Niikappu-cho in the Hidaka region is known as a breeding ground for thoroughbreds.Surrounded by the majestic Hidaka Mountains and overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the south, the area is rich in nature.Driving into the mountains of the town of Shinkan, you will find an old folk house café with an old silo.The space, which seems to be one with nature, is extraordinary and almost otherworldly.This time, we visited the cafe “Nouvosha” (農暮舎) and had an enzyme brown rice set meal and gluten-free dessert.
Here is the town of Niikappu, where Noubo-sha is located!
The town of Niikappu, where Noubosha is located, is about two hours by car from Sapporo at the fastest.(when using the expressway).
You can also take the Donan Bus, which runs from JR Tomakomai or Mukawa Stations to Shinkan Station.However, there is no public transportation from Shinkan Station to the store, so use a car.(about 30 minutes)
In the Hidaka region, there are farms for horses everywhere you go, which are a delight to the eye during the drive.
I was able to capture a close-up photo of a father and son of a horse with my camera.
Drive up the mountain road and you will arrive when you see a retro silo.
By the way…
The term “silo” may not be familiar to those outside Hokkaido.
A silo is a storage area for grass and livestock feed.The cylindrical silos shown in the photo above are said to be traditional.Even today, there are still places in Hokkaido where these old silos still remain, and they are quite idyllic and nostalgic.
This is how Noubosha was born.〜story〜
Cafe Nouvosha will open on January 11, 2024 in Meiwa, Niikappu-cho.
The owner, Mr. Sakurai, has been renovating an old private house built in the 1950s over the past three years, and has made a fresh start as a café.
Originally from Aichi Prefecture, Mr. Sakurai moved to Hokkaido in 2000.
He searched for a place where he could run a café while growing crops in the fields and living with animals, and finally found it here in Shinkanamachi.
When they settled here in 2012, the site was still occupied by a former tenant who had left the farm, so it is not difficult to imagine that they had a lot of hardship in preparing their home.
Mr. Sakurai says that he has done all the work himself, with the help of various people.
How many times have we survived the harsh winter cold during that time?
The following story is probably only a small part of the story, but it is filled with wonderful words that show our thoughts on the “No-bosha”.
You can see Mr. Sakurai’s hobby of motorcycles and the self-renovation of his farmhouse on his YouTube channel below.
It is breathtaking to see old buildings being carefully reborn, little by little…!
Videos of motorcycle trips also give the viewer a realistic sense of actually being on the road.
It is especially recommended for those who are interested in living in Hokkaido in the future.
The view from the window is also picturesque.
What a luxury to be able to enjoy coffee with beautiful seasonal scenery.
Depending on the timing of your visit, you may see wild birds or squirrels.
In winter, you will be able to enjoy the snowy scenery while warming yourself with the flame of the wood stove.
Order the enzyme brown rice and rice set for lunch.
The warmth of wood can be felt inside the restaurant.
The light coming through the small window creates a very comfortable space.
Menu list.
There are two types of meals: a Nagaoka-style enzyme brown rice rice set (limited to five servings per day, ¥1,000) and a spiced curry (¥1,100).
Nagaoka-style enzyme brown rice is brown rice, azuki beans, and salt cooked in a pressure cooker and left to ferment and mature for three to four days.Not only does the enzyme make it soft and glutinous, but it also increases its nutritional value and is considered a healthy food that is good for digestion.
It was invented by a physician, Katsuya Nagaoka, hence the name “Nagaoka method.
Since there were four of us visiting that day, we had pre-ordered the enzyme brown rice and rice set.
The set includes enzyme brown rice, miso soup made with homemade miso, pickles, boiled egg, green vegetable salad, chilled tofu, and kiriboshi-daikon (dried radish).
I love enzyme brown rice.It’s sticky, slightly sweet and delicious!
The boiled eggs are eggs laid by the chickens here.
We eat them with a sense of gratitude.ᵕ̩̩ㅅᵕ̩̩
Enzyme brown rice is flavorful enough on its own, but it tastes even better with sesame salt added.
The little mortar is adorable.＾＾
Both the small bowls of side dishes and the miso soup are said to be free of chemical seasonings, but they have a satisfying taste.
It is clear that when the ingredients are delicious, there is no need for unnecessary seasonings.
It was a simple, yet exquisite lunch that could not have been better.
Gluten-free desserts & home-roasted coffee
All of the pastries offered at Noubosha are gluten-free.
Basically, the cooking and pastries are shared between Kanae-san, a staff member, and the two of them.
Cookies and home-roasted coffee are also available for take-out.
The reason they are gluten-free is because they are conscious of the health of the people who eat them.
The use of rice flour allows both people with and without gluten intolerance to enjoy the dish together.
Both of you are very health conscious, which makes me happy!
First, we ordered a cup of home-roasted coffee.
It came with rice flour snowballs.I’m so happy!♪
This coffee has a mild and sweet taste.It has no corners, yet it has a rich and deep flavor.
Together, you will also receive a gluten-free dessert.
The first item we ordered was the “Rice Flour Gateau Chocolat” (400 yen), which is vegan and contains no wheat, milk, or eggs.
It comes in a fluffy pound cake style.
The dough is dairy-free and egg-free, yet it is moist and soft, and crumbles when you put a fork in it.
Bittersweet and mildly sweet, this gateau chocolat has a fine taste.
It is delicious enough as is, but if you dip it in a little of the pure whipped cream that is served with it (vegans may choose to exclude it), you will enjoy the smooth texture, just like raw chocolate.
Another must-try was the “Noubosha Heifer Egg Pudding.（¥400）。
※Originally, it is a style with pure whipped cream on top.This time, due to sharing, I selfishly had it excluded.
It is a pudding made from eggs laid by the chickens of Noubosha!
The pudding portion is made with only eggs, cane sugar, and milk.The caramel sauce part is not made from caramel, which is made by burning sugar, but from coffee liquid.
This is a very good idea!The right amount of bitterness will not interfere with the taste of the pudding!
The pudding dough is firm and concentrated with the deliciousness of eggs.
It is rich, but never cloying, and is a perfect match for the coffee sauce.
Due to an error on my part, I was not able to take a clean photo ^^; I’ll quote from Noubosha’s Instagram.m(__)m
Every post on Noubosha’s Instagram is enchanting and the photos are amazing!(*^^*)
Please follow us and take a look.
Rice set, dessert, coffee…
No matter which menu you get, you can feel that it is made with care and attention to detail.
It was a relaxing time for both body and soul, feeling close to the nature of Hidaka in the deepening autumn.
Nonbosha Store Information
The “Noubosha” was finally completed after being built on a former abandoned farm site in the mountains of Hidaka.
Here, “living with nature” is alive and well, a way of life that our ancestors would have taken for granted in the past.
The cozy space, the view from the window, the delicious food, the soft-tasting pastries, the aromatic coffee…
There must be an extraordinary commitment to every element, but it is never pushed to the forefront.
I was somewhat moved to think that the owner’s casual attention to detail added to the miraculous time spent there.
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and spend some time at leisure, why not visit “Noubosha”?
Thank you for taking the time to read this to the end.
※This article is current as of October 2024.Please check the official SNS for the latest information when you visit.
| store name | Noubosha |
| address | 31-4 Meiwa, Niikappu-cho, Niikappu-gun, Hokkaido Open Map |
| Access | ・Approximately 2 hours from Sapporo Station by car using expressway ・From Mukawa Station, take the Donan Bus to Niikappu Station (approx. 1 hr. 30 min.), then drive to the store (approx. 30 min.). ・Take the Donan Bus from Tomakomai Station to Niikappu Station (approx. 2 hr. 30 min.), then drive to the store (approx. 30 min.). |
| Business Hours | 11:00-17:00 ☆Please check the official SNS as needed for business hours and holidays. |
| regular closing day | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday No regular holidays |
| parking lot | 4 units |
| cashless payment | Cash Only |
| number of seats | 12seats |
| accompanied by children | OK |
| Official SNS | Instagram https://www.instagram.com/noubosha |
| External Sites（tabelog） | https://tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0108/A010804/1077769/ |
| remarks | ・Please check SNS for temporary closing, change of business hours, menu changes, etc. ・Reservations by DM. |
