Sakatsu Park, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Kurashiki City, rich in greenery and water, is a place of relaxation for the citizens of Kurashiki.
Do you know about the old folk house café located in a corner of Sakatsu Park, loved by people of all ages for children's play areas and walks?
It has an exterior that blends into the surrounding nature, sparking curiosity with the question, "What is that?"
I visited "Mizube no Café Miyake Shoten Sakatsu," located where the Takahashi River gently curves and flows into the city.
A building in harmony with the nature of Sakatsu
As the name suggests, "Mizube no Café Miyake Shoten Sakatsu" is located by the water's edge.
The water of the Takahashi River flows gently past Sakatsu Park, trickling in front of the café as it heads towards the city.
Behind the café is a mountain, and in front are trees such as cherry blossoms.
If you listen closely, you can hear the birds singing. It is soothing to be surrounded by the natural BGM.
Let's cross the bridge from the promenade side of Sakatsu Park to the Miyake Shoten side.
▼ The café, which opened in 2010, is in the foreground on the right, and the pizza hut, newly established in March 2021, is in the back.
There is a spacious garden in front of the café and pizza hut.
It seems that the garden has been renewed along with the establishment of the pizza hut. It has become larger than before.
There are seats set up here and there in the garden.
It is nice to be able to eat outside while feeling the nature of Sakatsu.
A store filled with local love down to the details
First, let's head to the old folk house café in the front.
Immediately to the right after entering is a masking tape corner.
Did you know that the masking tape, which is mainly popular among women, is made in Kurashiki?
You can feel the subtle love for Kurashiki at Miyake Shoten.
Next to the masking tape corner, there are jars of jam lined up.
This beautifully gradient jam is made in Kurashiki!
The jam workshop of Miyake Shoten produces it.
Let's introduce the counter seats on the first floor.
The counter seats, set up by the river, face the window.
The trees of Sakatsu spread out in front of the window, and below is the gently flowing river.
I think this is the seat where you can feel nature the most.
On the first floor, there are also tatami seating in addition to the counter seats.
A large rug is laid on the tatami.
The cushions are made of Kurashiki Notting.
Both are folk crafts from Kurashiki, and you can feel the love for Kurashiki here as well.
A breeze flows through the open window.
The day I visited was a hot day that felt like early summer, but the wind was cooled by the river water, making it refreshingly cool.
The fresh green is gentle on the eyes and soothing.
Now, let's go up to the second floor.
The seats immediately after climbing the stairs are sofa seats.
These sofas and tables are products from TEORI, and here too, you can discover the love for Kurashiki!
TEORI is located in Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, and is a company that makes furniture and other items from bamboo from Mabi.
There are also cushion seats available.
Please choose your preference, either garden side or riverside.
Local love packed into the dishes
When it comes to Miyake Shoten, the standard menu is curry.
It is packed with plenty of seasonal local ingredients.
The curry comes with pickles and soup.
The roux is made by blending spices, but it is not spicy; it is sweet!
The sweetness comes from onions and fruits.
I think it is a flavor loved by both children and adults.
A New Pizza Menu Has Arrived
A pizza hut has been built next to the old folk house café, so let me introduce it as well.
What catches your eye first is a vibrant blue art piece… or so you might think, but it’s actually a pizza oven!
This pizza oven excites you about what kind of pizzas will be offered.
If you want to eat pizza, please order and pay at the pizza hut.
You can eat outside or inside the old folk house café.
Takeout is also available.
At Miyake Shoten, they make the pizza dough using homemade yeast.
Now, what should I choose for my first pizza at Miyake Shoten?
| Pizza Menu (as of April 2023) | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|
| ・Margherita | 1,210 yen |
| ・Tsurajima Lotus Root and Edamame with Basil Sauce | 1,320 yen |
| ・Quattro Formaggi with Homemade Jam | 1,430 yen |
| ・Setouchi Sea Bream (from Ogura Shoten) with White Sauce | 1,430 yen |
| ・Wild Boar Meat from Nagao in Niimi City | 1,540 yen |
The most popular is said to be the Margherita, but I decided to go with the manager's recommendation, "Tsurajima Lotus Root and Edamame with Basil Sauce."
It’s my first time eating a pizza with lotus root as the main ingredient.
Moreover, it’s also my first time with pizza dough fermented with homemade yeast.
Watching the pizza being baked… it’s so cool that I can’t take my eyes off it.
After just 2 minutes of waiting, the pizza was ready.
Since the weather was nice, I decided to eat at an outdoor table with a beautiful view of the green surroundings and the river flowing in front of me.
I took a bite of the freshly baked pizza while feeling the nature of Sakazu.
The Tsurajima lotus root was surprisingly crunchy!
It’s said that the high temperature baking gives it that crunchiness.
I was also surprised by how well the garlic-infused basil sauce paired with the lotus root.
With plenty of cheese, it also has a nice roasted flavor.
The taste of the homemade yeast pizza dough made from fruit peels, which I was most curious about, has… no fruit flavor.
There’s no sourness, and it has a chewy, elastic, and fragrant dough.
I thought the dough itself would stand out in flavor, but it properly enhances the main ingredients.
The pizza's yeast and ingredients change depending on the season.
Now, what kind of pizza should I eat next?
I spoke with the manager, Inoue-san, about Miyake Shoten's thoughts and the background of starting the pizza.
Miyake Shoten Sakazu, Waterside Café Data
| Name | Miyake Shoten Sakazu, Waterside Café |
|---|---|
| Address | 2829 Sakazu, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-435-0046 |
| Parking | Available 17 cars |
| Business Hours | Weekdays: 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM (Last Order: 3:00 PM) Weekends and Holidays: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Last Order: 4:00 PM) *Currently operating with shortened hours due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Regular Holidays | None |
| Payment Methods |
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| Reservation Availability | Yes Evening service is by reservation only. |
| Seating | Indoor seating: 35 seats Number of tables: 9 Number of counters: 5 Outdoor seating: 35 seats Number of tables: 7 Number of counters: 6 |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking allowed only in designated areas) |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | High chairs available |
| Website | Miyake Shoten - Sakazu - Waterside Café |
