Okayama Prefecture is blessed with abundant nature and a mild climate, and is renowned throughout Japan as a fruit kingdom.
It is especially famous as a peach and grape-producing region, with the quality of its produce supported by many growers. Tamashima in Kurashiki City is also known for its peaches, but there may not be many cafes specializing in fruit.
In July 2023, hoping to provide tourists and local residents with a place to enjoy fresh local fruit, Kurashiki Fruit Village opened in Yashima, Tamashima (Tomita).
About a year after opening, it seems to have become popular with local residents as a cafe where you can enjoy delicious fruit desserts.
Let’s take a look at what kind of place Kurashiki Fruit Village is.
The information provided was current when this article was published in August 2024. Please note that it may differ from the current information.
What Is Kurashiki Fruit Village?
Kurashiki Fruit Village opened on July 23, 2023, along Prefectural Route 60 in Yashima, Tamashima (Tomita).
As you drive along the prefectural road, you’ll see a wood-style sign. It can be easy to miss, so be careful not to drive past it.
The site has a cafe space serving sweets and lunch made with locally sourced ingredients, as well as a farm-fresh market selling products delivered directly from their place of origin.
There are five parking spaces in front of the shop and 11 at the back. The grounds are spacious, so even those who aren’t confident drivers can park with ease.
There are two terrace areas, one in front of the shop and one by the entrance, with a total of seven tables and 20 seats.
In pleasant weather, you can relax and enjoy the cafe surrounded by nature.
Inside the Cafe
As soon as I stepped inside, I found a truly adorable space—perfect for posting on social media.
The tables can accommodate both small and large groups. There are also counter seats, so you can enjoy a meal or drink on your own.
You place your order and pay at the reception counter first. You’re given a pager and can wait at your table.
Kurashiki Fruit Village Menu
Prices include consumption tax. Information current as of August 2024.
There are lunch options, but the star of the menu is fruit. It features a range of desserts made with fruit.
The fruit selection varies by season. It’s lovely to enjoy fruit in season, including strawberries, peaches, grapes, and mandarins.
When I visited, peaches were at their peak. I tried some of the recommended menu items.
Recommended Menu 1: Today’s Fruit Parfait
The sight of a large peach sitting whole on top is captivating. I was told that each parfait contains at least one whole peach.
The clear glass lets you see the layers stacked up in the bottom of the parfait.
I eagerly brought a spoonful to my mouth, wondering what was inside.
The beautifully arranged poached peach has just the right sweetness to bring out the quality of the fruit.
There’s cold ice cream in the glass, and eating it together with the peach brings out a different kind of deliciousness.
Beneath the ice cream is a layer of homemade granola. Homemade granola is unusual, isn’t it?
Thanks to the granola, which contains oats and walnuts, I didn’t feel too guilty about eating a parfait.
The parfait also contains yogurt, Japanese plum jam, and peach jelly. Whether mixed together or enjoyed separately, the delicious sweetness continues, and I finished it in no time.
Recommended Menu 2: Freshly Made Pancakes with Fruit
The pancakes are just as popular as the fruit parfait. You can order one pancake or more. Since I was sharing with a friend, I ordered two.
They’re made to order, so you can enjoy piping-hot pancakes.
Cold ice cream spreads over the hot pancakes like a smooth sauce, and the two blend together beautifully in your mouth, letting you enjoy the contrast in temperature.
The fruit includes not only peaches but also poached loquats, offering a different kind of sweetness. The crunch of the granola topping adds another delicious touch.
Recommended Menu 3: White Peach Rare Cheesecake
Although they weren’t listed on the menu, original cakes and seasonal tarts were also available in the display case.
The writer chose the white peach rare cheesecake to take away.
It is made with cheese from “Kurashiki Cheese Kobo Harupal,” which operates a dairy farm in Tamashima.
As a big fan of rare cheesecake, the writer was curious about the taste and tried it right away.
The moment you take a bite, the cheese’s creamy flavor spreads across your palate. As you keep eating, the sweetness of the peach pieces joins in, seeming to bring out the richness of the cheesecake even more.
It was a surprise to discover that adding fruit pieces to rare cheesecake creates such an exquisite flavor. Definitely worth coming back for.
Farmers’ Market
At the back of the cafe space is a farmers’ market selling fruit delivered directly from the growing regions, vegetables, sweets, crafts, and other products.
The refrigerated display case sells cheese from Kurashiki Cheese Kobo Harupal, which is also used to make the rare cheesecake introduced earlier.
It’s nice that you can buy the ingredients used in the cafe right there.
Products from a variety of vendors are on display, so you can browse while waiting for your cafe order.
This hand-stretched pasta is made with domestically grown wheat and is used as an ingredient in the lunch menu. It is a product of Ikeda Noodle Factory in Yakage Town, Oda District.
During the interview, a peach farmer happened to bring peaches in person. In addition to gift packs, you can also buy peaches for home use.
The original products of “Kurashiki Fruit Village” are also sold to take away.
Since they are all products made with fruit grown in Okayama Prefecture, they are perfect as souvenirs to take outside the prefecture or as gifts.
“Kurashiki Fruit Village” conveys its representative’s desire to support the people working hard in the local community.
We interviewed Makoto Tanabe, representative of “Kurashiki Fruit Village,” which celebrated its first anniversary since opening.
Kurashiki Fruit Village details
| Name | Kurashiki Fruit Village |
|---|---|
| Address | 1707-1 Tamashima Yashima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-486-0262 |
| Parking | Available |
| Hours | Tuesday–Friday: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Weekends and holidays: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Mondays Tuesdays: Irregular holidays (if Monday is a holiday, closed the following day) |
| Payment methods |
|
| Seating | Counter seats: 4 Indoor table seats: 12 Outdoor terrace seats: 20 |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking (outdoor smoking area available) |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Kurashiki Fruit Village |
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