In April 2025, " Waryu Proposta " opened as a pre-opening inside LOGIN Kurashiki in 2-chome, Achi, Kurashiki City. It is a popular shop known for its siphon-brewed brown rice tea and handmade Japanese sweets.
The generous sweets include red bean paste cooked in a copper pot and dorayaki pancakes that are grilled one by one upon order, using plenty of locally sourced fruits, and the fan base is rapidly growing.
I heard that the shop "Waryu Proposta" will relocate to a larger space across from the current store starting October 1, 2025, so I went to interview the shop during its pre-opening.
A spacious new store full of artistic flair, a warm handmade space
The new store is located across from the previous store.
The interior of the new store, crafted by the staff's DIY efforts, feels warm with wood, fitting for "Wa" (Japanese style), and harmonizes well with the greenery of the trees and lawn in the courtyard.
The hanging sign at the entrance is a custom piece.
The logo, reminiscent of leaves swaying in the wind, is painted on this sign made of soft cedar, and was created by the representative Haruyama's sister.
Upon entering the shop, a large painting caught my eye.
This painting of a baku is the work of artist Kawano Ryuzo, who has a gallery in Kurashiki.
Kawano, who was introduced to Waryu Proposta through interactions with food suppliers, saw this space and immediately liked it, creating a piece to display here.
At the new store, in addition to the traditional Japanese sweets, lunch and dinner will also be offered.
Lunch and dinner will also be offered at the new store
The person in charge of the cooking is Kumon Hiroya, who previously managed "Proposta," a restaurant loved for its local production for local consumption in Okayama City.
While valuing ingredients from the local Kurashiki and Takahashi River basin, he is also focusing on delicious ingredients from all over the country for menu development.
The menu for this pre-opening day featured "Black Wagyu Beef Peposo Braised in Red Wine."
Peposo means pepper in Italian and is a traditional dish from the Tuscany region, referring to beef braised with black pepper and red wine.
The side dish includes seasonal eggplant, Caciocavallo cheese from Yoshida Farm, mashed potatoes, and is visually appealing and very filling. The sauce pairs well with the tagliatelle pasta, and I enjoyed every last drop with the baguette.
Kumon aims to create a complete dish in one plate, and upon tasting it, I was thoroughly satisfied with both the flavor and the quality and quantity of the dish.
When I inquired about the lunch menu, I was told they are planning a Western-style bento.
I thought, "Isn't it 'Waryu' yet Western-style?" but it seems they will offer Western-style dishes in a "bento" format, which is a Japanese style. It sounds like a children's lunch for adults, making me even more excited for the opening.
Both lunch and dinner are reservation-only (3 days in advance), so please make your reservations early.
The cafe menu is becoming even more substantial, and the sale of Tenryo Inari will continue
The representative, Haruyama Masataka, is in charge of the fragrant brown rice tea brewed with a siphon and the carefully cooked red bean paste used in the Japanese-style sweets.
For the brown rice tea, Okayama Prefecture's "Nikomaru" is roasted at a high temperature of 400°C and combined with the less astringent sencha "Karigane."
It is said to be the first in Japan to brew brown rice tea with a siphon, and when topped with roasted brown rice that pops at high temperatures, the aroma and flavor are further enhanced.
The generous sweets are recommended not only as a dessert after meals but also for cafe time.
This is a summer favorite, a peach daifuku made with a whole white peach.
In the future, a "Shine Muscat Daifuku" is planned to be introduced as an autumn sweet.
The sweets menu developed under Kumon's supervision includes "An-Nori," an arrangement of the Italian dolce "Cannoli," as well as tiramisu, grapes, red bean paste, and even parfaits that combine various ingredients, promising a delightful experience of flavors and textures.
The highly praised red bean paste, carefully cooked in a copper pot every day, is used in all the menu items.
Additionally, the limited quantity "Tenryo Inari," which has been very popular since the opening, will continue to be sold on the 1st and 15th of each month.
Those who are looking forward to it will surely feel at ease.
Message from Representative Haruyama
When I asked Mr. Haruyama about his future aspirations, he replied as follows.
Haruyama (honorifics omitted)
Of course, the success of the shop is important, but I want to cherish the connections with local tea shops and farmers, and deliver the goodness of the Kurashiki region.
To invigorate this area, I will also work hard as a member of the community. And eventually, I would like to sell unique sweets that can only be found here on a national scale.
I am looking forward to the day when unique products from Kurashiki will be shared nationwide.
Conclusion
With delicious Japanese tea and handmade Japanese sweets, my enjoyment of visiting Waryu Proposta for lunch or dinner has increased. I also look forward to the changes in the shop's interior as it continues to develop.
The courtyard of Login Kurashiki was impressive with its lush green grass and trees, even during this hot summer, indicating that it is well-maintained. In autumn, the maple leaves will surely be beautiful.
While it is certainly great for lunch and dinner, this coming season, enjoying a meal in the courtyard or taking out tea and sweets to stroll around the Bikan Historical Area would also be wonderful.
Regarding the Bakus' paintings, I heard that "originally, the Bakus, a mythical creature from China, were believed to eat nightmares and protect people. As this legend was passed down, they were confused with the real animal, the tapir, so they do not actually eat dreams."
The shop's Bakus will continue to watch over the two's big dreams.
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Data of Waryu Proposta
| Name | Waryu Proposta |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-20-9 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture (inside LOGIN Kurashiki) |
| Contact | 080-4421-3343 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM *Dinner service by reservation only |
| Regular Holidays | Monday If the 1st or 15th is a Monday, we will be open |
| Payment Methods |
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| Website | Waryu Proposta Instagram |
