Higashimachi Street, a little away from the Bikan Historical Area.
It has a very quiet and calm atmosphere, a street where you can hear the sounds of daily life, quite different from tourist spots.
“Yume Kukan Hashimaya” is a hidden café located deep in the narrow alley of Higashimachi Street.
It is a wonderful shop full of history and charm, renovated from the rice store of the Kurashiki City designated Important Cultural Property “Kusudo House.”
How about a hearty curry rice or cake in a modern classical interior?
I will introduce “Yume Kukan Hashimaya,” where just being there makes you feel like you have time-traveled.
As of December 26, 2021, the regular business for the 2021 fiscal year has ended, and it reopened in April 2022 as “atelier&salon Hashimaya.”
“Yume Kukan Hashimaya” inside the Kurashiki City designated Important Cultural Property “Kusudo House”
Once you pass through the main street of the Bikan Historical Area, you will encounter a townscape with a quiet and calm atmosphere.
This is Higashimachi Street.
Ohara Museum of Art and others are located on the Kawadori, which is quite different from this quiet residential area.
At the entrance of Higashimachi Street is the Kurashiki City designated Important Cultural Property “Kusudo House,” and “Yume Kukan Hashimaya.”
At the entrance of Yume Kukan Hashimaya, there is the representative kimono store of Kurashiki, “Hashimaya Kimono Store,” founded in 1869, and across the street is “Kurashiki Kiln and Southern Italian Cuisine Hashimaya,” known for its deliciousness in Kurashiki City.
Hashimaya Kimono Store is run by the fifth generation of the Kusudo family, while Kurashiki Kiln and Southern Italian Cuisine Hashimaya is run by the sixth generation.
As you pass through the narrow alley, a delicate and modern sign welcomes you.
When you see the sign of Yume Kukan Hashimaya, you might think it could come to life, as it is filled with a nostalgic atmosphere.
The lantern of the Kusudo family’s shop name “Hashimaya” is also present.
The name “Hashimaya” originally comes from the fact that the ancestors of the Kusudo family were from Hashima in Kurashiki City.
The courtyard surrounded by Kusudo House and the namako wall
Passing through the gate of the café entrance, there is a surprisingly quiet courtyard that feels like it is not part of a residence.
The well-maintained greenery is beautiful, creating a very luxurious space.
There are also smoking seats in this courtyard area.
The rice store of “Kusudo House” features a namako wall with raised plaster filling the joints between square tiles.
It is said to have taken five years from 1882 to 1887 to complete, and it is over 140 years old.
This rice store has been renovated by “Kurashiki Architecture Workshop” to operate the café “Yume Kukan Hashimaya.”
A modern café interior that evokes the rice store
This is the interior of Yume Kukan Hashimaya. The ceiling is very high, and you can see the thick and magnificent beams.
While retaining the atmosphere of the rice store, it has been renovated into a modern and stylish café typical of the Bikan Historical Area.
A view of the interior from the loft on the second floor.
You can see a large table for ten people and a grand piano.
Is there a shadow in front of the grand piano!? Quite surprising.
This is a steel art piece by the artist “Tokumochi Koichiro.”
It is a wonderful work that feels as if a pianist is there, mysterious and somehow warm.
The interior also features paintings from “Hashimaya Kimono Store.”
Frozen Maruto Smoothie article introduces the trademark of Hashimaya, “〇 to,” which is prominently depicted.
While I was looking around, a delicious aroma wafted from the counter...
Let’s enjoy the signature hamburger curry of Yume Kukan Hashimaya.
Limited-time lunch special “Special Handmade Hamburger Curry”
The “Special Handmade Hamburger Curry” is available from 11 AM to 2 PM, in limited quantities.
It comes with a salad for 1,500 yen (tax included), and drinks and desserts are each an additional 300 yen (tax included).
Hamburger and curry rice! Delicious items are collaborating on the plate.
The glossy curry sauce and the round hamburger rolling on the plate.
It’s quite large and hefty, not a topping size hamburger, which makes me excited.
When I cut the hamburger, juicy meat juice flows out!
It is a very delicious hamburger with a strong meat flavor. It pairs well with the curry.
The toppings of fried eggplant, bell pepper, and boiled egg are delightful.
Why do fried vegetables go so well with curry?
They are like a magical topping that makes both even more delicious.
Don't forget to pay attention to the rice in the curry rice.
What do you think the red chip-like thing sprinkled on the rice is?
The answer is "dried skin of blanched cherry tomatoes for salad." Tomato skin!
I want to reduce food waste and eliminate food loss as much as possible.
It seems that the café menu is also thoughtfully designed with this in mind.
Of course, the salad was also packed with ingredients, and I enjoyed it very much.
Café Menu Recommendation! Basque Cheesecake
I had cheesecake from the café menu.
The cheesecake at Yume Kukan Hashimaya is a "Basque Cheesecake" that has been baked to a glossy finish.
It is said to be a cake characterized by its rich and fragrant flavor, achieved by baking it quickly at a high temperature to create a burnt surface.
The cheesecake is available as a drink set for 900 yen (tax included). The contents may vary by day.
Actually, I had never eaten Basque cheesecake before. I was surprised by its deliciousness!
It has a smooth and rich flavor that is unimaginable from its appearance.
I was impressed by its exceptional deliciousness among all the cheesecakes I have eaten so far.
In the future, they are also planning a new parfait using Fujito Manju red bean paste for the new menu item "Frozen Maruto Smoothy." I’m looking forward to it!
Conclusion
Delicious curry rice and cheesecake enjoyed in a historic rice store over 140 years old.
By touching on the history of the Kusudo family, I have developed a deeper affection for the Bikan Historical Area and Kurashiki.
By the way, the café menu is served on the plates and dishes that were once used by the Kusudo family.
It is a wonderful space where I felt the importance of using what remains more beautifully and carefully.
Enjoy a wonderful café time along with the culture and traditions of Kurashiki.
Yume Kukan Hashimaya Information
| Name | Yume Kukan Hashimaya |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-20 Higashimachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-451-1040 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Regular Holiday | Tuesday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | Available |
| Seating | 28 seats total 4 counter seats 2 tables for 4 people 3 tables for 2 people 1 table for 10 people |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking allowed only in designated areas) |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Official Website of Yume Kukan Hashimaya |
