Part 08 of my creative endeavor “to make'“ …where I reflect back on some of my favorite places and spaces in Japan and use my apple pencil to bring them to a new light.
What makes Japan so charming is that you can find amazing things basically ANYWHERE. No matter what city you go to, I guarantee there will be a cute local mascot, an amazing ramen shop, a museum that will blow your socks off, and without a doubt - a coffee shop cooler than you deserve to be in.
Take Toyama for example. A city (and prefecture) a short 3 hour Shinkansen ride from Tokyo where nature and city life meet for a pretty epic place to visit. While staying there a few days, Steph (my senpai) and I did a quick coffee google search and sure enough found a hidden gem that sat along side a river a 15 minute walk from Toyama station. We rounded the corner to a road of small businesses and run down buildings and I remember thinking, “where are we? it cant be here. are we sure it’s here?” and then…sitting across the road I saw this boxy white building, KOFFE .
It looked like a converted house of sorts with a sleek design and simple sign. We walked in unsure of what would be inside…and were of course greeted by two COOL people who seemed like a husband and wife team. They were packaging little cakes and selling coffee beans roasted on site…did we just transport to the most amazing coffee shop ever? It was so cool. They were SO cool. Steph ordered the peach roll cake and I got their chocolate mousse cake which was DIVINE especially paired with an iced latte of my dreams and we sat there in complete disbelief that we stumbled upon this gem. Next to a river. In Toyama. Of all places. What?!
But that is what makes Japan so charming and so endlessly amazing. In every city you visit you are guaranteed to find people doing whatever thing they are doing extremely well. It’s a country that pride’s itself on quality, work ethic and honing your craft.. and those are things I deeply admire and respect.
Koffe…I’ll be back for you one day!!!!!