Restaurant and café housed in renovated folk house opens in Hioki, Kagoshima
On September 1, Kominka Shokutei COCO-HANA and Kominka Café COCO_HANA, housed in a renovated old folk house, opened in Ijuin, Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture.
The owner is Kenichi Okubo, who runs a construction company. While working in the construction industry, he came across an old traditional house that was over 100 years old. As it would be a shame to tear it down, he decided to renovate it, hoping to preserve it with some work.
The total land area is approximately 1,488 square meters. Adjacent to the building that houses the restaurant is a building that used to be a stable, now housing the café on its second floor. The property features a spacious garden, and from the windows, customers can enjoy views of rice fields, rivers, and mountains. The restaurant has a counter with 4-5 seats and five 4-seater tables, and the café has a counter with 4 seats and a sofa seating area for 4 people. The name “COCO_HANA” is derived from the name of Okubo’s cat.
Accessibility was considered with a slope at the restaurant entrance, allowing people to enter with their shoes on, and tables instead of traditional Japanese tatami seating. This decision was influenced by Okubo’s use of crutches due to an accident.
The Okubo couple previously opened a bakery COCO_HANA, in Koyamadacho, Kagoshima City, last December, and with the opening of new establishments, they relocated the bakery to be part of the café. They offer freshly baked bread and buns made by Okubo’s wife, including Melon Pan buns, red bean buns, and various savory buns.
The dining menu features daily set meals and rice bowl dishes. This month’s set meals include Chicken Tempura and Grilled Mackerel Marinated in White Miso and Pork Steak and Stewed Chicken Wing, while rice bowl options include Sukiyaki Rice Bowl and Green Onion Salted Pork Rice Bowl. Standard menu items include Black Vinegar Chicken Nanban Set (900 yen), Ramen, Mazesoba, and Curry (all 800 yen). The café offers soft drinks, ice cream, and waffles, to name a few.
Okubo added, “We want to create a place where people can casually drop by. The location is one of the best things about this place. We hope our customers enjoy a relaxed atmosphere they cannot find in the city.”
Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays during September, and other closure days will be announced on Instagram. There is a parking area for 15 vehicles. Starting from October, they plan to offer an evening menu, including hot pot dishes and alcoholic beverages.
CONSUMER NEWS Sep.12