Naganuma Town doesn't have a bookstore. But it does have a cafe packed to the brim with books. It's "Azarashi to Shirokuma," a pure white building set amidst a rural landscape. If you look closely, you'll see a sign outside that reads "Bookshelf Cafe." What exactly is a Bookshelf Cafe?

Although it's a cafe, there are no staff; it's all self-service. Customers put a 300 yen usage fee per person into a fee box. For just that, you can spend as many hours as you like.

The bookshelves inside are packed with books, with genres ranging from paperback novels and essays to travel books and picture books. The feeling of finding a book to your liking among them is just like a treasure hunt! You can also borrow books for about two weeks.

The reason there are so many different books is that it's a "shared bookshelf," where books donated by neighbors and others are shared for everyone to read. Since it's unattended, even when donating, you just quietly place the books in the provided wooden box.

It's a truly unique space filled with people's goodwill. We wondered how such a Bookshelf Cafe came to be and asked the owner, Ms. Yamauchi.

"I've always loved the sight of books lined up on shelves," she replied. "So I thought it would be nice to have a place in Naganuma, which has no bookstores, where people could interact with books. I'd be happy if it became a place where you know you can meet someone if you come here."

The memorable store name comes from the fact that "when we opened in 2018, we were actually a coffee shop that served lunch. The person who made the lunch looked like a polar bear (shirokuma), and I looked like a seal (azarashi)." You can still enjoy freshly ground drip coffee (300 yen, tax included) and more. They also have days with pop-up vendors selling takoyaki and curry. Check their social media if you're interested!

Furthermore, there is a very lovely space in the back of the shop. They are currently exploring ways to use it and said, "We are always open to good ideas!" The possibilities are exciting, such as using it as an event space.

On the floor below the Bookshelf Cafe is the "Kobayashi Farm Vegetable Stand," where you can buy fresh vegetables grown by Ms. Yamauchi's parents. It's so cozy that if you lived in Naganuma, you'd probably visit frequently. "Azarashi to Shirokuma" shows you that unexpected fun can be found in unexpected places!

Location: Higashi 5-sen Kita 13, Naganuma-cho, Yubari-gun, Hokkaido
Hours: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Closed: Open daily
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azakuma3
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azakuma3/

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