Hidden Cafe in the Woods

Even though it is the first time here, it feels nostalgic. If you go through the forest tunnel in Motobucho and down the narrow road, you will see the folk house café “Hakoniwa”.

It makes use of the warmth of the folk house while having a modern interior. The trees around the shop let in a warm light that will let you forget the busyness of everyday life like a space in another dimension. In that space, local ingredients, like from Yanbaru and the farmers of Nago, are used in natural dishes that are delicious.

All the ingredients are used to give subtle flavors. The banana cake I had was very fluffy, and the natural sweetness of the banana spread throughout my mouth.

The food is further complimented by the yachimun (earthenware) dishes collected by Ms. Tanigawa. “I have things made by friends and by my husband. If serving Okinawan food, yamuchin shows it the best after all.”

After working in a café in Tokyo, she had to come home and open the café of her dreams, but first she straightforwardly searched to find a property that fascinated her.
After 2 years she found this folk house, but the landlord would not give her the okay, so she wrote him a passionate letter and got to negotiate things.
Even with that the 50 year old folk house was so beat up that you could not connect it to the building it is now. After hiring a carpenter it took a year to remodel the house.
The passion that Ms. Tanigawa put into this place probably comes out in this warm, soothing space. While listening to the sounds of the birds and insects, have the luxury of letting time slip away here.

Cafe Hakoniwa
2566 Izumi, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 905-0221
0980-47-671

Okinawa Clip Photowriter Sandy