Koshigaya-shuku Old Nikko Kaido

"8-minute walk from Koshigaya Station.
The former Ono residence, built in 1905, is 120 years old and is a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure).
This complex consists of six stores renovated from old houses.
It houses three restaurants, a massage parlor, a farm vegetable shop, and an event space.
The narrow entrance makes it easy to pass by without a noren curtain or sign.
There is no dedicated parking, but there is paid parking nearby.
There is no sidewalk and the road in front is very busy, so be careful of children running out into the street.
Pets are not allowed.

Koshigaya-juku flourished as a post town during the Edo period.
The former Ono family residence has been on this site for 120 years, since 1905.
Originally, the residence ran a fertilizer store, and later began selling scales, hence the name "Hakariya."
The residence was also a branch of a lumber merchant's family, and was built using fine wood.
This wooden building features multiple buildings connected to the back, including a shopfront with a dirt floor, a sitting room, a storehouse, a barn, and a separate annex.

Starting from the front of the building...

[Mise-no-Ma] The Gifter of Tea
★★★★
A tea shop serving Japanese tea and light meals (rice ball set meals). Perfect for a tea break. The delicious aroma of bonito broth wafts from the shop.

[Zashiki-no-Ma] Japanese Restaurant
This 16-tatami sitting room is the main feature of the former Ohno family residence. It previously housed the French restaurant Modest, but has since relocated to a nearby location. A Japanese restaurant is scheduled to open in spring 2024. Unfortunately, it was undergoing renovations and we were unable to enter, but the wooden transoms, shelves, and pillars, all made from high-quality wood from a lumber merchant, are noteworthy.

[Courtyard] Restrooms
There are two restrooms, and you must take off your shoes before entering.
The first thing that catches your eye is the Naguri flooring. Its textured finish, known as "naguri," gives it a refined appearance. Walking here feels warm and comfortable on the soles of your feet. The floor makes you want to sweep it with a broom instead of a vacuum or dustpan.
And to the right is the heavy door of the storehouse leading to the wild game restaurant.
The lattice window facing the restroom is also charming.

[Storehouse Room]urtro
★★★★★
urtro is a traditional Japanese bistro specializing in meat dishes, including wild game. Reservations are required. The food was creative and the best I've had eating out recently. I also recommend the ¥500 craft coke.
On the first floor, there's only counter seating. On the second floor, you have to take your shoes off and go up the stairs to find a table.

[Barn]Event Space
Even on social media, it's very difficult to understand what's going on. Different vendors open on different days during the week. On weekends, different vendors open on different days.
Also, two or three vendors open together, making it difficult to find the one you're looking for. A list of vendors is written on a blackboard. The design simplifies the transport of exhibitors' belongings, eliminating the need to walk across long stone pavements. The fence in front of the barn has a sliding door that opens, allowing visitors to step over to a pay parking lot. Cars can park almost sideways across the fence, making unloading easy.

[Annex] Yusa Farm
A vegetable and processed food store. This was the only place I found lacking. The products were dusty, making my hands dirty, and they even sold beans from 2022. Items only had product labels, with no information about the production date, manufacturer, or volume, so I was afraid to buy anything. They had a small selection of items from the local products fair. If you're looking for the same items, it's better to buy them at the "Gaya-chan's Storehouse" tourist and souvenir center at Koshigaya Station.

・Comment
The map clearly indicates a shopping mall, but it's probably best to go there for a restaurant.
I'd like to return to Urtro, a wild game restaurant.
The secondhand goods store in the event space had few items and seemed a bit pricey. I feel like I'd be more likely to find treasures at Seven Art.
The overall classic atmosphere and seasonal maintenance of the facility are wonderful. The restaurants are unique, but the rest of the area wasn't particularly appealing.
There are plenty of wooden benches, so you can take a break while looking at the courtyard.

- About the Surrounding Area
A few wooden houses and storehouses remain in this area.
Because of the narrow alleys, it seems unlikely that the area will be drastically transformed by future redevelopment.
- 0.5-minute walk: FRINGE Cafe and Art Gallery
This shop is two doors down from Hakariya, and it looks like a pretty edgy art gallery. It also has a cafe, but it looked a bit intimidating, so I didn't go in.
- Nearby Cafes
CAFE803 is a bakery and cafe.
Kura Kojiya, a storehouse with books, is a cafe in a renovated old house.
- Koshigaya Station: Gaya-chan's Storehouse
A souvenir shop run by the Koshigaya City Tourism Association. A unique tourist product exhibition that would definitely rank on Ad Street Heaven. This shop offers a wide variety of products, including those from Tokushima Prefecture as well as Koshigaya's local products. It's a fun place with a huge diorama.


Similar Facilities

A complex renovated from a nearby old building.

1110 CAFE / BAKERY, Ryoke, Kawaguchi City

Oizumi Factory Co., Ltd. (the former site of a casting manufacturing company) has a 10,000m2 site.

The former Oizumi family home (both Japanese-style and Western-style buildings) is located here and is a registered tangible cultural property. The best time to visit is when the cherry blossoms and farmers' market coincide. It's also a popular filming location for variety shows and dramas."

問合せ問

"I heard about this cafe from my kids and decided to check it out. I had a quiche plate at this cafe, which was renovated from a traditional Japanese house that's over 100 years old.
I liked the calm atmosphere when I entered the cafe.
I was shown to a seat on the second floor, which is an old Japanese house.
The stairs are incredibly steep, something you wouldn't expect these days! Please be careful when going up and down.
The quiche was crispy and fluffy!
It was delicious (lol). It might not be enough for men, but it was plenty good for me.
I was also comforted by the calm, old-fashioned interior, which took me back to my childhood."

jun rs

"This is a complex consisting of a cafe and general goods store, housed in a 120-year-old traditional Japanese house. Once you pass through the gate, you'll feel like you've traveled back in time. They sell kudzu soup at the entrance, and I had the ginger lemon flavor. It felt like drinking very soft kudzu, and it was delicious with a new sensation going down your throat. The quiche I had at the cafe was also crispy on the outside and creamy inside, with plenty of filling and very satisfying to eat. There was also a sign for the cycle cafe, and it seemed like they could rent things like air pumps. However, I couldn't find any bike racks for road bikes."

Kosuke IWATANI