Hokuto City's cafe scene is booming! Newcomers are popping up one after another!
Just two hours from Tokyo, Hokuto City in Yamanashi Prefecture is quickly becoming one of Japan’s trendiest café destinations. Surrounded by the majestic Yatsugatake Mountains and known for its pure natural spring water, the area continues to welcome new cafés, bakeries, and sweets shops. Whether you’re exploring nature, visiting hot springs, or staying at a local inn, Hokuto offers plenty of peaceful places to take a break. Here are the newest spots opening in 2025 that you won’t want to miss.
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It is located in the northwest of Yamanashi Prefecture, on the border with Nagano Prefecture. It is a vast area surrounded by 3,000m-class mountains such as the Yatsugatake Mountains, the Southern Alps, and Mt. Kinpu, and overlooking Mt. Fuji to the south. It is about a two-hour drive from Tokyo, about an hour from Mt. Fuji, and about an hour from Matsumoto, and is easily accessible, so many tourists visit throughout the year. It is also known as a "village of famous water," and three places have been selected as one of Japan's 100 famous water sources. This bounty of water is loved as natural water, and the area boasts one of the largest production volumes of mineral water in Japan. Sake is also produced from the pure water, and you can enjoy beautiful natural scenery and rich food.
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Table of Contents
- Tokigusuri Cafe - A retro cafe that heals heart
- Muffin & Scone - Gentle Baked Treats in a Forest Hideaway
- Anmitsu Shinryokudo - Heartwarming Wagashi in the Land of Pure Water
- Natural Dinner Cocoro - Home-Style Japanese Cooking Made with Love
- Itoma Chocolate & Ice cream - Rich Bean-to-Bar Treats
- Le Plaisir du Pain - AuthenticFrench Bread Crafted in Harmony with Japan’s Nature
- summary
Tokigusuri Cafe - A retro cafe that heals heart
Reopened on Jul.31, 2025
Set inside a renovated kura storehouse withover 100 years of history, Kissa Tokigusuri blends nostalgic charm withthe comforting warmth of Japanese kissaten culture.(Kissaten: A retro-styleJapanese café known for its nostalgic atmosphere, hand-drip coffee, and classiccomfort foods from the Showa era.)
The name means “medicine of time,” expressing the idea that time itself canheal and soothe.
The soft ticking of vintage clocks and the gentle melodies from antique records create a relaxing atmosphere perfect for a quiet moment during your travels.
Address: 1094-1 Machida , Takane-cho , Hokuto City
🕒Business hours: 11:30–16:00 (last orders 15:30) *Reservations required for lunch (last orders 14:00)
📅Closed: Saturday to Wednesday
*Closed during winter. Check out Instagram for details!
Number of seats: 13 (9 seats inside, 4 seats on the terrace)
*Terrace seats are only available from spring to autumn
Multilingual support: Available by using a translation app
Muffin & Scone - Gentle Baked Treats in a Forest Hideaway
Opened August 11, 2025
Hidden in a peaceful villa area at the foot of Mt. Yatsugatake, Harubaru specializes in muffins and scones inspired by European recipes.
Warm wooden interiors and large windows overlooking a seasonal garden make this café feel like a cozy retreat in a friend’s home, making it the perfect place to relax and unwid during your trip.
Address: 8240-859 Nishiide , Oizumi Town, Hokuto City
🕒Business hours: 11:00–16:00 *Mondays except public holidays: 13:00–16:00
📅Closed: Tuesdays and Saturdays (open Saturdays in summer)
*Check out Instagram for details!
Number of seats: 10
Multilingual support: English and Italian
Anmitsu Shinryokudo - Heartwarming Wagashi in the Land of Pure Water
Opened on October 1, 2025
At Shinryokudo, an anmitsu(traditional Japanese dessert made with sweet red bean paste, agar jelly, fruits, and syrup) artisan with over 20 years of experience serves premium anmitsu with soft shiratama moch dumplings(soft, chewy mochi dumplings made from glutinous rice flour).
The shop also offers onigiri and tokoroten etc, offering a casual yet deeply traditional taste of Japan.
Enjoy a relaxing and soothing moment in Hokuto, the home of famous water.
Address: 4577-3 Shirasu, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City
🕒Business hours: 11:00 - 16:00 (LO 15:30)
📅Closed: Mondays and Thursdays
*Check out Instagram for details!
Number of seats:
Multilingual support:
Natural Dinner Cocoro - Home-Style Japanese Cooking Made with Love
Opened October 10, 2025
Cocoro serves weekly set meals full of seasonal vegetables and beautifully arranged small dishes, coming in a tray-full satisfying serving.
The flavors are warm and familiar—just like Japanese “mom’s cooking”—making ita comforting stop for travelers who want to experience local food culture.
Address: 8240-8127 Nishiide , Oizumi Town, Hokuto City
🕐Opening hours: Lunch 11:00/12:30/14:00 (3 shifts)
*Reservations are prioritized / Cafe 14:30 - 16:00
📅Closed: Sunday to Thursday
*Check out Instagram for details!
December to March: Reservations required one week in advance.
Seating capacity: 18 seats (10 seats inside, 8 seats on the terrace)
Multilingual support: English
Itoma Chocolate & Ice cream - Rich Bean-to-Bar Treats
Opened October 10, 2025
A bean-to-bar craft chocolatier that handcrafts everything in-house, from globally sourced cacao beans to chocolate bars.
Their ice cream, made with generous amounts of house-made chocolate, is exceptionally rich — like eating pure chocolate itself.
Seasonal limited flavors are especiallypopular with travelers and make for a memorable stop on your Hokuto trip.
Address: 2196 Hokuto City, Shirasu-cho, Hokuto City
🕐Business hours: 11:00 - 17:00
📅Closed: Monday to Wednesday
*Check Instagram for details!
Number of seats: 20 (including terrace seats)
Multilingual support: English
Le Plaisir du Pain - AuthenticFrench Bread Crafted in Harmony with Japan’s Nature
Opened November 14, 2025
A beloved French bakery from Nagoya, popular for 15 years, has relocated to Hokuto.
The French boulanger creates naturally leavened breads and French pastries using traditional methods while adapting recipes to Japan’s seasons and environment.
Each bite blends the aroma of authentic French baking with the purity of Yatsugatake’s air and local ingredients — a unique bread experience only possible in Hokuto.
Enjoy the luxury of freshly baked bread while traveling is an experience you can only have here.
Address: 8240-799 Nishiide , Oizumi Town, Hokuto City
🕐Business hours: 8:00 - 17:00
📅Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays *Check Instagram for details!
Multilingual support: English and French
summary
Surrounded by nature, Hokuto City is a unique place to relax and enjoy cafe hopping during your travels, and you'll discover something new every time you visit. Experience a special time that will satisfy both your heart and your palate as you explore new shops in Hokuto City .
It is located in the northwest of Yamanashi Prefecture, on the border with Nagano Prefecture. It is a vast area surrounded by 3,000m-class mountains such as the Yatsugatake Mountains, the Southern Alps, and Mt. Kinpu, and overlooking Mt. Fuji to the south. It is about a two-hour drive from Tokyo, about an hour from Mt. Fuji, and about an hour from Matsumoto, and is easily accessible, so many tourists visit throughout the year. It is also known as a "village of famous water," and three places have been selected as one of Japan's 100 famous water sources. This bounty of water is loved as natural water, and the area boasts one of the largest production volumes of mineral water in Japan. Sake is also produced from the pure water, and you can enjoy beautiful natural scenery and rich food.
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