[Ogawamachi, Saitama Prefecture] The Challenge of Community Cafe “Hakoya”

In Ogawa-machi, Saitama Prefecture, where the community cafe “Hakoya” will open, many families came to get bamboo shoots growing in the bamboo forest behind the cafe (Tatsuo Yanagi’s house) on the last weekend.

At the cafe’s opening event (May 4, 2025), a limited-time event will be held where you can harvest bamboo shoots, boil them in a pot on the spot, and take them home as much as you like (participation fee 1,000 yen/family).

The community cafe “Hakoya” cannot survive on food and drink sales alone. We are planning various events that will generate revenue to continue the cafe’s business.

As an event for foreigners, we recommend experiencing rural Japanese life in the great outdoors. We believe that experiencing the original Japanese landscape surrounded by great nature will be the core of tourism in Japan in the future.
Although it may be said that there is nothing here, the region’s blessed nature, the breath of animals and plants, fresh and seasonal natural food, and the warmth of the people… It is the sparsely populated, quiet and tranquil scenery of Japan that may be a healing and surprising experience for guests who visit here.

Upon request, we also provide a guided walking tour of Ogawamachi, Saitama Prefecture, to promote its charms. It will surely be an interesting exploration of Japan to learn about Ogawamachi, which is full of history, tradition and culture.
Famous tourist spots that have been commercialized and filled with many people will soon fall into disuse after a one-time visit. The experience of rural life away from the city center will surely become a trend in tourism in Japan in the future.

You can also stay overnight at the old-style community cafe “Hakoya”. We have two rooms on the second floor of the Japanese house. The price is 5,000 yen per night, including breakfast, which is served at the cafe.

This is the process of “Hakoya” growing into a community exchange hub where anyone can drop in casually. We invite you on a journey to find your own comfortable third place.

Planned by Yanagi SocialWorker Office
（やなぎ社会福祉士事務所代表柳辰夫）
Address: 400 Kibe, Ogawamachi, Hiki-gun, Saitama
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yanagitatsuo