Wake Town , located in the southeastern part of Okayama Prefecture, is an attractive town where you can encounter abundant nature, hot springs that will relax your mind and body, and nostalgic scenery. As its name suggests, it is known as a "town where you can relax."
2025.11.28This time, we will introduce five diverse lunch spots you can enjoy in Wake Town.
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Table of Contents
- 1. café de bouquet - A new café that focuses on homemade products
- 2. Soba Toga (Buckwheat Noodles Toga) - A fusion of handmade soba noodles and a gallery
- 3. Wake Ugaidani Onsen (Wake Ugaidani Hot Spring) - A well-equipped restaurant within the hot spring facility
- 4. Omurice Restaurant / BAN-Kukan Wakura - Traditional Taste with Nearly 100 Years of History
- 5. cafe gouter - A popular mountainside cafe for hikers
1. café de bouquet - A new café that focuses on homemade products
Opened in 2024, café de bouquet is a place that embodies the owner's desire to have fun. The daily lunch menu, which is garnished with plenty of home-grown and locally sourced vegetables, features one to three dishes from the following menu: hamburger steak, fried chicken, sauteed chicken, mixed fries, and taco rice (a Mexican-style rice dish).
All of the sauces and dressings are homemade and are adapted to suit the menu, so you'll discover new flavors every time you visit. The main dish for the day was "Basil-Fragrant Tomato Pasta" (1,280 yen). Coffee or tea can be added to lunch for an additional 300 yen.
The homemade sweets made by the in-house pastry chef are also popular. The traditional firm pudding, which is an exquisite combination of bittersweet caramel and the sweetness of vanilla ice cream, is available in limited quantities.
There is a wide variety of items on offer, including chiffon cake with a fine texture that melts in your mouth, Basque cheesecake with a fragrant and rich, creamy cheese flavor, as well as parfaits, ice cream, and French toast.
After lunch, many customers move straight to cafe time and enjoy chatting.
The morning set, available from 9:00 to 11:00, is also popular. It includes buttery toast, fresh vegetable salad, boiled eggs, fruit, and more, and even comes with a drink (coffee or tea) for just 500 yen! It's a morning meal worth making the effort to visit.
The interior of the cafe is more spacious than you'd imagine. With an industrial atmosphere reminiscent of a warehouse, and tables and chairs reminiscent of a French cafe, the space can accommodate over 100 people and is used for events such as live performances and concerts. Cafe weddings are also being planned for the future.
In addition, pets are allowed on the outdoor terrace seats, and a dog run (play area for dogs) is scheduled to open in the future.
[café de bouquet]
Address: 58-1 Okayama Prefecture, Wake County, Wake Town
TEL: 080-8496-1515
Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (last order 16:00)
*Morning 9:00-11:00, Lunch 11:00-14:00
Closed days: Announced on official Instagram
Parking: Available
2. Soba Toga (Buckwheat Noodles Toga) - A fusion of handmade soba noodles and a gallery
Located in a chic building along National Route 374, this unique restaurant combines a soba restaurant with a gallery (art exhibition space). The thin, chewy soba noodles (traditional Japanese noodle dish) are made by hand in-house every day using domestically produced buckwheat flour. The "Kamo Zaru Soba" (1,900 yen), available all year round, is a recommended dish that you should try at least once.
The crisp and elegant appearance of the soba noodles will raise your expectations. They also have seasonal dishes such as "Nishin Soba" and warm "Kamaage Soba," and are served in tableware made by artists, which is also appealing.
The duck meat is carefully prepared and grilled to a fragrant finish, and you'll be amazed at how juicy it is the moment you bite into it. Duck meat is said to have a distinctive smell and texture, but who would have thought it would be so tender and flavorful! It pairs perfectly with the rich broth (soba sauce) made with soy sauce from Okubo Brewery in Shinshu (Nagano Prefecture), and the umami clings to the noodles, creating an irresistible deliciousness.
It is about three minutes from the Wake Interchange on the Sanyo Expressway, and about ten minutes from tourist destinations such as Imbe , the home of Bizen Pottery(Okayama 's traditional pottery), and the Old Shizutani School(a school building from the Edo period), a national treasure, making it easily accessible, and many people from outside the prefecture visit the area on their way to and from sightseeing.
The first thing that catches your eye inside the store are the large windows that reflect the surrounding nature. The simple tables and stools made of iron, wood, and leather blend in with the space, creating a calming atmosphere.
A few steps down from the dining area leads to the semi-basement gallery.
Solo exhibitions by artists of Bizen Pottery and other ceramics, glass, woodwork, dyeing, etc. are held every month. One of the pleasures of the shop is spending time looking at the works that convey the warmth of the makers while waiting for your ordered soba to be served.
[Soba Toga (Buckwheat Noodles Toga) Toga]
Address: 288-1 Shimizu , Wake-cho , Wake Town, Okayama Prefecture Wake County
TEL: 0869-92-9817
Business hours: 11:30-14:00 (closes when sold out)
*Gallery hours: 11:00-17:00
Closed: Mondays and the third Sunday of every month
Parking: Available
3. Wake Ugaidani Onsen (Wake Ugaidani Hot Spring) - A well-equipped restaurant within the hot spring facility
This restaurant is located within the hot spring facility "Wake Ugaidani Onsen (Wake Ugaidani Hot Spring)," about a 5-minute drive from JR Wake Station and about 10 minutes from Wake Interchange on the Sanyo Expressway.
The "Nagomi Zen" (1,480 yen) is a popular lunchtime menu item, with six colorful dishes placed in a basket. It's a satisfying meal that includes sushi (inari sushi and Sukeroku sushi) made with local Asahi rice, fresh sashimi from the local market, a mixed vegetable and fish paste dish, tempura (deep-fried dishes in batter), small side dishes, and fruit. It also comes with an elegant chawanmushi (egg dish) and miso soup, so it's no wonder it's so popular with people of all ages and genders.
This restaurant has a menu system where you can check the menu in the display case at the entrance and purchase a ticket from the ticket machine. There are over 20 different menu items that can be enjoyed by both children and adults, including Japanese set meals, donburi dishes (rice topped with side dishes) such as oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl), tendon (tempura rice bowl), and katsudon (pork cutlet rice bowl), noodle dishes such as udon and soba, set meals such as fried shrimp, crab cream croquette, and shogayaki (ginger pork), as well as Bizen beef steak (reservations required at least one day in advance) and roast beef rice bowl. There are also side dishes, desserts, and drinks available, so you can enjoy a moment after your meal.
The spacious interior has large windows on two sides, and tables are comfortably spaced. If you sit by the windows, you can enjoy a view of the Japanese garden with its waterfall, and in spring, the cherry blossoms along the Yoshii River. On Saturdays and Sundays, many people visit from the Kansai region (around Osaka and Kobe), and the restaurant is so popular that there are lines before it even opens. In addition to people eating before or after a day trip to the hot springs, there is also a children's menu (500 yen), so it seems to be increasingly popular with families with children visiting the nearby Wakemaro Park.
[Wake Wake Ugaidani Onsen (Wake Ugaidani Hot Spring)]
Address: 666-1 Masuhara , Wake County, Wake Town Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 0869-92-9001
Business hours: Weekdays 11:30-14:30, 17:00-21:00 / Saturdays and Sundays 11:30-21:00
* New Year's, Golden Week, and Obon holidays: 11:30-14:30, 17:00-21:00
*Last orders are taken 30 minutes before closing.
*Only open during lunch hours on Mondays (normal business hours during public holidays and long vacations)
Closed: Restaurant is closed on Monday nights
Parking: Available
4. Omurice Restaurant / BAN-Kukan Wakura - Traditional Taste with Nearly 100 Years of History
This restaurant near JR Wake Station specializes in omelet rice during the day and operates as an izakaya (Japanese pub) at night. The "Hatsukoe Omelette Rice" (regular, 800 yen) is a traditional style of ketchup rice wrapped in a thin omelet, a dish that has been loved for nearly 100 years since the restaurant opened in 1928. This ketchup rice is stuffed with pork belly. After the war, when chicken was hard to come by, the first owner started using pork, and this recipe has remained unchanged ever since. The rich flavor of the well-fried onions and pork belly fat, combined with the acidity of the ketchup, creates a mellow, rich taste that can only be found here. Regular customers apparently eat it with Worcestershire sauce (a Japanese vegetable and fruit-based sauce) and pepper instead of ketchup.
As the name suggests, the restaurant serves an omurice restaurant, and the variety of omurice on offer is so extensive that it's hard to choose. The fluffy and creamy egg omurice is always available in over 15 different combinations, with ingredients and toppings, all of which are homemade sauces such as demi-glace, tomato, and white.
They also have unique dishes like bibimbap-style (Korean-style) stone-grilled omelet rice, as well as seasonal menu items like fried oysters, pork hips, and caponata, so you'll never get bored no matter how many times you visit. The photo shows the Demi-katsu Omelet Rice (regular) (1,300 yen). For an additional 550 yen, you can add a set with a daily salad and a drink of your choice from over 20 types.
In addition to tables, counters, and sunken kotatsu (traditional Japanese heated seats sunken into the floor), there are also hidden room-like couple's seats, making it suitable for a wide range of occasions, from individuals to groups and families with children.
In addition to omelet rice, the restaurant also offers a wide variety of menu items, including fried chicken, chicken nanban, yakiniku, sashimi set meals, rice bowls, and a la carte dishes, making it convenient for three generations, from children to adults.
There's something intriguing on the wall inside the restaurant. It's actually the door to a safe. The building was formerly a JA (agricultural cooperative) bank, so the heavy safe remains intact and you can enjoy your meal inside. If you're interested in eating here, you can make a reservation.
[Omurice Restaurant / BAN-Kukan Wakura]
Address: 945-3 Kinugasa, Wake Wake Town, Okayama Prefecture Wake County
TEL: 0869-92-5006
Business hours: 11:00-14:30 (last orders 14:00), 17:30-21:30 (last orders 21:00)
Closed: Wednesdays, Thursdays, and the third Sunday of every month
Parking: Available
5. cafe gouter - A popular mountainside cafe for hikers
The Wake Alps have become popular in recent years as a place where hikers of all levels, from beginners to advanced climbers, can enjoy hiking. cafe gouter is a mother-daughter cafe located at the foot of the mountain. Lunch options here range from set meals such as hamburger steaks, grilled fish, and pork cutlets, to curry, doria, Japanese-style chicken and mushroom pasta, seafood mentaiko cream pasta, and fried eggplant pasta with meat sauce, as well as pizza made with homemade dough.
Among these, the "Today's Lunch" (1,000 yen) is a particularly satisfying meal, with a different main dish each day, as well as side dishes made with seasonal ingredients, vegetable salad, pickles, and miso soup (you can also change to soup). On this day, the fried chicken was carefully seasoned and deep-fried in potato starch for a crispy batter. It goes well with ponzu (a Japanese citrus sauce).
The enzyme brown rice, made by cooking brown rice (unrefined brown rice) with red beans and salt and letting it mature for several days, is characterized by its subtle sweetness and aroma, and is popular for its flavor and chewy texture. For lunch, you can choose between enzyme brown rice or white rice made with locally grown rice. The soy pulp salad (a healthy ingredient made from soybeans) seasoned with mayonnaise and French dressing is also a popular dish. Other side dishes, such as salads, simmered dishes, and stir-fries, are made with plenty of seasonal vegetables, either home-grown or grown by relatives, creating a plate that truly reflects the season. There is also a daily pasta menu, and a "kids' lunch" (650 yen) available exclusively for elementary school children and younger.
"We want to create a place where like-minded people can gather and enjoy conversation and meals." This restaurant has realized this idea, and offers small tables, comfortable sofa seats, large tables, and chairs for children, all of which provide a warm welcome to guests.
The facility is barrier-free, with a ramp to the entrance, wide sliding doors, a spacious toilet that can accommodate wheelchairs, and a diaper changing bed. It is also popular with customers with children who have been to the nearby Wakemaro Park.
As it is a registered cycle cafe of "Hareiro Cycling Okayama", many cyclists visit the cafe. They are also actively involved in cat rescue activities, so cat lovers also gather here. Pets are allowed on the terrace seats.
[cafe gouter]
Address: 101-1 Wake, Wake Wake Town -gun, Okayama Prefecture Wake County
TEL: 0869-92-4772
Business hours: 9:00-17:30 (Last orders for meals: 16:30, drinks and sweets: 17:00)
Closed: Wednesdays, and one irregular day a month
Parking: Available
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