Aika Coffee Shop, a retro coffee shop in a warehouse on the old streets of Takayama.

  • Gifu
  • Eating
Aika Coffee Shop, located in a corner of San-no-machi, an old town in Takayama, is a retro coffee shop in a warehouse structure established in 1975. The store has a stately white-walled exterior, and the lights with the word "Aika" on them are a nice touch.
Exterior view (image)
Once inside, you will find a slightly dimly lit, calm store with dark brown chairs and tables, with blue and indigo colored accessories and decorations providing a nice accent. There are only a few seats, but there is also counter seating, so you can spend a relaxing time even if you are alone. The light shining through the frosted glass of the small windows is a nice touch, and combined with the music playing, it creates a peaceful atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer.
Inside the store (image)
The store uses handmade coffee carefully roasted over charcoal and ground on a millstone. A variety of coffees are available, from original blends to single origin and specialty coffees. On this day, after much deliberation, I ordered the store's most popular baked cheesecake to go with the original blend! The cheesecake, made with plain Hida yogurt, was delicious and refreshing without being too sweet, and the coffee had just the right amount of bitterness and acidity.
Original blended and baked cheesecakes
One of the specialties at "Aika Coffee Shop" is "Chapuchino" which is a cappuccino made with matcha green tea using only the finest tea leaves. There are many other items of interest, such as a summer-only menu featuring juices made from fresh Hida peaches and melons, a pudding made from warabi rice cakes, and "special kuzukiri" made from 100% Yoshino real kuzu (a type of kuzu made from the kuzu tree in Yoshino).

The store is in a perfect location for a quick break during your food tour, so why not visit when sightseeing in the old town?
Tags related to this article
Previous post Back to list Next
related articles