4 unique cafes in Kagawa off the tourist trail

[Tadotsu] Geijyutsu Kissa Shimizu Onsen: cafe inside a bathhouse

Old, yet charming facade

Historic buildings line the streets of Tadotsu town. Take a walk down the main street and soak up the nostalgic ambience. Soon, you will arrive at our first pick – Geijyutsu Kissa Shimizu Onsen cafe. This place could easily be mistaken for anything other than a cafe. The Japanese alphabet on the curtain hung outside literally means “bath.”

The cafe’s name, Geijyutsu Kissa Shimizu Onsen, loosely translates to art café at Shimizu hot spring.
The cafe is housed inside a renovated bathhouse that operated until the mid-1970s. The building has retained many of its original features, including the tiled roof and the faded signboard outside.

Remnants of the former bathhouse – can you spot them all?

Lockers used since the bathhouse days

One step inside and you will immediately notice the high lattice ceiling and a cat doll welcoming you at the desk.
The room oozes with a retro-feel created by the building’s original features, such as the wooden lockers labeled with Japanese numbers. The dark colored columns and the old fan hanging from the wall will take you back in time to the bathhouse’s heydays.

Dynamic tile art

Walk further into the cafe to discover a colorful and dynamic display of tile art. The large cherry blossom tree and cute tiny dragon patterns are the works of Japanese artist Hidaka Naoto. He created all the art displays here, including the cat figures.

Bathtubs turned into diner booths

This area -- once a bathtub -- has been transformed into the diner’s popular booths. The cute bath tiles and the stone bathtubs are a strange, yet charming mix. Both the visuals and the dining experience is unique. When you remove your shoes before sitting, it almost feels like dipping into a hot bathtub.

Menu placed inside a wooden wash basin

Menu featuring local produce

The cafe’s concept and charming interior is enough to make your visit worthwhile.
Now, let's talk about the cafe’s special dishes.

Olive beef and tofu patty steak (1000 yen)

For lunch, we recommend the olive beef and tofu burger steak. Olive beef is a local variety of beef fed on olives – grown widely on nearby Shodo Island. Because the beef is mixed with tofu, the beef patty steak has a light and airy texture. It is served with a rich demi-glace sauce – a perfect compliment to the steak.

Shaved ice with red bean: Ninomiya Kintoki Kakigori（800 yen)

If you are here for a lighter meal, try the shaved ice. Usually, shaved ice is a summer treat. But it is a perennial favorite at Shimizu Onsen cafe.

Out of the many flavors, the cafe recommends Ninomiya Kintoki, which is a savory green tea flavored ice served red-beans. Enjoy the chewy texture of the shiratama dumplings made from solely tofu.

The syrup is made from green tea harvested in Takase. The town has a local reputation for tea harvesting, but is relatively unknown outside Kagawa. The cafe proprietor hopes the use of local Takase tea leaves will help spread the word of this special tea.

A place where art brings people together

Bath house original signboard

The owner launched the cafe to bring new life into the community and attract visitors.

Owner Tomomichi Hidaka

“I thought that a cafe based on art would attract more art here, and eventually more people. If more travelers come, perhaps some would want to stay and live here. I want the cafe to be a place that inspires travelers to cross over and become part of the town.”

Immerse yourself in art in this nostalgic space and savor the cafe’s signature food. This cafe is a destination in itself that is sure to lure you back to Tadotsu town.

[Kannonji] Okashi Kobo Botan: cafe, craftspeople and cats

Look for the light blue door

Okashi Kobo Botan stands on top of an idyllic mountain route. It is about an hour’s drive away from Takamatsu station.

Cafe run by craftspeople and surrounded by nature and cats

friendly felines

Customers are greeted at the entrance by many of the cafe’s residing cats.
The cafe stands in a quiet area surrounded by fields. Despite its location, it receives a constant flow of visitors throughout the day. Perhaps the cats are drawn here for the same reasons as humans – the rich nature and the sweet smell of baked goods.

The cafe’s mascot dog Mochiko sometimes comes to greet visitors too

A pastry chef and her carpenter husband run the cafe. The husband mostly builds custom made furniture, adding a simple, yet stylish look to the cafe. All the furniture pieces inside the cafe are available for purchase.

Dessert menu features local fruits (1600 yen + tax)

Chef's dessert plate features local fruits (1600 yen + tax)

The chef’s “capricious sweet plate” is one of the cafe’s signature items. This dessert uses a large amount of seasonal fruits and is both delicious and visually appealing.
On the day we visited, the star ingredients were red, ripe, locally grown strawberries.

The dessert plate included a muffin, ice cream, pudding, and a scone -- all of which were bursting with a strawberry flavor and aroma. This plate presents a single fruit in many delicious forms.

Lemon squash featuring local lemons（520 yen＋tax）

The lemon squash uses lemons harvested at a nearby orchard.
It is a tangy, refreshing drink that is perfect for a hot summer day.

Light and airy snowball cookies (200 yen and up + tax)

The cafe also has a number of items that can only be found here. If you are short on time, pick up a few baked items to enjoy later.

Boxed items that make wonderful gifts

A space full of dreams

A corner of the cafe is reserved for wooden items and baked goods

The cafe owner, Ms Hiraguchi used to work for a cake shop. We asked her how the cafe got started here. She said it was her husband who purchased the building, which used to be a construction office.

“My husband’s woodwork shop was deep in the mountains and I wondered if we would have more visitors if we had space to enjoy tea. There were no cafes in this area a decade ago, so I thought I might as well open one myself.”

Cutting boards with beautiful wood grain surface

Apart from baked treats, the cafe also sells wooden miscellaneous items and wooden kitchen accessories, such as the cutting boards used at the cafe.

[Tadotsu town] Tetugakuya : cafe x philosophy

modern facade

Tetugakuya is housed in a renovated building,formally a credit union bank. This cafe is tucked away in a quiet area away from the main street, and is almost like a small hideaway.
There is no signboard outside, and visitors need to be older than 16 to enter because of the expensive interior.

The cafe has many antiques on display and almost feels like a museum

Antique goods decorate the cafe

Push open the heavy entrance door and step into a magical,nostalgic place brimming with the aroma of coffee.
The cafe proprietor selected the decorations and antique furniture scattered across the room. All items are for purchase, so look around for anything that catches your eye.

Selection of fountain pen stands

unique interior

At first glance, some of the items on display may appear creepy, such as the broken dolls. The quirky collection is meant to create a museum-like feel, similar to old European museums. The displayed items are of a strange mix, but they all seem to blend together and create a cozy ambience.

counter area -- a favorite spot of regulars

Many of the cafe’s regular guests come alone, so the main seating area is the counter, where guests end up mingling. Either with or without company, the cafe is a relaxing space.

original bank vault

Coffee with tales to tell

Tetugakuya serves its original blend coffee by hand drip. Tetugakua’s name is inspired by the cafe’s signature coffee.

Hannah Arendt’s morning (800 yen)

One of the house blends is named after the German philosopher Hannah Arendt, who reportedly enjoyed slow mornings with many cups of coffee. When she was a student, she insisted on keeping her morning ritual and skipped morning lectures. She was allowed to submit reports instead. The coffee named “Hannah Arendt’s morning” is inspired by her strong character. It is a deep roasted coffee with bold flavors.

Many other items are named after philosophers and book titles. One of the cafe’s biggest draws is its signature dishes, which are all inspired by thought-provoking ideas. Each menu item has an interesting story behind it.

Beakers used for pour-over dripping

If you are more of a tea fan, the cafe serves original tea blends and caffeine-free fruit teas.

Cafe that connects and evolves

Counter area created by frequenter artist

The cafe is driven by the passion of its proprietor, Ayano Sugihara. She wants her life to revolve around philosophy.
She wants her cafe to be a relaxing space, as well as a place where people can meet.

Owner Ayano Sugihara
“This cafe is incomplete. I want it to be a venue to meet new people. Each encounter will help the cafe and myself grow and improve.”

Would rather spend quiet time on your own? The cafe is also a wonderful place for that too, and comforting coffee and tea recipes await you.

The cafe also holds regular philosophy reading sessions. Details are available on the cafe's website.

【Marugame】KITOKURAS: cafe × lumber shop

cafe surrounded by woods

Our last stop is about a 40-minute drive from Takamatsu station. KITOKURAS is a cozy, woody cafe that is operated by the people behind the lumber shop across the street.

Forest-like feel. Sunshine pours into the cafe

Window view full of nature

Once indoors, take in the warm woody scent wafting through the cafe. Solid wood is used for the walls, floor and ceiling.
The large window facing the entrance has a fantastic view of the cedar forest surrounding the cafe. Alfresco seats are available if you fancy picking up a light meal while forest bathing. There are also benches placed amidst the bamboo trees. There is a library in the back of the cafe, where guests can enjoy food and drinks. Choose a spot in this cafe surrounded by trees and spend time the way you would like.

wooden playground equipment outdoors

For those with children in town, the cafe has set up an outdoor playground with a wooden slide and swings. The cafe is a nice hangout spot for families.

Grab-and-go cake and coffee for caffeine lovers

Twig-shaped cake (300 yen) and coffee (400 yen)

Cafe guests are welcome to stroll through the surrounding woods. Even a dessert has been created for this purpose… mini twig-shaped biscuits.
We tried the Earl Gray and walnut, which were mildly sweet and had a firm, moist texture. They were so delicious we finished them in no time.

The cafe sources its coffee beans from a coffee enthusiast. The nel drip coffee is rich and full of flavors. The beans are handpicked and roasted in small batches. The roasting time depends on the weather.

“Live with trees” -- spreading the message across generations.

The cafe also has a space selling wooden goods, such as bowls and single-stem vases that can be used for many years.
The cafe’s underlying concept is to live with the trees. The name KITOKURASU means the same.

Proprietor Yuki Maruo explained how the cafe came to life.
“Probably most of us will never visit a lumber shop during our lifetime. I have always wanted people to appreciate wood more, and that’s how things got started.”

KITOKURAS cafe owner Yuki Maruo

A variety of daily items are displayed in a corner of the cafe. They are simple yet elegant pieces that will make the perfect compliment to any room.

Many items for home decoration

Single-stem test-tube vase with wooden base

These single flower vases can be hung from a wall. No need for fancy flowers…. These vases elegantly display even the simplest flowers and plants. All the vases are different because they are created from natural solid wood.

Shop around for other wooden items, such as the cafe cups, accessories and handcrafts by local artists.

KITOKURAS FACTORY SHOP

Before you leave, drop by the lumber shop across the street. There are more wooden pieces available, including furniture. Perhaps you will find something to decorate your home.

non-barking guard dog, Muku-chan

KITOKURAS is a wonderful place to savor food and nature. It is popular with families with children and couples, but all generations are sure to enjoy their time here.

Explore Kagawa’s unique cafes.

That is all for our article on four cafes in Kagawa with extraordinary charm. Just visiting one of them will surely make your trip to Kagawa unforgettable.