insights from frontier Japan

‘Soranomori Café’ has opened in the Akanko Onsen hot-spring resort in the city of Kushiro in eastern Hokkaido. Enjoji Atsushi, who runs the Yamaguchi hot-spring guesthouse, has taken over the café in the premises that have been disused for approximately 4 years.　

In April, it’s 10 years since local volunteers began running the café & gallery ‘Akanara’ in Shimogoryo in the city of Furano. In the past, the café was the mecca of fans of a popular TV drama. Now, its role is changing into a place where locals and migrants interact.

‘Kelapilika’ is a café that opened in August 2020 in a renovated empty property in the center of the town of Rankoshi, which is adjacent to the Niseko region. The establishment is managed by Yoshie, the wife of Tetsuji, who works remotely for one of Japan’s leading electronics manufacturers. He continues to work for a large enterprise while living in a regional town. In the past, this would just have been a dream lifestyle, but is now becoming reality.

Yamamoto Takao moved to a regional village from the city. Snowboarding was the catalyst for whole family’s choice in relocating. A glimpse of a new regional lifestyle can be seen in the café in which urban experiences are put to use in the region.

The coffee shop chain Starbucks Coffee Japan (Tokyo) opened a shop in Kitami City on November 2 of last year. This is their first shop in the Okhotsk region of eastern Hokkaido. The final motivational push for opening was survey research conducted in class by five Kitami Hokuto High School students two years ago in an attempt to attract Starbucks to their city.

I feel that there are not many establishments where foreign people and locals can interact naturally in the Niseko area. After the coronavirus pandemic has abated, and my company resumes working on its plans, I want to actualize a resort area that local residents will also be able to enjoy.

　Neil Hartmann, an American filmmaker who lives in Sapporo’s Minami Ward, has opened a café named ‘SKS INTERNATIONAL’ at the summit of the Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort (1,100 m).

A woman who moved to the town of Rausu in eastern Hokkaido from the Philippines over 30 years ago has opened a café in the town, called ‘Jappina Café’.

An establishment called Takibi (bonfire) Café, featuring mini-bonfires at each table has opened up in Nishi Ward, Sapporo. Word about the café is quickly spreading. The café had been closed temporarily to prevent spread of the new coronavirus, but reopened. “This is a totally new style of cafe, and I hope to make it a new Hokkaido specialty after the pandemic has subdued,” said owner Mr. Fujii.