Cafe & Pension Asuka

A cozy place for lunch, and the tonkatsu set was delicious. For 1,480 yen it came with salad, gratin, coffee, and dessert too.

The fried shrimp here was surprisingly large, and the crispy coating and plump shrimp made it really satisfying. The vegetables and soup were thoughtfully prepared too, so lunch felt nicely balanced. I stopped by Hidamari Cafe Asuka while exploring Asuka Village, and found the calm atmosphere and polite, attentive staff very comfortable. I’d happily come back on another visit to Asuka.

The meals were a highlight: both dinner and breakfast were delicious, and the quality felt amazing for the price. My bed was soft and comfortable, and there’s a free corn soup and tea dispenser inside the Tobishima Cafe & Pension building. A 7-Eleven and supermarket are only about a three-minute walk away. I stayed at the end of the year, and was amused to see the owner’s son’s Ninja motorcycle displayed in the cafe space. It was impressively well kept. I’d stay again if I’m in the area.

The bed was comfortable, and breakfast was really good, especially with the fruit. It’s a quiet setting with a supermarket and convenience store nearby, and there’s a 10 PM curfew. A few things would’ve been useful: a fridge in the room, a bidet toilet, and window screens.