I visited Orange House Hokkori in Otani, Konko Town, Asakuchi City.
Konko Town, Asakuchi City, which I visited, is the birthplace of Konkokyo.
Among its districts, Otani is known not only locally but throughout Japan as a temple town with the Konkokyo headquarters.
Some people may recognize it more readily as a filming location for the movie “Tonbi” (released in 2022).
Old shop buildings and signs remain, and the town has a quiet, distinctive atmosphere that makes it feel as if you have traveled back to the Showa era.
Although it was my first time there, the moment I stepped into the town, I felt a curious sense of nostalgia come over me.
The information presented was current when this article was published in May 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Overview of Orange House Hokkori
Orange House Hokkori is about a three-minute walk from the parking lot in front of Konko Library.
Its orange exterior stands out against the nostalgic streetscape, making it easy to find.
There is no dedicated parking lot. Click here for the address and information about available parking.
Orange House Hokkori is run by Shinji and Keiko, a married couple who live in Asakuchi City.
It opened in November 2021.
Alongside their regular jobs, they are open only on Sundays.
Orange House Hokkori is not a cafe whose sole purpose is to attract customers.
The cafe’s concept is “a place where everyone can gather and connect freely.”
In the interview later in the article, we heard more about why they chose this concept, how they got started, and what they do.
First, here is a brief introduction to the cafe’s basic information and the events held on the day of our visit.
Introducing the cafe menu, open every Sunday
▼Here is the menu.
I mentioned earlier that “this is not a cafe whose sole purpose is to attract customers,” but that certainly doesn’t mean they don’t care about their menu.
More than a year has passed since it opened in 2021, and the menu seems to have grown as well.
Omelet rice with wonderfully soft, runny eggs
Taco rice is also available for lunch, but since omelet rice has been on the menu since the cafe first opened, I chose that.
A regular size is also available (1,000 yen including tax), but even the small size was plenty for me.
The eggs were incredibly soft and runny, making for a gentle, comforting meal.
The omelet rice is made with Takata Eggs (Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture), produced using carefully managed poultry farming methods.
The coffee I ordered separately from the lunch set came with a snack.
A rotating morning set (500 yen including tax) is served from 8 a.m.
They also seem to offer seasonal menu items from time to time.
Check Instagram for the latest menu information.
Two events held on the day of the visit
Orange House Hokkori holds a variety of events.
Two events were held on the day of our visit.
The first was a ukulele performance by Yatsu Yukiko.
This was her second live performance at Orange House Hokkori.
Yatsu Yukiko works in music-related activities and education.
She apparently used to teach the cafe owner Shinji’s eldest son, and that connection led to her performing there.
The second was a community networking event hosted by the Otani West District Community Development Guidelines Revitalization Committee.
The Otani district of Konko Town was a major filming location for the movie “Tonbi.”
People who knew what the town was like during filming, as well as those who appeared as extras, gathered together.
The event was held at Orange House Hokkori as a place where people could connect and talk about various things related to the movie.
Since there was also an event on the day of our visit, local residents came and went throughout the day.
It was clear that the cafe had become part of the community as “a place where everyone can gather and connect freely,” just as its concept describes.
After the event wound down, we spoke in detail with Shinji and Keiko about how they came to establish Orange House Hokkori.
Orange House Hokkori details
| Name | Orange House Hokkori |
|---|---|
| Address | 293 Otani, Konko Town, Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | Not listed |
| Parking | None There is no dedicated parking lot. Please use the parking lot in front of Konko Library or the lot below the grounds of the Konkokyo headquarters. |
| Hours | Open Sundays only / 8 a.m.–3 p.m. *Hours may change. |
| Closed | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, public holidays, and irregular days |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Seating | Counter seats: 3 Tables: 4 |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilet, accessible toilet |
| Children | Children welcome |
| Accessibility | Accessible toilet Ostomate toilet available |
| Website | Orange House Hokkori: Official Instagram |
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