Cafes & Restaurants
in Kamijima
Seeing as you will be spending the days with me, I will take you to different cafes for lunch and coffee, I will post the lunch cafes just in case you would like to read up about what’s on offer anyway! The dinner options will be below, but pay more attention, as I will not be with you during this time of day :)
The Lunch, brunch & coffee
Marufu Farm & Cafe
Marufu Farm & Cafe is the first place that we visited when we first travelled to Kamijima. It was opened in 2017 by a young couple, Mitsuka and Yuya, who moved from Tokyo. The husband studied French Philosophy but decided to move to the countryside 10 years ago and become an organic farmer.
The food is almost entirely sourced from their farm or this island, and is almost entirely vegan as a result. It is the most gentle and kind meal that you can ever expect to eat. Coffee and cakes also served here.
Lunch is a set price of ¥1000 and depends on the harvest of the day.
Currently closed until summer of 2020
OPENING HOURS
Sat, Sun, Mon 11:00am-13:30pm
Kitchen 313 Kamiyuge
The first ‘new’ cafe to open on Kamijima Island in 2013. Built in a 100 year old house, with a family of 5, Shuhei and Maki serve amazing freshly baked bagels out of this unassuming space located in Kamiyuge.
Home roasted Fair trade coffee is also served here, as well as seasonal fruit drinks.
Most of the orders are by reservation (so contact me if you would like to eat some!), or just make sure you get here at 11:30am when they open there doors. The opening times are dependent on the season, since winter the bagel dough rises more slowly, and they usually sell out of bagels within 2 hours.
Definitely ask for the Chicken Sandwich Bagel!
OPENING HOURS
Tue, Thu, Sat 11:00am-3:30pm
Book cafe Okappa
This cafe is run by 2 lovely ladies who moved here in 2018 from Tokyo. Never having picked up power tool, and with a dream to one day run a cafe together, they purchased an old kindergarten and got to work. 1 year later, they opened Book Cafe Okappa.
The charm of this cafe is very unique. You can easily spend many hours relaxing in here, reading a book, or just watching.
They offer beer, tea, cakes, coffee.
If you come during the lunch hours, they do serve chicken curry (¥850), or homemade pizza (¥800) for lunch.
OPENING HOURS
Tuesday - Friday 11:00am - 5:00pm
Sat & Sun 9:00am - 5:00pm
Occasionally they host events here, such as musical performances, or traditional japanese storytelling, Rakugo.
The Dinner, Drink & Evening
Kamijima has a few eating places around, and almost all of them are located in the main island of Yuge. I have listed these restaurants as the main recommendations, because they are close to the recommended accommodation as well as the town we finish the tours in.
Totoya
Totoya is an Izakaya. Izakaya is basically an after work “bar” where you can drink and have small plates of food and drink. Coincidentally it is also where Momo and I also work in the evenings! So come and say hi!
The master of Totoya trained in Kyoto and did sushi for 10 years before moving back to his hometown and opening this shop.
You can find many interesting showcases of Japanese cuisine: Sushi, Sashimi, Horse, even tataki (seared) chicken are all delicious dishes to try if you are wanting to try something new!
If you are wanting to try a selection of food at the Masters hand, you can book through us for an Omakase set. Omakase in Japanese means “I’ll leave it up to you”. This is not something on his menu, The Kamijima Tours exclusive!
Choose from ¥6000 with all-you-can-drink or ¥4000 per person for just the food. Only available through here.
OPENING HOURS:
Lunch Tue - Fri: 11:30am - 13:30pm,
Dinner Tue - Sat: 17:30pm - 10:00pm (Last Order: 8:20pm).
Sai
Yugeshima Dining Sai is another izakaya. Its owner “Ma-san” is a master of fusion cooking. Utilising delicious local ingredients, he is the only chef and makes amazing quality dishes.
There is an English menu here and food is relatively inexpensive.
Dishes to try are: Hot plate beef, mochi pizza, smoked salmon salad, fried sweet potato, braised pork donburi and the chicken wings.
OPENING HOURS:
Dinner: Thu-Tue 18:00pm - 23:00pm (Last Order: 22:00pm)
Okonomiyaki Jumbo Hamaoka
Okonomiyaki Jumbo used to be a takoyaki shop, but started selling solely Okonomiyaki a few years ago.
Okonomiyaki is the famous Hiroshima prefecture dish. To describe it would be like a layered savory “pancake” made of cabbage, pork, egg and noodles. The menu is Japanese, but very simple. They also do Yakisoba, which is fried noodles.
You ask for Yakisoba, or Okonomiyaki in either small, medium or large. (About ¥600 yen)
Sit near the counter, next to the hot plate, to be right next to the action! You will eat straight off the plate for a very rare experience you won’t find easily even in Hiroshima!
The owner cannot speak english, but she is super lovely! Located right next to the ferry port to Imabari or Innoshima Island, so very convenient for a short bite if you are leaving the area!
OPENING HOURS
Lunch Thu-Tue 10:00am-13:00pm
Dinner Thu-Tue 16:00pm - 19:00pm
Komauta - Karaoke Cafe
Komauta is an interesting cafe on the island. It serves as a place for everyone to gather and eat and have fun.
It is open for lunch, as well as dinner. It is not a proper restaurant setting but you can eat local Onomichi style ramen and other foods quickly and easily.
Come anytime during the day and you will find Island grandma and granddads singing along to Karaoke in the main room.
This is unlike any karaoke you will find in the city. Everyone sits in the same room and takes turns to queue songs up and sing up the front. The karaoke system has all the latest english hits, as well as many other classic songs you would least expect to find on a tiny island like this. Come after dinner for a truly different experience! Located central in the main town a short walk from the main restaurants and ferry port of Yuge Island.
OPENING HOURS
13:00pm - 17:00 and 18:00pm - 22:00pm
Closed every second and fourth Saturday and Sunday of the month.
