Kitamoto, Saitama, Japan｜gallery&cafe yaichi

It's not so much a coffee shop as it is a utensil shop that sells coffee. It takes about an hour by train from Tokyo. Since I live nearby, it only takes half an hour to drive there. Gallery&cafe Yaichi opened in 2009 is located in Kitamoto City, Saitama Prefecture. It is only a two- to three-minute walk away from Kitamoto Station on the JR Takasaki Line. According to Tokyo’s concept, it should be a very lively place two to three minutes from the station. However, in this small street The alley has become slightly quiet. All the utensils in the store come from the daily collection of the owner Yabe-san. Exhibitions of the writer's utensils are held regularly here, and antique utensils purchased by the boss during his travels in Europe are also sold. The boss was engaged in design in Tokyo at that time. The furnishings and decorations in the store all reflect his taste and aesthetics. I asked why such a good place doesn’t open to Tokyo. Wouldn’t there be more customers? The shop owner said that Kitamoto was the place where he was born. He used to go to Tokyo every day when he was working, but he still felt that he could not integrate. Only when he returned to the countryside could he feel life and know that he was still alive. On the other hand, if it opened in Tokyo, it would definitely be overcrowded, right? That would be too noisy. How is it any different from office workers? After hearing this, I suddenly understood. This is also the biggest reason why I live in the country. The coffee beans in the store will change frequently and are not fixed. Compared with the chatty boss, his wife is silent and returns as soon as the food is served. In the kitchen, this is also a kind of complementary personality. When I left, I fell in love with a plate. It was simple and heavy. I thought it would be good for serving fried rice. Although it was a bit expensive, I still bought it. When I got home, I immediately made fried rice and started using it. No matter how elegant the utensils are, if they are not actually used to serve food. Then it loses its meaning. For most people, this place is indeed a bit far, but if you come, it will be worth it, trust me.

What a lovely gallery and cafe! The lunch set is unique: it's a set price for the salad, soup, and a drink, and a main dish is ¥500 extra. I ended up paying ¥1980 for the lunch set with a main dish; this is, of course, quite expensive for lunch. But the food was great quality, and it's a nice atmosphere, and the tableware is clearly not purchased from a mass producer. So if you don't mind spending, I'd recommend it. The galette is made from local buckwheat flour; while I've not had many galettes to compare it to, it was tasty. The menu has no English but has pictures. The gallery displays handmade tableware from individual artists as well as antiques from Europe (they are for sale). The staff is also very friendly and if you speak Japanese, they'll give you local recommendations and explain the artworks.

I visited around 13:00 on Saturday. The atmosphere of the appearance was also wonderful, but when I opened the door, it was more than I imagined. The sound of healing, the space was spreading. A group of customers. I sat in a large seat in the back room. At first glance, I decided on a buckwheat flour galette! My partner got lost and went for an organic pork yakiniku bowl. Potage soup, salad, and drink are included in the lunch set for an additional 500 yen, so of course you can add it. Organic apple juice, Dimbula (iced tea), and other good quality items were a great value. The galette was freshly made and crispy, with a soft basil scent, and it was delicious with just the right amount of salt. My partner's organic pork yakiniku bowl also had a stylish ginger-grilled appearance, and the scent that passed through my nose was mellow and delicious. It was a very nice shop where you can have a delicious lunch in a luxurious space and be healed. I stopped by the gallery on my way home, and it was a feast for the eyes as there were many wonderful items such as tableware, hats, accessories, and paintings. It was a shop I wanted to visit again.