Local Guide
3 Cafes in the Omachi area that will satisfy parents and children. Recommended for Lunch

From restaurants boasting chewy pizzas that kids love and exquisite hamburgers filled with gravy, to restaurants where kids can play to their heart's content in the spacious kids' area, to cafes in museums where you can read picture books from around the world. Here are some cafes in the Omachi area of Nagano Prefecture where parents and children can casually drop by and enjoy delicious lunches and sweets.

Italian cafe serving homemade pizza and fresh pasta.

Meat Sauce
Meat Sauce" 890 yen, "Whimsical Vegetable Garden Style Pizza" 1,080 yen. ＋Homemade sweets and a drink are included for 580 yen.

A house nestled in the peaceful countryside. The chef's mother grows seasonal vegetables and uses them in abundance to create handmade Italian cuisine that is sure to please. Parents and children will want to share the "Whimsical Vegetable Garden Style" with more than 10 kinds of vegetables on top, as well as the 20 or so other pizza selections. The chewy dough, which is made with less salt to enhance the flavor of the ingredients, is superb. Fresh pasta is also popular, with a lineup of about 35 varieties, including homemade tomato sauce, Neapolitan, Japanese, and cream pastas. Children's drinks (90 yen) are also available for children of elementary school age and younger.

The small seating area that can be partitioned off with sliding doors is very comfortable.

Two small tables are popular. Wooden toys and other items are also available in the restaurant.
Two small tables are popular. Wooden toys and other items are also available in the restaurant.

The high-ceilinged restaurant is a comfortable space surrounded by the warmth of wood. Outside the window, a view of trees and mountains spreads out, allowing diners to relax and enjoy their meal. In addition to counter and table seating, there is also a small area where you can take off your shoes and relax. A sliding door can be used to partition off the space, allowing parents and children to spend time together without any worries. The showcase is lined with a variety of daily sweets made by the patissier, such as yogurt mousse and chestnut cheesecake. This is a great place to relax and use as a café.

Cafe Entsu
  • Address 6935-12 Tokiwaizumi, Omachi-shi, Nagano MAP
  • Direction 6 minutes drive from JR Shinano Omachi Station
  • Business hours 10:30-17:00 (L.O. 16:00)
  • Closed Monday *Other irregular holidays
  • TEL 0261-22-8866
  • Parking Free of charge

Enjoy gently tasting sweets while reading picture books from around the world.

Strawberry Bavarois Loved by Chihiro
Strawberry Bavarois Loved by Chihiro" (limited quantity) 572 yen, "Apple Iced Tea" 495 yen

The Azumino Chihiro Art Museum is surrounded by a vast park. The museum has a collection of original paintings by Chihiro Iwasaki, an artist who continued to paint children as her lifelong theme, as well as works by picture book artists from around the world. At the Picture Book Café inside the museum, visitors can enjoy sweets such as bavarois, pancakes, and scones made from recipes from Chihiro's favorite restaurants. Shinshu oyaki, bagels, and sausages are also available. Feel free to pick up a picture book from the shelves and enjoy a relaxing moment.

Find your favorite chair in this café that looks like it came out of a picture book!

Low wooden furniture is laid out to accommodate children.
Low wooden furniture is laid out to accommodate children.

The cafe is furnished with so many chairs that it has attracted the attention of furniture lovers. The chaise lounges, where parents and children can sit side by side, are also very comfortable. Step out onto the courtyard terrace and you will be surrounded by the Northern Alps and the peaceful countryside. It is also a great spot to play on the wooden seesaw.
Adjacent to the picture book café, there is also a "children's room" where you can take off your shoes. Here, visitors can sit on the carpet, read picture books, and play with wooden and cloth toys. Don't miss the building by a famous architect and the "Nana Nana Chair," a small chair designed by a furniture designer.

Azumino Chihiro Art Museum Picture Book Cafe *Closed
  • Address 3358-24 Nishihara, Matsukawa-mura, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano MAP
  • Direction 5 min. drive from JR Shinano Matsukawa Station
  • Business hours 9:30-16:30 (L.O. 16:00)
  • Closed Closed on the 4th Wednesday of the month (if the Wednesday is a national holiday, the museum is open on the following weekday, but closed on the following weekday.
  • Admission Fee Museum admission 900 yen, free for high school students and younger
  • TEL 0261-62-0772
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Entrance to the museum is required to use the Picture Book Cafe.

    Entrance to the museum is required to use the Picture Book Cafe.
    *As of April 2020, the museum will be closed for the time being to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Museum opening information is subject to change at short notice. Please call for the latest information, or check the website and various SNS.

Hamburg steak and soup curry are popular.

From the front,
From the front, "Original Hamburger Steak" 1,628 yen, "Soup Curry Hamburger Steak" 1,738 yen. Both come with rice and salad.

A bistro on the main street in front of Omachi Station where the owner, who has a French background, serves up his skills. The signature dishes are hamburgers made from 100% Shinshu olein pork, which has a low fat melting point and mild flavor, and a rich soup curry made from pork bone broth prepared over a 10-hour period and flavored with 30 spices.
For those who want both, we recommend the soup curry with 160 grams of hamburger steak. The juicy hamburger steak, made from a combination of Japanese beef and Shinshu olein pork, is a perfect match for the deep flavor of the curry. It is spicy but not hot, so parents and children can enjoy it together.

A bistro where both adults and children can feel at home

Small upstairs seating area with two tables
Small upstairs seating area with two tables

The hamburger steak grilled to a fragrant aroma is soft and fluffy on the inside, making it very popular with children. In addition to tomato sauce, you can choose from steak ponzu, grated radish, grilled cheese mayo, etc. All sauces and dressings are homemade, and both the hamburger steak and soup curry come with a salad filled with fresh vegetables.
The interior of the restaurant has a chic atmosphere at first glance, but the stairs lead up to a small area for seating, which is popular with parents and children alike. You can take off your shoes, relax, and enjoy delicious Western-style food.

bistro millefuille
  • Address 3303 Omachi, Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 5 min. walk from JR Shinano Omachi Station
  • Business hours 11:30am - 2:00pm, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
  • Closed Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday, closed the following day), 1st Tuesday of the month *Other irregular holidays apply.
  • TEL 0261-22-6898
  • Parking Free (Nishina-cho Parking lot operated by Omachi City)
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.