Local Guide
Unique cafes in Towada and Oirase that are perfect for a drive

Towada City, which covers a wide area from the city center to Oirase, is home to a wide variety of cafes. From traditional Japanese cafes to modern shops where you can immerse yourself in art and enjoy the scenery, we will introduce you to some charming shops that are worth a little drive away from.

Orta Lunch Set: 1,200 yen. Pasta can be changed to handmade pasta for an additional 200 yen.
Orta Lunch Set: 1,200 yen. Pasta can be changed to handmade pasta for an additional 200 yen.

This cafe and Italian Restaurant serves organic vegetables from their own farm and natural ingredients from Towada. The chef's recommended "orta lunch set" is a menu that includes three small appetizers, two types of pasta to choose from, natural yeast bread, dessert, and a drink, allowing you to enjoy plenty of their proud vegetables. For example, in spring, they offer appetizers such as omelette made with yam and pasta with spring cabbage, while in summer, they have a lineup of dishes using colorful summer vegetables such as zucchini and peppers. All of the menu items have a gentle taste that allows you to feel the unique deliciousness of seasonal vegetables.

Cultivating about 100 types of organic vegetables

The fresh vegetables from our own farm are full of flavour and the power of the ingredients is apparent.
The fresh vegetables from our own farm are full of flavour and the power of the ingredients is apparent.

The vegetables that the chef grows range from familiar ones like tomatoes and eggplants to Italian vegetables like black cabbage (cavolo nero) and a type of rapeseed flower (cima di rapa), as well as herbs. There are about 100 varieties, some of which are sold wholesale to local supermarkets and roadside stations under the farm name "Yu Farm". Although it takes a lot of work to grow organically, the chef says that the joy of cooking with vegetables that have been carefully grown is enhanced.
The interior of the restaurant has a warm and cozy feel that matches the heartfelt cuisine. The restaurant was originally the site of a long-established general store that the chef frequented, and even now, the restaurant is still filled with miscellaneous items and decorative shelves.

Comments Local Guide
In addition to homemade natural yeast bread, the store also sells home-grown aged garlic and additive-free homemade jams.
Farm Cafe Horta
  • URLhttp://cafe-orta.jugem.jp/
  • 住所15-16 Inomachi, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
  • バスアクセスFrom Misawa Station, take the Towada Kanko Dentetsu Bus bound for Sanko Seimon-mae for approx. 29 minutes, get off at "Towada City Chuo" and walk for approx. 1 minute
    From Shichinohe-Towada Station, take the Towada Kanko Dentetsu Bus bound for Sanbongi Office or Towada City Chuo for about 26-50 minutes, get off at "Towada City Chuo" and walk for about 1 minute
  • 営業時間12:00-16:00 (LO15:00), 18:00-22:00 (LO21:00)
  • 定休日Mondays, the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays (open on public holidays or when the restaurant is closed), lunch from Tuesday to Thursday from April to October
  • TEL0176-25-0185
  • 駐車場free
"Hot sandwich" and "Ginger milk" are 450 yen each (excluding tax). There are four hot sandwiches in total.
"Hot sandwich" and "Ginger milk" are 450 yen each (excluding tax). There are four hot sandwiches in total.

This cafe is a renovated old house built in 1912 (Taisho 3).
The food menu includes curry and hot sandwiches, with the "Hot Ansand" being particularly popular. The bread is thin and toasted until crispy and fragrant. The bean paste is lightly sweetened and has a blend of five spices as a secret flavour. The balance of bread and bean paste is just right, and it tastes even better when topped with the vanilla ice cream that comes with it.
Drinks include original blend coffee and other items, as well as the recommended "ginger milk." Made with fresh ginger, it has a rich flavor and is the specialty of the store.

The woody interior reflects the owner's love of nature.

First floor seats. The shop, which opened in 2010, has a natural-themed interior.
First floor seats. The shop, which opened in 2010, has a natural-themed interior.

The restaurant is two stories tall and was specially renovated by the owner himself. The owner is an outdoor enthusiast, and the design is cozy and filled with the warmth of wood. The sunny second floor seats are especially popular, and you can enjoy the hideaway feeling of being in a mountain hut.
There is also a shop corner on the first floor, which offers a wide range of items, from coffee supplies to outdoor fashion. The owner ran a general goods store before opening the cafe, so the lineup is tasteful. You can also purchase original T-shirts with the store's logo.

Comments Local Guide
It's a cozy place, so we recommend stopping by when you have time to take your time and relax with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
Cafe Mill Mountain
  • URLhttp://cafemil.exblog.jp/
  • 住所22-35 Inomachi, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 22 minutes by taxi from Shichinohe-Towada Station
    Approximately 26 minutes by taxi from Misawa Station
  • 営業時間11:00～L.O.18:00
  • 定休日Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday) and Tuesdays
  • TEL0176-22-1878
  • 駐車場free
Fluffy cheese pancakes 800 yen
Fluffy cheese pancakes 800 yen

A cafe where you can spend time with cute rabbits. It is a rare establishment in Tohoku, and is a popular shop that attracts people from outside the prefecture on weekends. Not only people who can't keep rabbits at home, but also people who bring their own rabbits to the cafe, creating a friendly and sociable atmosphere.
In addition to lunch dishes such as beef tendon curry, you can also enjoy homemade pudding and other sweets, and many people come here to relax and enjoy their meal.
The most popular item is the fluffy cheese pancake topped with seasonal fruits. Made with meringue made from four eggs, it has a light texture that disappears in your mouth, and it's worth going just for this.

This cute bunny will make your heart flutter!

Stella, a 5-year-old Holland Lop. You can interact with her outside of her cage in a special space.
Stella, a 5-year-old Holland Lop. You can interact with her outside of her cage in a special space.

There are seven cute rabbits in the store, including Holland Lops with droopy ears and mini rex rabbits with beautiful, velvety fur.
There are adorable rabbits with names like "Stella" (who looks like a bell-shaped sponge cake), "Gian" (who is arrogant), and "Mop" (who has fluffy fur). They don't like being held, but they love being stroked. Their every gesture, from closing their eyes in pleasure when stroked to eating the food (100 yen) they've been given, is soothing.

Comments Local Guide
It's a friendly shop where you can come alone and feel the love for rabbits!
Usa Cafe Lovelies
  • URLhttps://www.facebook.com/Usagitocafe
  • 住所50-25 Nishinijusanbancho, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 24 minutes by taxi from Shichinohe-Towada Station
    Approximately 31 minutes by taxi from Misawa Station
  • 営業時間11:00～18:00（L.O.17:30）
  • 定休日Tuesdays, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays (open on public holidays)
  • TEL080-9628-4465
  • 駐車場free
  • メモReservations: Not possible
Aomori Special Sweets 680 yen. Choose from milk or apple flavored gelato.
Aomori Special Sweets 680 yen. Choose from milk or apple flavored gelato.

A cafe and shop located inside the Towada Art Center. At the cafe you can enjoy light meals and sweets made with local ingredients.
The recommended item is the "Aomori Special Sweets," a set of the popular apple pie from Towada Fujiya Hotel made with the prefecture's "Koyoku" apples, and gelato made with milk from stress-free cows. The most popular drink is the coffee served in the shop's original mug.
In addition, there will be limited-edition sweets inspired by the artworks in each of the museum's special exhibitions. From Friday to Sunday until mid-October, there will be a menu lined up inspired by the "Passage" exhibition, a commemorative project for the museum's 10th anniversary.

Comments Local Guide
The interior design, including the colorful flooring, is also appealing, making it a space where you can appreciate art.

The building and cafe design are entirely art!

The painting on the floor was done by a Taiwanese artist. "Untitled" (Michael Lin) / Photo: Kuniya Oyamada
The painting on the floor was done by a Taiwanese artist. "Untitled" (Michael Lin) / Photo: Kuniya Oyamada

The cafe space itself is a work of art, including an apple tree painted by the famous British artist Paul Morrison, with the exterior wall of the building as a canvas. The floor is decorated with a floral pattern based on Towada City's traditional textile "Nambu Sakiori," and the pop design is eye-catching.
The shop also has a wide variety of artistic items, including museum goods related to the museum's permanent exhibits and miscellaneous goods by famous designers. Works by young local craft artists are also available, and accessories and small items that are a modern take on traditional crafts are perfect as a memento of your trip.

"Oculia" (Paul Morrison)
"Oculia" (Paul Morrison)
cube cafe&shop
  • URLhttp://towadaartcenter.com/
  • 住所Towada Art Center, 10-9 Nishinibancho, Towada City, Aomori PrefectureMAP
  • バスアクセスFrom Shichinohe-Towada Station, take the Towada Kanko Dentetsu Bus bound for Sanbongi Office for about 36-43 minutes, get off at "Contemporary Art Museum" and walk for a short distance (3-5 buses per day)
    From Shichinohe-Towada Station, take the Towada Kanko Dentetsu Bus bound for Sanbongi Office for approx. 25-42 minutes, get off at "Kanchogaidori" and walk for approx. 5 minutes
  • 営業時間9:00～Last orders 16:30 (Shop closes at 17:00)
  • 定休日Mondays (if Monday is a public holiday, the following day will be closed) and New Year's holidays. *May be closed temporarily for events, construction, maintenance, etc.
  • TEL0176-22-7789
  • 駐車場Free, private Parking and Nishi Nibancho Parking are also available (free if using Property within the museum)
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