See, hear, taste. Enjoy an autumn of art at "Artspace & Cafe MUSA."

Hello, this is Azarashigaoka, a Nakano Tourism Reporter. Autumn is the season for food, sports, and art. This time, I'd like to introduce you to the artsy underground cafe "Artspace&Cafe MUSA."

It's a one-minute walk from the south exit of Saginomiya Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line in Nakano, Tokyo. In addition to being a cafe, it can also be used for live events, exhibitions, workshops, meet-ups, and private parties.

Opened on August 29, 2013, this husband and wife run restaurant is open only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. We spoke with the owner, Yuhei Takada, and the manager, Miraiko.

-What prompted you to open the cafe? Yuhei: "I wanted to create a place where I could exhibit my work and perform music, and a cafe was the perfect place for that." Miraiko: "People often ask me, 'Why is it underground? It's unusual,' but I was looking for an underground store where the noise from performances wouldn't disturb the neighbors, and I found this cafe, and that's how I got here."

The store's name comes from Musa, the Greek goddess of art, music, and literature.

The interior is open and calm.

Yuhei's hobby is music, and he has a saxophone on display.

Miraiko, who graduated from an art university and has an interest in art, also loves animals.

Miraiko: "After graduating, my classmates started getting jobs and getting married, and gradually stopped painting, and I felt a little lonely. So I opened a shop where people could easily come and exhibit their work, even if they were alone."

The gentle pictures reflect Miraiko's personality and are heartwarming.

The counter seats and bookshelves are stocked with Jomon goods and miscellaneous items made by Yuhei using a 3D printer. It's a really fun space.

For lunch, we had Miraiko's special homemade keema curry.

A healthy curry made by frying onions and minced meat with five kinds of spices and simmering them in tomatoes. It's very mild and delicious! It's not too spicy, so it can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to the elderly.

Yuhei drip-brews the coffee after the meal. Nakano-san is also drawn to the rich flavor.

Carrot cake with the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg. They also have baked cheesecake and chocolate gateau. We recommend relaxing with a cake and drink set. Food menu, cakes and coffee are also available for takeout.

On the alcohol menu, the eye-catching words "Sagihai" appear.

This rice shochu mixed with soda was invented by Ramen Akiryu, which used to be in Saginomiya. When Akiryu closed, Takada and his wife took over. Currently, Musa is the only place where you can drink Saginomiya's specialty, Sagi High. Please give it a try.

The first cafe in Nakano Ward where you can enjoy Tira activities

According to the Japan Tyrannosaurus Athletics Federation, Tyrannosaurus Activity means taking on the appearance of a Tyrannosaurus. Musa is also an "official Tyrannosaurus store" of the federation.

One of Miraiko's hobbies is "Tyranno Races," where people race in a Tyrannosaurus costume. Inside the shop, there are race participation certificates and fun-looking photos! Miraiko says, "Tyranno activities can also be enjoyed indoors, such as by gathering for tea. We require reservations in advance, but we welcome visitors as a place for Tyranno activities, and we are also planning to hold events."

A rental space with picture rails and hooks. You can also display items using mini counters and shelves. There is also a PA set, and a live broadcast without an audience has been held. "We have made the internet environment very strong!" says Mikiko.

Various events are held every month! We are looking for wonderful photographs and drawings for the "Dog and Cat Art Exhibition."

Finally, I'd like to introduce the merchandise corner.

The specialty is the "Turtle Cookies" and the increasingly popular "Tyranno Cookies." There is also a "spice set" that allows you to recreate the keema curry from the food menu at home.

There will also be art works and handmade goods by the event performers.

I bought the "Turtle Cookies". They are very cute and make a great gift.

We hope that this shop will continue to exist for a long time, both as a cafe and as a place to enjoy art and music.

Artspace & Cafe MUSA

Address: Shirasagi Building B1F, 2-48-6 Shirasagi, Nakano-ku

Access: 1 minute walk from the south exit of Saginomiya Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line

Phone: 03-5327-8791

Business hours: 11:00-18:00 (11:00-21:00 on Saturdays), subject to change due to events, etc.

Closed: Monday to Thursday (open on public holidays, rescheduled for a later date. Please see the website for details)