- Drinking Coffee in a 2,000-Tsubo Garden
- What Is Kuninaka Shoten? A Café Like a Park
- The Vast 2,000-Tsubo Garden
- The Care Behind the Self-Roasted Coffee
- Handmade Bread and Sweets
- The Atmosphere Inside
- The Challenge of Coffee Cultivation
- Convenient for Breakfast or a Break
- Popular with Locals and Tourists Alike
- Sights Around Kuninaka Shoten
- The Pros and Cons of Kuninaka Shoten
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- The Luxury of Drinking Coffee in a 2,000-Tsubo Garden
Drinking Coffee in a 2,000-Tsubo Garden
The first time I went to Kuninaka Shoten was on the way from Shimojishima Airport towards 17END. I dropped by on a light whim — "shall we stop at a café?"
As I was driving, colourful wall art leapt into view. I knew right away, "ah, here it is." It was apparently painted together with local children. Cute.
I parked in the car park and entered the shop. Simple concrete architecture. I slid open the glass door and went inside.
The interior is unexpectedly spacious. In front of the till, handmade breads are lined up in a row. They all look delicious. Melon-pan, anpan, croissant, cinnamon roll. You want to eat them all.
I ordered "a drip coffee, please." ¥500. Cheap. At a Tokyo café it would be ¥600 or ¥700.
The staff told me, "you can drink it in the garden too." "The garden?" I thought, and when I went outside, it was a shock.
Spacious. Incredibly spacious. I'd heard 2,000 tsubo (about 6,600 m² / 1.6 acres), but it was beyond imagination. This is a park. Under the pine trees, tables and chairs are set out.
I sat in the shade of the trees and drank coffee. The wind feels good. You can hear birdsong. Irabu Island's blue sky spreads on and on.
I thought, "there's no other place like this." A café, yet like a park. You can drink coffee and just zone out. The best.
I, who have visited many times, will introduce the appeal of Kuninaka Shoten thoroughly. The 2,000-tsubo garden, self-roasted coffee, handmade bread. I'll write it all.
If you plan to go to Irabu Island, please absolutely drop by Kuninaka Shoten. Drinking coffee and zoning out in the garden. The greatest luxury.
What Is Kuninaka Shoten? A Café Like a Park
Kuninaka Shoten is a café of self-roasted coffee and handmade bread on Irabu Island. It's called "a café like a park."
The Origin of the Name and the Thinking Behind It
When I first heard the name "Kuninaka Shoten (Kuninaka Store)," I thought, "a store? Not a café?" But hearing the story, I understood.
Kuninaka Shoten isn't just a café. It was founded with the thinking of "wanting to create a new industry of coffee production in Japan, from Irabu Island."
It's taking on coffee cultivation. On Irabu Island, it's growing coffee. In the future, there's a plan to brand it as a domestic coffee originating from Irabu Island.
It's trying to create the cyclical value of "make," "savour" and "connect." That's why it's a "store."
Opening Hours and Closing Days
Opening hours: 8:00–19:00 (last order 19:00)
Morning: 8:00–9:00
Closing days: none (open year-round)
▶"Please check the latest opening hours and closing days on [Kuninaka Shoten]"
It's open from 8:00 in the morning. Morning time is 8:00–9:00. From early morning, you can eat coffee and bread.
Open year-round. This is welcome. When arranging your travel schedule, you don't have to mind closing days. Whenever you go, it's open.
Since it's open until 19:00, you can drop by even in the middle of an evening drive.
Location and Access
Address: Kuninaka, Irabu, Miyakojima City, Okinawa
Phone: 0980-79-0181
Access: about 5 minutes by car from Shimojishima Airport
It's incredibly close to Shimojishima Airport. 5 minutes by car. You can drop by right after arriving at the airport, or before heading to the airport.
From crossing the Irabu Bridge it's about 15 minutes. It's close to Toriike Pond and Sawada-no-Hama too, so it's easy to drop by in the middle of sightseeing.
Search "Kuninaka Shoten" on Google Maps and it comes up right away. The colourful wall art is the landmark.
The car park has space for about 20 cars. Being wide, it's almost never full and unenterable.
The Vast 2,000-Tsubo Garden
Kuninaka Shoten's biggest appeal is the vast 2,000-tsubo garden.
Park-Level Spaciousness
Beside the shop, there are stairs. "What's this?" I thought, and went up. Then it spread out before me.
Spacious. Truly spacious. 2,000 tsubo. This is a park.
Pine trees grow, and under them, tables and chairs are set out. It's shaded and cool.
The lawn spreads out, well maintained. You can tell it's carefully tended.
"I've never seen a café like this," I thought. An ordinary café, you just sit inside and drink coffee. But here is different. The garden is so wide you can take a walk.
Shaded Table Seats
Under the pine trees, many table seats are set out. Being shaded, you can avoid the direct sunlight.
Okinawa has strong UV, so having shade helps. You can relax without minding sunburn.
When the wind blows, the pine needles make a rustling sound. It feels good.
Sit at a table and drink coffee. You can hear birdsong. You can see the blue sky. Time flows slowly.
Pets Allowed
The garden is pet-friendly. You can drink coffee together with your dog.
The terrace seats are pet-OK too. Being roofed, it's fine even in sudden rain.
You might meet the signboard dog Latte too. If the timing is good.
For dog owners, it's welcome. A place where you can rest together with your dog while driving around Irabu Island.
On Fine Days, Spend Time in the Garden
On a fine day, please absolutely go out into the garden. The interior is comfortable too, but the garden is by far better.
Blue sky, white clouds, green lawn. You can feel Irabu Island's nature with your whole body.
Drink coffee and zone out. Think of nothing. Just feel the wind. Listen to the birdsong.
You can never savour such time in Tokyo. Because it's Irabu Island, you can savour it.
The Care Behind the Self-Roasted Coffee
Kuninaka Shoten's coffee is self-roasted. It's carefully roasted in the shop.
Extracted by Drip, One Cup at a Time
The coffee is extracted by drip, one cup at a time. It takes time, but it's that much more delicious.
After you order, the barista carefully drips it. You can watch the pouring of the hot water over the counter.
The aroma of coffee spreads through the shop. Savoury, a good smell.
The waiting time is fun too. Anticipation builds — "what kind of taste will it be?"
Treasuring the Beans' Natural Character
Kuninaka Shoten's coffee treasures the beans' natural character. Carefully selected green beans, carefully roasted.
Fragrant and mellow. A taste you don't tire of even drinking it every day. It earns high marks from coffee lovers too.
Light roast, medium roast, dark roast. You can choose by your mood that day. I like the medium roast. The balance is good.
The Price of Drip Coffee
Drip coffee (takeaway): ¥500 (about US$3)
Café latte: ¥600–750 (about US$4–5)
Drip coffee is ¥500. Incredibly cheap. At a Tokyo café it would be ¥600 or ¥700.
The café latte is ¥600–750. The price changes by size.
At this price, you can drink self-roasted coffee. The best value.
The Kokuto Latte Is Recommended
There's a menu item called kokuto latte (brown-sugar latte) too. A taste unique to Okinawa.
The sweetness of the brown sugar and the bitterness of the coffee match exquisitely. Not too sweet, easy to drink.
Drink a kokuto latte and zone out in the garden. The best combination.
Handmade Bread and Sweets
Kuninaka Shoten has a bakery attached too. Handmade bread and sweets are lined up.
Kinds of Bread
In front of the till, breads are lined up in a row. All handmade.
Melon-pan, anpan, croissant, cinnamon roll, French bread, shokupan. A rich variety.
They all look delicious, and I waver. I like the cinnamon roll. The aroma of cinnamon is irresistible.
Using Local Ingredients
The bread uses local ingredients. Irabu-Island salt, brown sugar, beni-imo (purple sweet potato).
A taste unique to Okinawa. You can eat it only here.
The beni-imo bread is faintly sweet and chewy. The brown-sugar bread is rich and savoury.
The Match of Bread and Coffee
The match of bread and coffee is incredibly good.
Eat a cinnamon roll while drinking drip coffee. The sweetness of cinnamon and the bitterness of coffee. Perfect.
Eat a croissant while drinking a café latte. The aroma of butter and the sweetness of milk. This too is perfect.
Sweets Are Substantial Too
There are various sweets too. Cookies, muffins, cake.
A rustic flavour. Restrained sweetness. There's a handmade feel.
The muffins are fluffy, a gentle taste. Tea muffin, chocolate muffin. Both are delicious.
Prices
Bread: ¥200–300 (about US$1.30–2)
Sweets: ¥200–300 (about US$1.30–2)
Both bread and sweets are ¥200–300. Reasonable.
Even paired with coffee, it's ¥700–800. Affordable.
A price range just right for breakfast or an afternoon break.
The Atmosphere Inside
Kuninaka Shoten's interior is simple and comfortable.
Simple Concrete Architecture
The exterior is simple concrete architecture. Like a warehouse.
But there's a reason for this. To withstand typhoons. Okinawa has many typhoons. A sturdy building is needed.
Simple, but with colourful wall art, it's cute. It was apparently painted together with local children.
A Spacious Interior
The interior is unexpectedly spacious. There are many table seats.
The windows are large and it's bright. You can see the greenery outside. Open.
There are power outlets and Wi-Fi is fully provided. It's also ideal for people who want to work at a café.
There Are Terrace Seats Too
Beside the building, there are roofed terrace seats.
Okinawa has strong UV, but with a roof, you can avoid the direct sunlight.
Okinawa has dramatic changes of weather, but with a roof, it's fine even in sudden rain.
The terrace seats are pet-friendly. You can drink coffee together with your dog.
The Challenge of Coffee Cultivation
Kuninaka Shoten isn't just a café. It's taking on coffee cultivation.
Growing Coffee on Irabu Island
In 2021, it started coffee cultivation. On Irabu Island, it's growing coffee.
There are few places in Japan that cultivate coffee. Only Okinawa main island, the Ogasawara Islands, and so on. It's taking on the challenge of whether coffee will grow on Irabu Island too.
It hasn't reached harvest yet, but it's apparently growing smoothly. Someday, the day may come when you can drink Irabu-Island-grown coffee.
A New Industry for the Region
Why did it start coffee cultivation? It's from the thinking of "wanting to create a new industry for Irabu Island's future."
Irabu Island has many people engaged in agriculture. But farmers' income isn't stable.
If coffee cultivation gets on track, it becomes a new industry. Café, souvenirs, sightseeing farm. A wide range of development can be imagined.
While basing it on locally rooted resources, add new added value. They want to create a sustainable regional business. With such thinking, they're taking on the challenge.
Make, Savour, Connect
Kuninaka Shoten's vision is to create the cyclical value of "make," "savour" and "connect."
Make coffee. Customers savour it. And people connect with people.
A café isn't just a place to sell coffee. A place where people gather. A place where exchange is born.
Such a place is what Kuninaka Shoten aims to be.
Convenient for Breakfast or a Break
Kuninaka Shoten is open from 8:00 in the morning. It's just right for breakfast or an afternoon break.
Morning Time
Morning time is 8:00–9:00.
Breakfast of bread and coffee. Simple, but delicious.
Eating breakfast at the hotel is fine, but sometimes eating breakfast outside is nice too. Eat breakfast at Kuninaka Shoten and head out to Irabu Island sightseeing. The best start to a day.
Close to Shimojishima Airport
5 minutes by car from Shimojishima Airport. Incredibly close.
You can drop by right after arriving at the airport, or before heading to the airport.
When "there's time before the flight," take a coffee break at Kuninaka Shoten. You can pass the time while zoning out in the garden.
On the Way Back from 17END or Toriike Pond
17END, Toriike Pond, Sawada-no-Hama. After touring Irabu Island's sights, take a break at Kuninaka Shoten.
After tiring yourself walking on sightseeing, take a breather while drinking coffee. Zone out in the garden. The tiredness lifts.
A just-right place to drop by in the middle of sightseeing.
Popular with Locals and Tourists Alike
Kuninaka Shoten is popular with locals and tourists alike.
A Café Rooted in the Community
Kuninaka Shoten isn't a tourist-oriented café. A café rooted in the community.
Locals come normally too. People who come to drink coffee from the morning, people who come to buy bread.
Tourists and locals drink coffee in the same space. Such a place.
Precisely Because It's a Remote Island with No Starbucks
Irabu Island has no Starbucks. No chain cafés.
So Kuninaka Shoten is valued by locals. When "I want to drink coffee," they go to Kuninaka Shoten.
For people living on the island, an important place.
Repeat Tourists Are Increasing Too
Repeat tourists are increasing too. People who say "when I come to Irabu Island, I always stop at Kuninaka Shoten."
Once you go, you want to go again. Such a place.
I'm one of them too. Every time I go to Irabu Island, I stop at Kuninaka Shoten. Drink coffee and zone out in the garden. That's the thing I look forward to.
Sights Around Kuninaka Shoten
Around Kuninaka Shoten there are lots of sights.
17END (10 Minutes by Car)
17END is the end of the Shimojishima Airport runway. A spectacular spot jutting into the sea.
The emerald-green sea spreads on and on. You can see planes taking off and landing too.
Buy coffee at Kuninaka Shoten and take a coffee break at 17END. The best way to spend it.
Toriike Pond (10 Minutes by Car)
Toriike Pond is a national natural monument. Two ponds connect to the sea underground.
A mysterious place. The blue sea and the deep ponds. A strange view.
See Toriike Pond and then take a coffee break at Kuninaka Shoten. Touring them as a set is recommended.
Sawada-no-Hama (15 Minutes by Car)
Sawada-no-Hama is a beach chosen among Japan's 100 Best Beaches. Giant rocks lie scattered about.
A distinctive landscape. You can't see it elsewhere.
Buy bread at Kuninaka Shoten and picnic at Sawada-no-Hama. This too is nice.
Irabu Bridge (15 Minutes by Car)
The Irabu Bridge is a 3,540-metre bridge connecting Miyako Island and Irabu Island.
The view of the sea seen from the bridge is spectacular. The emerald-green sea continues on and on.
Right after crossing the bridge, drop by Kuninaka Shoten. Just right for the start or end of sightseeing.
The Pros and Cons of Kuninaka Shoten
Let me summarise the good points and the points that catch my attention about Kuninaka Shoten, felt from actually visiting many times.
Pros
1. The 2,000-tsubo garden is overwhelming
You can never savour it at another café. Park-level spaciousness. The luxury of drinking coffee in the tree shade.
2. The self-roasted coffee is delicious
Extracted by drip, one cup at a time. Fragrant and mellow. Coffee lovers are satisfied too.
3. The handmade bread is delicious
Uses local ingredients. A rich variety. An outstanding match with coffee.
4. Close to Shimojishima Airport
5 minutes by car. You can drop by right after arriving, or before departing.
5. Open year-round
Open whenever you go. Easy to arrange a travel schedule.
6. Pets allowed
Terrace seats and garden. You can drink coffee together with your dog.
7. Power outlets and Wi-Fi fully provided
You can work at the café too. Ideal for nomad workers too.
Cons
1. The location is a little hard to find
First-timers may get lost. Google Maps is essential.
2. The garden can't be used on bad-weather days
On rainy or windy days, you can't go out into the garden. It becomes interior only.
3. Bread can sell out
Popular bread can sell out by the afternoon. Going early in the morning is recommended.
4. Summer is hot
The garden has tree shade, but midsummer is hot. Sun protection is essential.
5. The coffee has a wait
Since it's extracted by drip one cup at a time, it takes time. Not suited when you're in a hurry.
6. There are days with many insects
Being a garden, there are insects. People who dislike insects may prefer the interior.
7. Not open at night
Until 19:00. You can't enjoy a night café time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Where is Kuninaka Shoten?
Kuninaka, Irabu, Miyakojima City, Okinawa. About 5 minutes by car from Shimojishima Airport. About 15 minutes after crossing the Irabu Bridge.
Q2: What are the opening hours?
8:00–19:00 (last order 19:00). Morning time is 8:00–9:00. No closing days, open year-round.
Q3: Are reservations needed?
Not needed. If a seat is free, you can sit freely.
Q4: What is the price of coffee?
Drip coffee (takeaway) ¥500, café latte ¥600–750.
Q5: What is the price of bread?
¥200–300. Reasonable.
Q6: Are pets allowed?
Yes. At the terrace seats and garden, pets are allowed. Indoors is not allowed.
Q7: Is there a car park?
Yes. About 20 spaces. Being wide, it's almost never full.
Q8: Can anyone enter the garden?
Yes. Order at the café and you can drink coffee in the garden.
Q9: Are there power outlets and Wi-Fi?
Yes. You can work at the café too.
Q10: Can I eat breakfast?
Yes. Morning time (8:00–9:00) is recommended. A delicious breakfast of bread and coffee.
The Luxury of Drinking Coffee in a 2,000-Tsubo Garden
Kuninaka Shoten is a café you should absolutely drop by when you go to Irabu Island. Drinking self-roasted coffee in a 2,000-tsubo garden. There's no other luxury like this.
The shock of the first time I went out into the garden, I still can't forget. "So wide!" the words came out. This is a park.
Sit under the pine trees and drink coffee. The wind feels good. You can hear birdsong. The blue sky spreads on and on.
"There's no place like this in Tokyo," I thought. Because it's Irabu Island, you can savour it.
The self-roasted coffee is incredibly delicious too. Extracted by drip, one cup at a time. Fragrant and mellow.
The handmade bread is delicious too. It uses local ingredients. Cinnamon roll, croissant, beni-imo bread. All delicious.
Buy coffee and bread and go out into the garden. Sit in the tree shade and eat slowly. Time flows slowly.
Think of nothing. Just feel the wind. Listen to the birdsong. Look up at the sky.
You can never savour such time in Tokyo. You can get away from busy daily life.
Kuninaka Shoten isn't just a café. It's taking on coffee cultivation. From Irabu Island, it's trying to create a new industry of coffee production in Japan.
It wants to create the cyclical value of "make," "savour" and "connect." With such thinking, it's run.
A café rooted in the community. Locals and tourists drink coffee in the same space. Such a place.
That it's close to Shimojishima Airport is convenient too. 5 minutes by car. You can drop by right after arriving, or before departing.
17END, Toriike Pond, Sawada-no-Hama. After touring the sights, take a break at Kuninaka Shoten. Just right to drop by in the middle of sightseeing.
Being open year-round, it's open whenever you go. Easy to arrange a travel schedule.
If you plan to go to Irabu Island, please do try dropping by Kuninaka Shoten. Go early in the morning and you can enjoy the morning time. A delicious breakfast of bread and coffee.
On a fine day, please absolutely go out into the garden. Sit in the tree shade and drink coffee. Feel the wind. Listen to the birdsong. Look up at the sky.
I too, next time I go to Irabu Island, will go to Kuninaka Shoten again. This time, I want to try the kokuto latte. I want to try the beni-imo bread too.
Kuninaka Shoten is such a place. However many times you go, you don't tire of it. There are new discoveries. And always, you think, "I want to come again."
Irabu Island's blue sea, white sand, beautiful sunsets. And Kuninaka Shoten's 2,000-tsubo garden and coffee. With all of these in place, it becomes the best trip. I want you to experience such a trip too.
