and you might wonder, "Can I finish this?"
However, once you take a bite, all worries disappear.
The sweet and sour taste of the strawberries, the gentle sweetness of the fresh cream, the richness of the vanilla and pistachio ice cream, and the crunchy, crumbly texture of the cookies. There are also special strawberry chiffon cake and berry fruit jelly among the many sweets, ensuring you enjoy different flavors until the end.
Not only is it visually stunning, but with each bite, you encounter different deliciousness, making it a satisfying parfait.
Chunky Strawberry Parfait
This parfait is packed with strawberries.
It is recommended for those who want to enjoy the charm of strawberries themselves.
In the attached strawberry house, they cultivate Aki-hime, Kaori-no, and Benihoppe, and they harvest them at the best state in the morning or evening.
Since these fruits do not ripen after harvest, the timing of the harvest is crucial.
I was also guided through the strawberry house and learned that there are many innovations to grow sweet strawberries.
Sweets crafted with care by the patissier
At "Ichigo Biyori," not only parfaits but also cakes are popular.
The sweets are crafted by patissier Naomi.
She previously ran a workshop called "Atelier Naomi," and her solid skills and experience are reflected in the sweets at "Ichigo Biyori."
In fact, I am also one of Naomi's fans who has admired her sweets for a long time.
Even when I tried them again at "Ichigo Biyori," their deliciousness was indeed exceptional.
Currently, there are three types of cakes available, and the time spent deciding which one to choose is also part of the fun.
With options like Basque cheesecake and strawberry tart, you can feel Naomi's meticulous approach to confectionery.
A rich drink menu
The drink menu is also extensive, offering a wide range from strawberry-based drinks to classic coffee.
Strawberry soda, strawberry milk, strawberry cream soda, and strawberry honey ginger ale are some of the delightful ways to enjoy the deliciousness of strawberries.
As a hot drink lover, I was also intrigued by the winter limited menu.
Strawberry hot chocolate is sweet and satisfying, and the hot strawberry milk with sweet sake has a gentle deliciousness. It's not just about the sweets; enjoying such elaborate drinks is unique to this shop.
There are also menu items available for takeout, which is great for enjoying according to your mood that day. Furthermore, it seems that shaved strawberries will be available in the summer, making me want to visit even outside the strawberry season.
To deliver delicious strawberries, I spoke with Mitumura Hideyo, the chairman of Kurashiki Dream Factory, who is diligently learning about cultivation while dedicating himself to strawberry production every day.
Data of Ichigo Biyori
| Name | Ichigo Biyori |
|---|---|
| Address | 3281-7 Nitta, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 080-3871-1515 (only during business hours) |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Last order at 4:30 PM) |
| Regular Holidays | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | Not accepted |
| Seating | 27 seats Counter: 14 Tables: 5 |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | 2 high chairs, strollers allowed |
| Barrier-free | Wheelchair rental available |
| Website | Ichigo Biyori |
