Exploring Retro Cafes Run by Unique Owners

My all-time #1 cafe I’d want in front of a station
— Shiokaze

Right in front of Takehara Station stands “Shiokaze.” As soon as you step inside, you’re greeted by the gentle aroma of freshly ground coffee. Despite its cozy appearance, the interior spans across the basement and the second floor, creating a surprising sense of space that contrasts with the exterior. This cafe was started by the parents of the current owner shortly after the war. “The name comes from my grandfather’s work in the salt farming industry,” explains the second-generation owner, Kyoko Shimono, with a charming smile.

Since its founding, the cafe has used “Old Beans” from Tokaichi Sabo, a long-established shop in Hiroshima City. By aging the raw beans for several years, the bitterness and harshness mellow out, resulting in a cup with a refreshing acidity that’s easy to drink. Since many regulars come for breakfast, they prepare plenty of coffee in a specially large siphon every morning.

Coffee and milk are quickly served to customers as they take their seats. There must be countless people who visit just to enjoy their “usual” routine here. The casual conversations with Ms. Shimono are so pleasant that I’m surely not the only one who ends up staying longer than intended.

Experience a world tour through coffee
— Coffee Specialty Shop Paris

“I started this with my husband, who always said he wanted to run a cafe,” says Hiroko Kono, the owner of “Paris,” named after the French city she admired at the time. True to her husband’s passion for coffee, the shop offers over 20 varieties, including blends and beans from 12 countries around the world.

When it opened in 1973, it was a specialty coffee shop, but in response to customer requests, the food menu expanded to include items like pasta, gratin, and baked curry. Many families with children visit, and some even return saying they “can’t forget the parfaits they ate as kids.”

The charm of a cafe lies in its sense of nostalgia. The origami tucked away on the edge of polished brass tables and the trinkets on the sturdy shelves are all gifts from regulars to Ms. Kono. Her personality shines through in her words: “It would be lonely if they weren’t here when you came back, wouldn’t it?” A recent recommendation is the donut set called “Mom’s Snack.” Freshly fried and crispy with a subtle, gentle sweetness, they are as heartwarming as Ms. Kono herself.

Welcome to a retro, Western-style world
— Coffee & Restaurant “Lamp”

With its striking brick exterior, Coffee & Restaurant “Lamp” was founded in 1980. The owner, Haruo Inazumi, who loves cooking, honed his skills in Tokyo and Osaka in his youth. With a dream of owning his own place, he started it as a coffee shop with the goal of gradually expanding. Today, his son Yoshinori, the second-generation owner who trained at an Italian restaurant, helps liven up the shop with pasta and sweets.

Haruo built the interior himself, drawing inspiration from the historic Western-style houses (Ijinkan) in Kobe. With stylish touches like stained glass and a telephone booth, the calm space feels like stepping back in time. The cafe menu, featuring parfaits and homemade cakes that perfectly match the atmosphere, is loaded with seasonal fruits.

Haruo named the shop with images of the “moon” and “light” in mind. While it’s great for everyday use, many people also visit for special occasions like matchmaking sessions or formal dinners. “Lamp” is a place that seems to watch over its visitors with a gentle glow.