5 Cozy Cafes to Visit Near Uesugi Shrine in Yonezawa City, Yamagata

• Table of Contents
• 1. Cafe Mamenoki: Enjoy the Iconic Teddy Bear Sweets 
• 2. CAFE SORA. Try the Best Muffin! 
• 3. Cafe TOKIZO: Delicious Seasonal Dishes and Relaxing Atmosphere 
• 4. Cafe Towa: Must Try Award Winning Burger 
• 5. Nagomi-tei: Innovative Japanese Sweets
• Find Your Favorite Cafe in Yonezawa!

1. Cafe Mamenoki: Enjoy the Iconic Teddy Bear Sweets 

Cafe Mamenoki is located a 15-minute walk from Uesugi Shrine, near Yonezawa Municipal Hospital.

The moment you open the door, you'll feel as if you've wandered into a fairy tale world, with the warmth of wood and the lively atmosphere of various objects. The colorful and pop interior welcomes you, pleasing both your eyes and your soul. There are counter seats as well as loft seats, making the restaurant feel like a hideaway.

Mamenoki's top recommendation is "Kumakichi's Raw Honey Chiffon Cake" (990 yen *as of October 1, 2024). Made with plenty of honey produced in the prefecture, rich in minerals, and safflower eggs, the cake is fluffy and very soft, and the fresh cream is very smooth. You can see the careful work of the owner, Mr. Abe.

The cake is decorated with cookies featuring the store's mascot, "Kumakichi-kun," as well as seasonal fruits and nuts. As you eat it, enjoying the different combinations, you'll be surprised by the change in taste as rich custard cream appears from the inside. It's an exciting chiffon cake with a variety of textures and flavors to discover on one plate.

In addition to sweets, there are 40 kinds of drinks available. There is also a food menu during lunch and dinner time, so you can use it for both a break and a meal. In addition, they also sell a lot of miscellaneous goods that are perfect for souvenirs and gifts, so it is also recommended to visit for shopping purposes.

Cafe Mamenoki always delivers excitement with seasonal limited menus and Instagram linked menus. If you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and return to your childhood, be sure to open the doors of Mamenoki.

Store Information

・Business hours: Monday to Wednesday, Friday to Sunday 11:00 to 21:00
・Closed on Thursdays
・Address: 2-3-171 Fukuda-cho, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-0055
・Telephone number: 0238-21-6155
・Payment method: Cash
・Language support: Japanese
・Other: Please use the Matsukawa Riverbed Free Parking Lot for parking.
・Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafe_mamenoki/

2. CAFE SORA. Try the Best Muffin! 

CAFE SORA is a 15-minute walk from Uesugi Shrine, located near Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa Commercial High School. The interior of the shop is based on white, and is reminiscent of a rural town in Western Europe. It is an open space with no partitions. The light that pours in through the windows spreads softly, creating a relaxing atmosphere.

The shop's best recommendation is the "homemade muffins" available for takeout only. The outside is crispy while the inside is moist and soft. The nutty aroma and fresh sweetness of the berries add a nice accent to this deliciousness that will bring a smile to your face. Sesame oil is used as a secret ingredient, giving it just the right amount of sweetness that you won't tire of, making it popular with a wide range of people from children to the elderly. This is a dish that shows the owner's consideration and kindness in wanting to provide customers with easy-to-eat snacks.

CAFE SORA offers a wide range of food and drinks in addition to takeaway snacks, so you can enjoy it for lunch. We also recommend spending a relaxing time drinking their smooth and fragrant "cafe latte."

CAFE SORA is loved by many people, both men and women, and has put a lot of effort into its garden and interior design to make its customers happy. Please drop by not only for take-out muffins and baked goods, but also for a coffee break or as a restaurant.

*Homemade muffins are available as take-out only, but may also be served in-store.

Store Information

・Business hours: Monday, Wednesday to Friday 11:00-17:00, Saturday and Sunday 11:00-18:00
・Regular holidays: Tuesdays, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month *Closing days may change due to private bookings, etc.
・Address: 1-1-29 Omachi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, Postal Code 992-0031
・Telephone number: 0238-20-5290
・Payment method: cash, electronic money
・Language support: Japanese
・Website: https://cafesora.info

3. Cafe TOKIZO: Delicious Seasonal Dishes and Relaxing Atmosphere 

Cafe TOKIZO, run by a married couple, is located a five-minute walk from Uesugi Shrine.

The interior of the shop, which was renovated from a former watch shop, has a warm atmosphere that allows customers to enjoy the slow flow of time. Amazingly, most of the interior design was handcrafted by the owner himself.

The husband is in charge of cooking and the wife is in charge of sweets, and the menu changes according to seasonal ingredients. This time, we had the "Summer Vegetable Tomato Sauce Pasta" (1,000 yen *As of October 1, 2024).

The sauce is mellow and gentle on the palate, and goes well with the chewy pasta. The summer vegetables are skillfully cooked to bring out their natural sweetness, allowing you to enjoy the flavor of the vegetables and pasta right to the end without getting tired of it. It's a homey, comforting dish.

In addition to pasta and curry, they also offer set meals on weekdays. In addition to meals, the cakes, puddings and other sweets made by the wife are also popular.

At the back of the store, there is an old grandfather clock that is over 100 years old. It chimes at the appointed time, and a soft tone resonates. Why not spend some relaxing time listening to the nostalgic and soothing sound of the bell?

Along with the grandfather clock, the shop conveys the couple's kind desire to keep the shop running for as long as possible.
*The grandfather clock is affectionately called "TOKIZO," which is also the origin of the store's name.

Store Information

・Business hours: Wednesday to Sunday 11:00 to 17:00
・Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
・Address: 2-1 Marunouchi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-0052
・Telephone number: 0238-23-3331
・Payment methods: cash, credit card, electronic money
・Language support: Japanese

4. Cafe Towa: Must Try Award Winning Burger 

This cafe is a 15-minute walk from Uesugi Shrine and features a bright blue exterior.

The owner, Mr. Takahashi, discovered surfing in his 20s and began to think about respecting nature and the importance of its blessings. The interior of the store, which is a direct embodiment of Mr. Takahashi's lifestyle, is a special space where you can feel the ocean even in Yonezawa. Surrounded by cool and elegant interior, you can spend a relaxing time.

Towa's appeal is its wide variety of food menu items. The most recommended item is the "Pulled Pork Cheese Burger" (1,330 yen *as of October 1, 2024). Locally-produced "Tengen Pork" is marinated in six types of spices and slowly grilled for seven hours to concentrate the flavor. The meat is so tender that it falls apart in your hands, and excess oil drips off, making it healthy. This luxurious hamburger is made with a generous amount of pulled pork and topped with mashed potatoes, cheese, and lettuce.

When you eat it, the meat melts in your mouth, releasing a rich flavor that combines with the sweetness of the potatoes and cheese to create a mellow taste. The crispy bun and the texture of the lettuce are pleasant, filling your mouth with happiness, and you'll find yourself eating like crazy. It's a hearty and satisfying dish. Before I knew it, I was eating it with my fingers.

Other popular dishes include the fragrant and satisfying "Garlic Shrimp" and the "Lemon Butter Sauce Pasta" which uses soft-shell shrimp that can be eaten with the shell on. There is also a wide variety of dishes made with fresh vegetables, drinks and desserts.

Based on the concept of "What towa can do. What only towa can do," Takahashi is committed to providing dishes that are carefully made. Please enjoy his proud dishes.

By the way, the "Pulled Pork Cheeseburger" is a popular menu item that has even won an award at a food contest held in Yonezawa City. (Winner of the 2023 Yonezawa Nikunojin "Daimyo" Pork Category)

Store Information

・Business hours: Monday to Tuesday 11:30 to 22:00, Thursday to Saturday 11:30 to 22:00, Sunday 11:30 to 17:00
・Closed on Wednesdays and the third Tuesday of every month
・Address: 2-3-46 Gobyo, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-0055
・Telephone number: 0238-20-5999
・Payment methods: cash, credit card, electronic money
・Language support: Japanese
・Other: Free Wi-Fi available
・Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafetowa/

5. Nagomi-tei: Innovative Japanese Sweets

This Japanese sweets cafe is located a two-minute walk from Uesugi Shrine, next to the main gate of the Uesugi Count's residence. The interior of the shop has the atmosphere of an old teahouse, and is decorated with folding screens and old chests, creating a relaxing space.

The recommended menu item is the "Brown Sugar Kinako Matcha Soft Serve" (580 yen *as of October 1, 2024), which is a version of the "Brown Sugar Kinako Soft Serve" with the ice cream changed to matcha flavor. It is a greedy dish with rich matcha ice cream topped with plenty of shiratama dumplings, red beans, kinako and brown sugar syrup.

The gentle sweetness of the brown sugar syrup and red beans is perfectly matched with the fragrant aroma of matcha to create a deep flavor, and the chewy texture of the shiratama rice balls adds a nice accent. It's a simple dessert that allows you to enjoy a refined sweetness like that of Japanese confectionery.

Other gelato options include "Ukogi" and other local ingredients, and the popular W Gelato, which allows you to combine your favorite flavors, is also available. There is also a wide variety of drinks, all of which can be taken out. Enjoy this innovative Japanese sweet treat while strolling through the gardens of the Uesugi Count's Residence.

You can also try on a kimono (reservations required) in Nagomitei. In addition to Yonezawa-ori kimonos, which feature jacquard patterns, armor and ninja costumes are also available. Enjoy sightseeing in Yonezawa while feeling like you've traveled back in time to the age of the samurai.

Count Uesugi's Residence

Store Information

・Business hours: Monday to Tuesday 10:00 to 16:00, Thursday to Sunday 10:00 to 16:00
・Closed on Wednesdays (※Closed during the winter season from December to March)
Address: 1-3-60 Marunouchi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, Postal Code 992-0052
・Telephone number: 0238-21-5121
・Payment method: cash, credit card
・Language support: Japanese
・Website: https://hakusyakutei.jp/cafe/

Find Your Favorite Cafe in Yonezawa!

Yonezawa City has many unique cafes. Why not take a stroll through the historic town and find a cafe that suits your taste? Please use this article as a reference and visit the town of Yonezawa.