B&B ＆Cafe Akebono , a projection mapping cafe located right next to Ushimado Beach in Setouchi City Okayama Prefecture , which was renovated in the fall of 2023, is the talk of the town.
2024.05.28Depending on the season, different scenes are projected onto the screen, creating a completely different atmosphere. You can enjoy the famous lantern parfait and lunch in this atmosphere.
It's also popular as a guesthouse with a full ocean view, and the hearty dinners prepared by fishermen are recommended. You'll also find a curious bath at Ushimado Sauna on the Beach , a rental cottage located at the foot of Ushimado Shrine! We'll introduce you to some recommended spots in Ushimado that you'll want to visit this summer.
"B&B ＆Cafe Akebono "
B&B ＆Cafe Akebono, which will be renovated in the fall of 2023 and is now a popular spot with a projection mapping cafe attached, is located in a spectacular location adjacent to the sea of Ushimado. This popular minshuku is known for its hearty dinners prepared by fishermen, and you can also use the cafe alone.
Order at the cafe using the self-checkout
If you only want to use the cafe, you can order first at the self-checkout at the entrance of the guesthouse. For lunch, they offer set meals, curry, hot sandwiches, and parfaits and cakes for dessert. The specialty is the lantern parfait, which is apparently popular for its photogenic nature.
A new type of projection mapping cafe
When you enter the cafe, it's dark except for the light of a lantern. Various seasonal scenes are projected onto the walls using projection mapping. The projection mapping moves, so it feels like you're moving even when you're not moving.
Hot sandwich lunch set
For lunch, I ordered a hot sandwich lunch set with thick omelet. While waiting for the food to arrive, the projection mapping changed one after another, so the waiting time was also enjoyable. I ate lunch while watching the projection mapping by the light of the lantern, which was a first for me.
The specialty is a glowing parfait served in a lantern!
When I heard from the owner that their specialty is the Lantern Parfait, I wanted to try it. As the name suggests, the lamp part of the lantern is the parfait, and you can eat it by removing it from the lantern and opening the lid. It was lit up from below and was very beautiful.
This time I tried the seasonal fruit parfait. The kiwi fruit was clearly visible, and it had a cream base with cheesecake inside. It was quite filling and delicious!
When you open the lid
It seems that removing the lantern parfait from the lantern requires some skill. I asked the staff at the store to help me remove it so that I wouldn't knock it over. The container is filled with cream and fruit.
A guesthouse room with a view of the Ushimado fireworks festival
This time, it was just a day trip so we didn't stay overnight, but we were able to see the guesthouse space on the second floor. Guests sit on futons on tatami mats in the rooms, and eat meals while sitting on chairs. The bathroom, toilet, and washroom are shared.
Every room had a view of the ocean right in front of them, and it was an incredibly beautiful view! Apparently, you can also see the Ushimado fireworks festival in the summer from your room.
You can also see sea fireflies at night!
At night, sea fireflies gather in the sea just below the guesthouse rooms, creating a beautiful and rare sight. (Photo borrowed)
The dinner cooked by the fishermen is also appealing
Dinner at the guesthouse is prepared by the owner, who is a fisherman, and is a hearty meal filled with plenty of fresh seafood.
Listening to the sound of the waves while enjoying a delicious dinner will surely blow away all your fatigue. (Photo borrowed) I would definitely like to stay at a guesthouse.
[B&B ＆Cafe Akebono ]
Address: 2378-2 Ushimado , Ushimado-cho , Ushimado Town Setouchi City Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 0869-34-5113
Cafe hours: 11:00-18:00 (last order 17:30)
Closed: None
Parking: Available
B&B ＆Cafe Akebono Official Website
Stop by the nearby Ushimado Shrine
After walking along Ushimado Beach for about 10 minutes from B&B ＆Cafe Akebono , you will arrive at the torii gate at the entrance to the main approach to Ushimado Shrine. The sea is right in front of you, and a beautiful view spreads out before you.
This place was also used as a filming location for the movie "100th Love with You."
The approach to the shrine looks like Totoro's Mori?
Ushimado Shrine is located after passing through a tunnel of trees that seems to envelop the long staircase of Omotesando.
It enshrines the spirits of the land of Ushimado and the spirits of ancestors. Even in the hot summer, the sea breeze blows through this tunnel of trees, making it feel strangely cool. It's just like Totoro's Mori.
The view from the top is spectacular
Once you reach the top of the long staircase, you'll be greeted by a magnificent view. The sea breeze is pleasant, so we took a short break. The azaleas are at their best in mid-April every year.
The shrine is located at the top of a long flight of stairs. The fresh green leaves of the maple trees are beautiful in early summer, and the autumn leaves can be seen in autumn. If you are visiting by car, you can park in the parking lot on the back approach to the shrine and worship there.
[Ushimado Shrine]
Address: 2147 Ushimado , Ushimado-cho , Ushimado Town, Setouchi City Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 0869-34-5197
Parking: Available
" Ushimado Sauna on the Beach "
Ushimado Sauna on the Beach opened in the fall of 2023, located at the foot of Ushimado Shrine, right in front of Ushimado Coast. This is a rental cottage where guests can use the owner's specially designed Finnish sauna.
The concept is "Travel like you're living there and experience things as they are."
You can enjoy the mild climate of Ushimado and the ocean view location to the fullest. You can also stay with your dog.
Living and dining room with kitchen
Once you enter through the auto-lock entrance, you'll find a spacious living/dining room and two bedrooms. The bathroom, washroom, and toilet are also clean, spacious, and easy to use. There's also a washer/dryer, so long-term stays are possible. You can also buy ingredients and cook, so it seems like you'll be able to stay as if you were living there.
Enjoy a Finnish-style sauna
There's a sauna in the garden! The owner traveled around Japan, visiting famous sauna , and then built his own original Finnish-style sauna in Ushimado , from the design stage onwards.
The building is made from cedar wood from Okayama Prefecture Prefecture, and the heart of the sauna is a wood-burning stove made specifically for sauna by MOKI Manufacturing, which uses wood from thinnings and abandoned bamboo forests, which are problematic in satoyama (satoyama).By using a third combustion method within the stove, it is possible to obtain a powerful heat that cannot be produced by electricity, and care is taken to avoid emitting harmful smoke.
Japan's deepest sacred water bath
I saw something colorful from the torii gate on the approach to Ushimado Shrine and it had me curious. I finally solved the mystery!
The owner says that he visited sauna all over Japan before finally finding Goshinsui Bath.
Although this place is located right in front of Ushimado Beach, it is said that clear well water springs up from the foot of the mountain behind Ushimado Shrine.
This is truly the holy water of Ushimado Shrine. There is an Toyotomi supply of spring water, and it is said that you can enjoy a holy water bath at 18-19 degrees all year round. The holy water bath also gets deeper in steps, with a maximum depth of 210 cm, making it the deepest bath in Japan. Of course, you can also jump into the sea right in front of it.
If you love sauna, be sure to stay here and enjoy the sauna experience to the fullest!
[Ushimado Sauna on the Beach ]
Address: 4202-2 Ushimado , Ushimado-cho , Ushimado Town , Setouchi City Okayama Prefecture
Parking: There is a private car park attached to the building that can accommodate up to four cars.
*Contact us via the official website
Ushimado Sauna on the Beach Official Website
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