This dessert-focused terrace cafe in Akiruno offers spectacular views of the dramatic Iwasekyo Gorge. In fact, it’s an offshoot of revered Japanese restaurant Kurochaya, which shares its location. Just adjacent to the restaurant’s historic three-centuries-old building, Mizunone (meaning ‘sound of water’, fittingly) provides a sense of genuine seclusion amidst unspoilt natural beauty.
The terrace, a low-key wooden construction that has both covered and fully open seating, looks out at a stretch of river that runs almost perfectly straight: something that is rare in valley locations. Sitting out here is akin to enjoying a front-row seat to nature’s theatre, in which things unfold at a refreshingly slow pace, but with the utmost splendour. This is true for each of the four seasons, and the terrace has been designed so that different seats offer varying views.
Popular drinks include a sharply refreshing yuzu cider (¥600) made with domestically grown examples of this Japanese citrus, and retro-style cream soda in a choice of five flavours (¥900). Highlights from the menu of Japanese and Western-style sweets, meanwhile, include warabi mochi with vanilla ice cream (¥800), New York cheesecake with strawberry sauce (¥750), and chocolate brownie with whipped cream (¥750).
Written by Darren Gore based on the original text by Tomomi Nakamura