In July 2023, a coffee shop called Yozora no Coffee opened in a traditional house located in the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture.
It operates one night a week on Friday evenings, coexisting with the shop Nijiiro Shoten, which is open during the day at the same location.
When I visited the shop and wondered, "Why only one day a week?", I was enveloped in the aroma of coffee and found a moment of relaxation, touching the gentle intentions of the owner.
Let me introduce Yozora no Coffee, run by an owner who has experience as a support staff at a facility for people with disabilities.
A Relaxing Space Open Only One Day a Week
Yozora no Coffee opened in July 2023 as the night section of Nijiiro Shoten, which operates during the day at the same location in Higashimachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture.
In the relatively quiet streets of the Bikan Historical Area, lights come on one day a week, from 6 PM to 10 PM on Fridays.
The interior has the charm of a traditional house, wrapped in warm-colored lights with soft music playing.
The Manabi no Blend I was served had a refreshing taste that was easy to drink, and as I took a moment with the freshly ground coffee, I felt the flow of gentle time.
It felt as if the gentle air enveloped the shop, easing the tension in my shoulders.
Starting a Coffee Shop from a Different Industry
The owner is Yokoro Yuhei, who previously worked as a support staff at a facility for people with disabilities.
After being diagnosed with a developmental disability, Yokoro began to think about creating a place where both people with disabilities and those without could thrive equally.
His aspiration to open a coffee shop stemmed from a successful experience where he created coffee drip packs that provided a sense of purpose for people with disabilities, leading them to stop taking breaks from work.
While working as a support staff, he thought, "Is there something I can do with coffee?" and visited coffee bean retailers and coffee shops to learn about roasting methods and brewing techniques through self-study.
A Menu Born from the Pursuit of an Unboring Cup
Yokoro repeatedly roasted coffee and brewed countless cups, striving to create a taste he was satisfied with.
Those he sought advice from told him, "Even if it's just one type, if you can create a coffee that you can drink every morning, make that your product," and thus the Manabi no Blend was finally born.
The coffee menu, which was pursued through various trials, consists of six types.
| Yozora no Coffee Menu | Name | All items 500 yen (tax included) |
|---|---|---|
| Blend | Yozora no Coffee | Rich bitterness and depth |
| Manabi no Blend | Characteristic aroma and refreshing | |
| Chocolat (NEW) | Bitterness continues from the first sip to the last | |
| Decaffeinated | Brazil | Bitterness and aroma are felt immediately, but then it becomes refreshing |
| Milk-based | Latte-oriented | Richly brewed coffee topped with creamy milk foam |
| Milk Coffee | Coffee mixed with milk and vanilla syrup for a comforting taste |
Aiming for a Place Where People with and without Disabilities Can Work Together
I spoke with Yokoro, who works as a nursery teacher and a free school teacher during the day, about the inspiration for opening the shop, stories after opening, and his dreams for the future.
What was the inspiration for opening Yozora no Coffee?
Yokoro (no honorifics)
I shared on social media (Tarinaibenkyouka) that I was pursuing my dream of making coffee, and while serving coffee at events, I was approached by the owner of Nijiiro Shoten.
Since we had the same goals, we decided to start operating as the night section.
How has it been since you started operating?
Yokoro
There were days when we had zero customers, and there were times I felt like giving up, but I had various encounters, such as groups of mothers with children with disabilities using the shop for dates, and people with developmental disabilities coming to talk.
When someone I met for the first time talked to me and said, "I feel refreshed," the expression on their face brought me an indescribable joy, and I felt happy.
What kind of shop are you aiming for?
Yokoro
I hope it becomes a place where people with and without disabilities can interact freely, talking to each other as neighbors.
Sometimes we also operate on days other than Friday in an event-like manner. I think I need to consider expanding the days of operation in the future.
And I want this place to become a place where people with and without disabilities can work together someday.
Conclusion
The aroma of the coffee I drank after the interview helped to unwind my tension.
The gentle atmosphere of the shop reflects the shy owner, Yokoro.
I believe there are various coffee times, whether it's a reward time for oneself after hard work or a healing time, but why not take a moment on Friday night at Yozora no Coffee?
Data on Yozora no Coffee
| Name | Yozora no Coffee |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-24 Higashimachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-3900 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | Friday 6 PM - 10 PM |
| Closed | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | Available |
| Seating | 12 seats: 2 tables for 3, 3 tables for 2 |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet, barrier-free toilet |
| Childcare | Diaper changing sheet Strollers allowed |
| Barrier-free | Barrier-free toilet Wheelchair accessible |
| Website | Yozora no Coffee |
