Cafe "Nabiyori" located in Makubetsu-cho, Tokachi, Hokkaido, will reopen as "Hiyori" on April 22, 2023. We visited the cafe, which is directly operated by Ogasawara Farm, which grows organic vegetables, at lunchtime on a warm sunny Tokachi day.

New members, new concept, and a fresh start!

After three years of operation as "Nabiyori," Ogasawara Farm has reopened as "Hiyori" with the addition of a new member, Hideyuki Taya, who moved from Nara Prefecture, as a step toward the vision Ogasawara Farm is pursuing. The cuisine now incorporates "fermentation," and the lunch menu and interior design have been further enhanced! The menu is divided into "lunch days" and "café days," and the offerings differ.

From left, Sakiko Ogasawara, Minako Ogasawara, and newcomer Hideyuki Taya. The interview was conducted on a "lunch day.

The interior of the restaurant is a cute little space with about 12 seats, filled with sunlight. The interior is decorated in rustic white, reminiscent of an old European farmhouse in the countryside. On the tray for serving dishes are about eight lovely bean plates that everyone had collected from all over Japan. Customers are now free to share their own seasonal vegetable dishes on these bean plates.

The restaurant is filled with gentle piano background music. You can spend a comfortable time here.

A very satisfying lunch course incorporating fermentation

We immediately start arranging about 12 different side dishes on 8 bean plates, using a variety of seasonal vegetables.

It is fun to wonder which dish to serve on which plate!

Appetizers and obanzai can be refilled!

Vegan dishes are marked with a "vegan" sticker. After serving the side dishes, when you take your seat, you will be offered two kinds of seasonal rice balls and soup with layered soup stock and salted malted rice, and as you continue eating, the main dish will also be served.

Two kinds of seasonal rice balls. On this day, "rape blossoms and black sengoku soybeans" and "homemade butterbur miso."

The main dish of the day was healthy tsukune with asparagus, cod sprouts and shiso leaves (menu changes depending on the season)

The cooked, bite-sized small vegetables give off a crispy, crunchy, fresh texture and a strong, nourishing flavor. They are all delicious, and as you gobbled them down, the bean plate pattern appeared and made you squeal again! Both my heart and stomach are so satisfied and happy that it is hard to believe that vegetables are the main ingredient and meat and fish are almost nonexistent.

Crepe with Hyuga Summer Lemon Curd, Cheese, and Strawberry Sauce, Spiced Meringue, and Farm Herbs

Available only during café hours; reservations recommended.

When visiting Hiyori, we recommend that you first try the "lunch day" lunch, but we also recommend using the "café day". On cafe days, you can enjoy light meals such as "buckwheat galette" and "crepe Suzette," which are not available on lunch days.

About three types of drinks are always available, including seasonal enzyme drinks, home-roasted coffee, and Japanese black tea, as well as sweets and vegetables for sale. If you make a reservation in advance, they can also prepare boxed lunches and hors d'oeuvres.

Strawberry Spice," a seasonal enzyme drink recommended by the staff

We also have a variety of sweets such as vegan carrot cake and whole grain scones.

Reservations are "almost mandatory. If by chance there is an opening, you can get in, but reservations are recommended. Reservations are not required for take-out and shopping. You can spend a relaxing time alone on "Cafe Day," eat a lot of vegetables with friends and family on "Lunch Day," or stop by for a shopping spree on your road trip. No matter who you come with, you are sure to have a good time.

Please visit "Touri" with its friendly smile!