We introduce three unique cafes and restaurants in Okayama Prefecture that offer a special, movie-like experience. Enjoy delicious food and an extraordinary atmosphere at these unique establishments, featuring a real London bus, Alice in Wonderland, and Studio Ghibli.
2025.09.02Okayama Prefecture has three shops where you can have a special experience that makes you feel like you've stepped into a movie scene. These are "MONTAGUE" (Okayama City), which uses a real London bus (a red double-decker British bus), "AND Alice Alice" (Okayama City), where you can enjoy the world of the world-famous fairy tale "Alice in Wonderland," and "Haremani Chaya" (Kibichuo Town), which makes you feel like you've stepped into the world of Studio Ghibli, the famous Japanese animated film. We visited these three shops, each with their own unique character!
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Table of Contents
- 1. MONTAGUE | A British-style cafe in a real London bus
- 2. AND Alice Alice | A sweet bar themed around Alice in Wonderland
- 3. Haremani Chaya | A Dome House Cafe Reminiscent of Ghibli
1. MONTAGUE | A British-style cafe in a real London bus
Along Prefectural Route 238 in Narazu, Kita Ward , Okayama City , opposite the convenience store Lawson Okayama Narazu, you'll find the eye-catching red two-story London bus cafe MONTAGUE. It used to be located in a different location, but moved to its current location due to road construction.
A sculpture welcomes you at the entrance!
When you open the door of the London bus and enter, you will be greeted by a unique sculpture wearing a hat in the driver's seat. After placing your order at the counter on the first floor, you can go up the stairs to the second floor, where you will find the seating area.
The second floor of the bus is a special seat with an excellent view
The second floor has a beautiful chandelier (a decorative lighting fixture), giving it the feel of an antique-style guest room. The air conditioning is comfortable, and the view from the window makes you feel like you're in another world. It's more spacious than I expected, and I'm excited by this special worldview!
Popular menu item: Avocado green curry set
For lunch, I ordered the restaurant's popular "Avocado Green Curry Set" (1,600 yen). It was a delicious combination of Thai green curry topped with fresh avocado. It wasn't too spicy, so even children could enjoy it. It also came with fries, so it was quite filling. The spoons, forks, and plates were also antique European, making it a feast for the eyes.
Dessert: Seasonal fruit custard tart
Although I was full, I still had room for dessert (lol). I tried the "Seasonal Fruit Custard Tart" (620 yen) that was on display in the showcase on the first floor. On this day, it was made with plenty of Kawachi Bankan (a type of Japanese citrus fruit) that was only available in season, and the juicy fruit and the moderately sweet custard were a perfect match! The cake was handmade by the owner, and the custard cream was also made with great care.
[MONTAGUE]
Address: 782-3 Okayama Prefecture, Kita-ku , Okayama City, Okayama Kita Ward
TEL: 080-4555-5328 Business days: Thursday to Sunday
Business hours: 11:00-17:00 (last orders 16:00 *last orders for drinks on Saturdays 16:30)
Restroom: None
Parking: Available
2. AND Alice Alice | A sweet bar themed around Alice in Wonderland
AND Alice opened in March 2025 along National Route 180 in Kita Ward , Okayama City . It opened as the second branch of the existing Sweets Workshop Alice ( Okayama City), and while it is a cake shop, it is more like a sweets bar, where customers can enjoy sweets at the counter and chat casually with the staff. You can also eat and drink inside the store. The name AND Alice means "together with our customers" or "together with...". Lunch service began in July 2025. They also offer a crepe takeout service, and are constantly evolving.
Open the door and you'll find yourself in a wonderland!
Once you open the red door, you'll feel like you've stepped into the world of "Alice in Wonderland"! Inside the display case, you'll find a variety of adorable cakes that Alice would love, including a fruit shortcake made with fluffy sponge cake and just the right amount of sweet fresh cream. There is also a Toyotomi variety of baked goods, and gifts can be made in special "Alice in Wonderland"-themed packaging.
AND Lunch
I tried the "AND Lunch" (1,890 yen), which was introduced in July. It's a healthy and balanced lunch made with fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced directly from local farmers. The menu changes weekly, so there's always something new to discover whenever you visit. Each dish is handmade and absolutely delicious. The tofu dish uses tapioca, which was unique and addictively tasty. The salad included a cutely decorated chikuwa (a Japanese fish paste dish). The attention to detail really made for a wonderfully exciting lunch.
A cute looking dessert ♡
We were told to look forward to the dessert that would be served. It was a lovely plate dessert that did not disappoint! As it was a cake from a cake specialty store, the taste was authentic and delicious.
Take-out crepes are also popular
Their take-out crepes are also popular, and come in both sweet and salad varieties. The salad varieties are quite filling, so they're recommended for when you're feeling hungry. They also specialize in the crepe batter, resulting in a moist, finely textured crepe. I ordered the most popular item, "White Rabbit" (880 yen). You can choose between ice cream or cream, so I went for strawberry ice cream. It looked so cute that it was almost a shame to eat it.
【AND Alice】
Address: 261-3 Okayama Prefecture, Takamatsu , Okayama City, Okayama Kita Ward
TEL: 086-250-8241
Business hours: 9:30-19:00
Closed: Irregular holidays
Parking: Available
3. Haremani Chaya | A Dome House Cafe Reminiscent of Ghibli
"Haremani" is a community space located on top of a mountain at an altitude of 400 meters in the mountainous area of Kibichuo Town. It is a dome-shaped building constructed using the earthbag method (an environmentally friendly construction method in which soil is packed into bags), where long, tubular sandbags are filled with mixed soil, which is then hardened and piled up to form the structure. It boasts one of the largest earthbag buildings in Japan (outer diameter of 7 meters). It has been 10 years since it was self-built, and it is still being repaired and improved.
The inside of the dome is also a wonderful space!
The interior of the dome makes use of the ground as it is, and is made entirely of earth, creating a warm atmosphere. There is no air conditioning, but I was surprised that it didn't feel hot at all. I felt that it was perfectly suited to the climate and environment of Kibichuo Town. Climbing the stairs to the second floor of the dome, there was a space with a skylight, and I imagined how wonderful it would be to lie down there and gaze up at the starry sky.
Lunchtime at Haremani Chaya
As a general rule, Haremani Chaya is open on the first and third Saturday and Sunday of every month (if Saturday and Sunday fall on a different month, they will open the following week). Advance reservations are required for lunch. The vegan (animal product-free) lunch plate, made with vegetables from Kibichuo Town, is extremely popular and difficult to get a reservation for... I would love to try it someday.
Popular homemade sweets
I wasn't able to make a reservation for lunch, but you can come in for cafe time without a reservation, so I went and tried their popular sweets. They are made without eggs, dairy products, or flour, and you can choose between large and small sizes.
Special tea time at the Dome House
It was a scorching hot day, but because we were at such a high altitude, the breeze was pleasant, and because the dome was made of earth, it was nice and cool, so we were able to stay cool even without air conditioning. I was so pleased when the cake I chose was brought to me, beautifully decorated. I felt as if I was in the world of a Studio Ghibli animation film, and enjoyed a special tea time.
[Haremani (Haremani Chaya)]
Address: 561-1 Okayama Prefecture , Kibichuo Town , Kaga Prefecture
Business days: In principle, the first and third Saturdays and Sundays of each month (if Saturday and Sunday falls on a different month, the business will start the following week)
Opening hours: Lunch time (11:30-14:00) *Reservation required; Cafe time (14:00-17:00) *No reservation required
How to make a reservation: From the reservation form on the website
Parking: Available
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