NIGATA, Aug. 8 — A café run by a farm in the city of Niigata, a major rice growing region, is proving popular due to a picturesque view of rice fields spreading out of its large windows.
Roughly 55,000 people a year visit Farmer’s Kitchen Blackbird operated by Kurotori Edamame Laboratory, a farm that cultivates a hectare of wheat and 2.5 hectares of edamame young soybeans.
The café has large windows where visitors can enjoy a view of the countryside.
“Even the landscapes you see everyday offer different impressions depending on how the views are cropped,” said an official of Kurotori Edamame Laboratory. “Farming is a continuation of unglamorous work, but we hope we can provide an opportunity to see it from a different angle.”
Bakery products made of farm produce harvested at the farm are selling well at the café.
The café is located in the area that cultivates Kurosaki Chamame, the first edamame variety which was registered under Japan’s geographical indication (GI) protection system.
The best-selling item at the café is Zunda Cream Anpan, a bun made of Yukichikara variety wheat grown at the firm and filled with sweet edamame bean paste and whipped cream, priced at 200 yen. Edamame Shake, milk shake containing edamame paste rich in flavor, priced at 550 yen, is also popular.
Visitors to Farmer’s Kitchen Blackbird in the city of Niigata enjoy a view of the countryside and dishes using local produce.