[Café Nuis]: Popular Spot for Sandwiches Using Local Ingredients, and Delightful Pastries (Miyakojima City)

Located in the Gusukube area just a short distance from downtown Miyako is [Café Nuis]. The view from their large windows isn’t that of the blue ocean, but a vast green pasture. The café is welcoming and has a relaxing atmosphere, so they have many local regulars. Often, the customers who meet and get to know each other at the café develop a wonderful friendship.



The name of the café is taken from “nukumori island (a warm island)”, coined by its owner, Takeru Sunakawa. Originally from Gusukube, Sunakawa-san worked in sales for a cosmetics company in Tokyo, but when he learned that his home region was facing issues stemming from a declining population, he decided to return to the island. He then opened his café, “nuis”, in September 2018.



The concept aimed here is to be “a café cherished by the local people”, and they certainly stand by it, with tastes unique to Miyako Island, and offering friendly customer service in a relaxing atmosphere. They place importance on keeping their prices affordable so that the locals can continue to enjoy themselves here, and in offering delightful tastes that will make people smile.



The interior of the café is lovely, offering a warm and tender atmosphere from natural wood, and the blue sofas add to the relaxing air. All the seats offer a nice view of the green pasture outside.



Dishes prepared with fresh ingredients procured on the island are popular with their customers, as well as scones and muffins prepared by Sunakawa-san’s wife, who worked at a café in Tokyo for about ten years. On some days, the scones and muffins sell out before lunchtime.



Their toasted sandwiches with juicy meat, tasty cheese, and boiled eggs go really well with their coffee or housemade ginger ale.



The coffee offered at Café Nuis is their original blend, supervised and roasted by Sunakawa-san’s friend, a world champion in a barista competition. You can purchase their original ground coffee at the café so you can enjoy it at home, too.



Utilizing his work experiences at the cosmetics company, Sunakawa-san also produces and offers framed soap, a high-quality, clear soap. The products are made with 99% naturally derived ingredients, and Sunakawa-san hopes people will “enjoy and feel the warmth of the island” when they use them.


 

Molding the soap in the process called “framing” takes care and time. The process removes unwanted components and results in a better quality of soap. Sunakawa-san worked to heighten the quality in the foaming, hydrating and fragrance of his soap products.
Temporarily named [nui Sekken (soap)], Sunakawa-san hopes to launch a basic skin care brand from his café, expand the lineup, and try different things.

To enjoy a comfortably slow and relaxing time gazing out not to the blue seas, but rather, the lush green of a pasture, stop by [Café Nuis] when you’re on Miyako Island.

 

Café Nuis
Address: 652-2 Fukuzato, Gusukube, Miyakojima City, Okinawa
Telephone: 0980-77-2154
Hours: 7:30 to 16:00
(Breakfast menu from 7:30 to 9:30; beverages and takeout only from 9:30 to 11:00, all menu items and Bento boxes from 11:00 to 16:00)
Closed: Thursdays & Fridays
Website: https://nuku-mori.jp/    



Okinawa CLIP photo writer, Tetsushi Miyaguni