NIKKO COFFEE

‘NIKKO COFFEE’ is the name of a café in neighboring city Nikko, about 45 minute-drive from home.

The mountains west of the city are part of Nikko National Park.

The area has some of the country's most spectacular waterfalls, scenic trails and a beautiful lake.

It’s said that the owner who is also the owner of Kyo-Cha-An in Kanuma city renovated a 100-year-old Taisho era house into the modern café spending three years.

My wife and I had lunch and coffee at the café/cafe.

Reve Continuer

 My wife’s friend Ogiwara-san recently opened a restaurant called “Reve Continuer” in the suburb of Utsunomiya city. We were invited to the restaurant the other day.

 She is practicing classical ballet as my wife does in the same ballet class together.

Before opening the restaurant, Ogiwara-san gave us sample foods that she would serve there at every occasion and we gave her frank comments.

 Since she has been learning cooking in Tokyo for years, tastes of dishes were wonderful even she opened it a few weeks ago.

We enjoyed about an hour of small talk and nice meals in a cozy atmosphere.

"Red Bird" Is the Name of a Restaurant

Akai Tori, Red bird in English, is the name of a restaurant.

It stands just across the street from home.

We can’t go out or come back home without seeing it. But it’s our first time to get in the restaurant.

My wife, daughter Emi and I went there a couple weeks ago, had bowls of ice shavings with syrup and an ice cream with sweet boiled beans and fruits.

They kept hundreds of strange dolls, figures, accessories, and so forth in the shop.

Café NIEF

corridor on the second floor

 My wife and I went to café NIEF the other day.

We went up to the second floor using a narrow stairway equipped outside the building. 

The owner of the café must have refurbished an old Japanese style apartment house.

We ate noodles with a bowl of soup and salad.

A customer is taking a look at the menu and the other is looking around the decorations in the room. 

The second floor was divided several small rooms.

They decorated the walls and its corridor with old black and white photographs.

Those photographs gave the café a modern atmosphere.