Local Guide
 Enjoy the stylish space and a special cup of coffee. Recommended cafes in Shiraoi-cho

Shiraoi Town has long been home to an Ainu tribe, and with the opening of "Upopoi (symbolic space for ethnic coexistence)," a center for Ainu culture, in 2020, the town is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. After enjoying sightseeing in Shiraoi Town, why not take a breather at a local café? Here we introduce five cafes, each with its own unique charm, including drinks and sweets to ease your fatigue, friendly conversation to soothe your mind, stylish space and beautiful scenery.

Sweets made with eggs freshly laid on the farm are popular!

 From left:
From left: "Cookie cream puff" 290 yen, "Egg pudding" 240 yen, "Custard cream puff" 270 yen

This cafe is run by a poultry farm in Shiraoi-cho. They raise chickens on natural feed containing flaxseed (amani) and offer sweets using their freshly laid eggs. The cream puffs filled with rich custard cream, baked pudding with more egg yolks, and other items all have the distinct flavor of fresh eggs. The "cookie puff cream," a crispy dough filled with a mixture of custard cream and fresh Hokkaido cream, is so popular that it sells out even on weekdays.

Shopping in a chicken coop-style store is also a pleasure.

 Beyond the window of the counter table is a vast lawn. On a fine day, it is recommended to enjoy the sweets outside.
Beyond the window of the counter table is a vast lawn. On a fine day, it is recommended to enjoy the sweets outside.

The modern building, which won the "Good Design Award" in 2020, has an impressive form tracing the shape of a chicken coop. The entrance dotted with egg-shaped objet d'art, egg-colored chairs and lighting that accentuate the depth of the store, and other touches of humor typical of a poultry farm shine through.
In addition to sweets, drinks, and soft-serve ice cream, the store sells delicatessen items such as roast chicken and dashimaki tamago (rolled egg), as well as packaged heirloom eggs. After dessert, you will have the pleasure of selecting souvenirs.

Local Guide Comment
The nearby affiliated restaurant, YOKOSHITO SHOKURO, serves egg dishes such as "Tamagokake Gohan" and "Oyakodon," and also has a 24-hour egg vending machine.
Mother's+ (Mother's Plus)
  • Address 289-1 Aza-Shadai, Shiraoi-cho, Shiraoi-gun, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction 4 minutes drive from JR Shiraoi Station
  •  Hours of Operation 10:00-18:00
  •  Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  •  TEL 0144-82-6786
  •  Parking Free of charge

Pure coffee shop in front of Shiraoi Station for more than 40 years

Original blend coffee
Original blend coffee" 600 yen. The heavy one-piece wooden table and the wood-inspired bowls fit in nicely with the table.

Located a short walk from JR Shiraoi Station, this long-established coffee shop was established in 1979 and is run by a couple in their 80s. The menu, handwritten on a wooden board, offers a wide variety of coffee, tea, and soft drinks, as well as light meals such as toast, pancakes, and curry. Coffee carefully brewed with a siphon is deep roasted and full-bodied. The coffee cups are one-of-a-kind and come in a variety of designs, making it fun to wait excitedly to see what kind of cup it will be served in.

The timeless charm of the hand-carved space and the owner and his wife.

 The secret of the restaurant's popularity is the wife's pleasant conversation that keeps visitors coming back.
The secret of the restaurant's popularity is the wife's pleasant conversation that keeps visitors coming back.

The candy-colored interior of the store has a retro atmosphere, as if you have stepped back in time to the Showa period. Everything is hand-carved by the owner, including the heavy doors, chairs hewn from yew logs, and tables made of a single piece of wood. Perhaps attracted by the owner's creativity, young artists from the Tobiu Art Community in the Tobiu area of Shiraoi-cho have been visiting the shop in recent years.
The wife who runs the store with the owner is very friendly and talkative. She welcomes first-time visitors as if she were a familiar face, and there is no end to the number of travelers who return to the shop because of her personality.

Local Guide Comment
The space is nostalgic and relaxing, as if you were at your grandmother's house. Many people come to enjoy talking with the friendly mom.
Cafe Ryoyorin
  • Address 2-3-10, Omachi 2-chome, Shiraoi-cho, Shiraori-gun, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction Approx. 2 min. walk from JR Shiraoi Station
  •  Business hours 9:00-18:00
  •  Closed Sunday
  •  TEL 0144-82-3003
  •  Parking None

A special drink to relieve the fatigue of travelers

 Craft beers from around Hokkaido are served from 700 yen for a half pint and 1,200 yen for a full pint.
Craft beers from around Hokkaido are served from 700 yen for a half pint and 1,200 yen for a full pint.

The cafe-bar is attached to the hostel facing the main street of Shiraoi-cho. Original coffee blends are made from freshly ground beans and each cup is carefully brewed and served by hand drip. Scones and tarts made by the town's boulangerie are also available, complementing the deliciousness of the coffee. There is also an extensive lineup of craft beers. We have up to seven varieties, ordered by the keg from breweries in Noboribetsu, Ebetsu, Kamifurano, and other areas. It is fun to compare the unique flavors of the beers with fish and chips using craft beer as batter and other snacks made with local ingredients.

Selling Japanese and foreign goods in a renovated old ryokan (Japanese inn).

 Stylish space that matches the historic building and modern lifestyle.
Stylish space that matches the historic building and modern lifestyle.

The building, renovated from the former Kashiwamura Ryokan, has a vintage atmosphere that makes use of the original structure and furnishings. The store sells a selection of tableware, household goods, accessories, and clothing from Japan and abroad, giving it the feel of a flea market.
The name "haku" comes from the phonetic reading of "Kashiwa" of the former Kashiwamura Ryokan and "Shiraoi" of Shiraoi. It expresses the desire to draw a new history on a pure white canvas while inheriting the history of the ryokan in the Shiraoi area.

Local Guide Comment
The store's interior, lined with tasteful household goods and tableware, has a very stylish atmosphere. Even if you are alone, you can spend a relaxing time here.
haku hostel + cafe bar
  • Address 3-1-7 Omachi, Shiraori-cho, Shiraori-gun, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction 4 min. walk from JR Shiraoi Station
  •  Business hours 8:30-22:00
  •  Closed Monday and Tuesday (open if Monday or Tuesday is a national holiday)
  •  TEL 0144-84-5633
  •  Parking Free of charge

Enjoy the charm of home-roasted coffee made from fresh green beans

 Drip coffee, including blends and single origin, from 450 yen. Basque cheesecake (plain)
Drip coffee, including blends and single origin, from 450 yen. Basque cheesecake (plain)" 480 yen

The café is located in a container house on the outskirts of Tomakomai City, next to Shiraoi Town. The coffee is carefully selected by sampling dozens of specialty grade green coffee beans (the highest grade in coffee evaluation standards) every month, and the coffee is proudly brewed using advanced roasting and drip techniques to bring out the individuality of the beans.
We are also particular about the homemade sweets that go well with our coffee. The "Basque Cheesecake" is rich but not too heavy, and is as good as any specialty store. The menu also includes curry, pasta, cakes, gelato, and a wide variety of other dishes that can be enjoyed from lunch to café time.

Relaxing space in a container

 A monotone space accented by the warmth of wood
A monotone space accented by the warmth of wood

The store, consisting of two containers connected in an L-shape, has a stylish atmosphere with the contrast between the black exterior and the white interior. The space is compact and container-like, but when you sit down, you can see out the window, so it does not feel claustrophobic.
The store also sells coffee beans, in the hope that customers can enjoy truly delicious coffee for everyday use. If you are not sure which brand to choose, ask the manager, who also works as a barista. He will give you information on beans that match your preferences and tips on how to make a delicious cup of coffee at home.

Local Guide Comment
In addition to the standard plain basque cheesecake, seasonal limited edition flavors are also available. You won't want to miss the unique flavors such as chocolate mint, Tismith, and strawberry milk.
ITSUKI COFFEE
  • Address 2-2-3, Meitoku-cho, Tomakomai-shi, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction 12 minutes walk from JR Nishioka Station
  •  Business hours 11:00-18:00 (L.O. 17:30)
  •  Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  •  TEL 0144-61-1213
  •  Parking Free of charge

Home-style deliciousness created from carefully selected ingredients and seasonings

 Richly flavored
Richly flavored "Shiraoi Beef Stew Set" (with coffee) 1,500 yen

This old private house café is located in the Ishiyama district of Shiraoi-cho, a little far from the city center and rich in nature. Its home-style cooking using local ingredients and seasonings from Ehime Prefecture, where the owner is from, is very popular. The beef stew made with Shiraoi beef is a luxurious dish with the deep richness and flavor unique to Shiraoi beef. In addition to a large portion of vegetables, side dishes such as salad and pickles are also included for a perfect nutritional balance. The dishware and coffee cups are made of Tobe ware from Ehime Prefecture, enhancing the handmade deliciousness of the dish.

Birdsong and countryside views soothe you.

 Spring with fresh greenery, summer with blooming calendula, autumn with changing leaves, and winter with snow. Enjoy the seasonal scenery from the window.
Spring with fresh greenery, summer with blooming calendula, autumn with changing leaves, and winter with snow. Enjoy the seasonal scenery from the window.

The owner wants guests to "feel at home," so they take off their shoes at the entrance. Beyond the large window, a silo stands alone, and a peaceful countryside view spreads out. In early summer, calendula flowers turn the whole area orange, and on a clear day, Mt. Many wild birds visit the surrounding grove, and their lovely chirping soothes the heart. The store also exhibits and sells works by Shiraoi Town's Ainu embroidery circle, which are recommended as souvenirs.

Local Guide Comment
This is a soothing cafe where wild birds and Ezo squirrels come to the window. Binoculars are available for bird watching.
Calendula
  • Address 45-3 Ishiyama, Shiraoi-cho, Shiraoi-gun, Hokkaido MAP
  •  Direction 5 min. drive from JR Hagino Station
  •  Hours of Operation 10:00-17:00
  •  Regular holiday Mon. and Tue.
  •  TEL 0144-84-1531
  •  Parking Free of charge
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.