Located in Hiroo Town in Tokachi, Hokkaido, Kikuchi Farm Cafe was opened in 2018 by the Kikuchis, a couple from Chiba Prefecture, with the desire to "bring dairy farming closer to people." Celebrating its 5th anniversary in July 2024, the cafe has renewed its menu and store! This time, we'll introduce the charms of Kikuchi Farm Cafe, where you can enjoy delicious soft-serve ice cream and gelato amidst stunning scenery.

Kikuchi Farm Cafe offers a landscape unique to Hiroo, Tokachi, with cows relaxing in the pasture, blue skies, and lush green grass. Sometimes you can also see scenes typical of a production site, such as dairy farmers working hard and tractors making grass rolls.

Cows relaxing freely in the pasture

The two-story cafe often sees small groups of one to four people on the first floor and larger groups of four or more on the second floor. However, if you're in a small group but want a wide view of the scenery, the second floor is recommended! The first floor has a raised tatami-mat area complete with toys and picture books for children to play with. It's a space where kids can have fun, making it a worry-free choice for families.

Couple seats on the second floor (top) and first floor (bottom) of the cafe

What you must try amidst this wonderful scenery is their signature soft-serve ice cream and gelato. The fluffy soft-serve, made with moist and rich milk that you'll want to eat every day, and the gelato, available in 6 to 10 different flavors, are simply exquisite.

"Gelato (Double)" for 430 yen and "Soft-Serve Ice Cream (Waffle Cone)" for 380 yen

The colorful showcase features flavors like strawberry milk, chocolate chip, and matcha

The secret to the deliciousness of their soft-serve and gelato lies in utilizing the different flavors of milk according to the season. The cows at Kikuchi Farm spend their time in the pasture mainly eating grass in spring and summer, and in winter, they stay in the barn, primarily eating grass rolls and dent corn. This difference in lifestyle between spring/summer and winter causes a significant change in the milk fat content, which in turn affects the flavor. There's the rich taste of winter and the refreshing taste of summer. Be sure to try the soft-serve and gelato that change subtly with the seasons.

The "Hiroo Nameraka Pudding" (300 yen), a collaboration with Patisserie Ueda, is also popular

In addition to sweets like soft-serve and gelato, you can also enjoy a proper meal at the cafe. Here, you can savor dishes made with Kikuchi Farm's own brand of beef, "Tokachi Waga-mama Beef." The Bolognese, Loco Moco bowl, and Hashed Beef, all made from Brown Swiss cull cows (cows that have previously given birth), have a rich, meaty, and juicy flavor!

The "Bolognese" (1,000 yen) is made with local ingredients like Tokachi Waga-mama Beef, Hoshikuzu Kombu, and fresh pasta from Yamahata Seimen

The cows for "Tokachi Waga-mama Beef" are not force-fattened. After finishing their role in milk production, they are allowed to rest comfortably for about a month before being served as meat at the cafe. The names of the cows being served are displayed in the store, so let's eat with gratitude.

The new "Bologna Sandwich" for 580 yen

On your way out, you can also purchase unique souvenirs from Hiroo, such as "Tokachi Waga-mama Beef," the "Hoshikuzu Kombu" used in their dishes, and the Hiroo Town guidebook "PIRUY." Additionally, a special event is held every year on the day grazing begins, where visitors can enter the pasture for a tour. When you come to Hiroo, be sure to stop by this "6th-sector cafe," a great starting point for learning about dairy farming.

The retail corner where you can buy their signature milk and souvenirs from Hiroo

*All prices include tax

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