A Space to Express Myself
Visiting the Shimanami Kaido and cycling on Mukaishima is a standard itinerary for tourists, but for Hiroaki Hata, it turned into a journey that significantly changed his life.
“My wife was enchanted by the Tachibana district we just happened to visit. The scenery was beautiful, and the locals were friendly. I agreed with her, and after a year of searching for a vacant house, we moved here from Tokyo.”
In the spring of 2020, they opened NAGI, an appointment-only café — amid concerns from neighbors wondering if they were serious, considering the location.
“Opening a café has been my dream since my junior year of college,” says Hata-san. “Even when I was job hunting, I used to say, ‘I’m going to open a café in my 30s.’ Coffee, music, art, antiques, interior design. I wanted to express myself through the café and share that with others.”
However, just as their new neighbors had worried, the area is not on what you would call a typical tourist route. Even if friends and acquaintances from Tokyo wanted to become regulars, it’s simply too far.
“We rarely see anyone other than locals. Thankfully, we have visitors from all over western Japan, and about 70% of them are repeat customers. Many come to experience the changing seasons. The cherry blossom season is perfect for flower viewing. I can’t recommend it enough.”
Hiroaki Hata
Born in Tokyo, works as a freelance web marketer while running NAGI with his wife. Reservations can be made via Instagram. The café operates on a 2-hour system, offering 2-3 cups of coffee and four plates of sweets.