Retro Cafes in Morioka City! 10 Popular Spots with a Nostalgic, Relaxing Feel

Photograph:Bestynoel

A café with a retro interior connected to Kenji Miyazawa, one of Japan’s leading writers of children’s stories.

About a 10-minute walk from the north exit of Morioka Station. Koogensha Honten is on the street, and Koogensha Kahikan is located farther back inside.

Photograph:AKI19770527

This is a shop often visited by fans of Miyazawa Kenji. It has the feel of a mountain lodge, with warm natural light coming in through the stained glass.

Lined with ceramic cups and classical furnishings, the space has the charm of a retro cafe.

Photograph:teru 71

The menu includes drinks such as coffee and a few kinds of sweets. They make the coffee one cup at a time by hand drip after each order comes in.

For the vanilla ice cream, you can enjoy it with either a rich coffee sauce made from strongly brewed coffee or a cacao liqueur poured over it.

Photograph:diveman

A cafe near Exit B1 on the north side of Morioka Station. Founded in 1982, it has long been a favorite with both station users and locals.

Look for the large espresso pot object out front. Inside, they also display an old espresso machine that was reportedly used when the cafe first opened.

Photograph:miyak649

The interior has a calm feel with dark brown as the main tone. This retro cafe has a warm atmosphere that helps you relax.

They offer a full lineup of arranged coffee drinks based on fragrant espresso coffee. You can also enjoy cappuccino and the Roman Espresso, made with lemon.

Photograph:いさーしゃ

The "Breakfast Set" seems to be popular. It is a set that comes with toast said to have a buttery flavor, salad, and orange juice. You can also add coffee, tea, and other drinks.

There were multiple reviews saying this place combines a retro atmosphere with good food and coffee.

Photograph:天真爛漫0001

Founded in 1967 as a kissaten (Japanese-style coffee shop), this place is now known for its cheesecake.

It is located near Odori and Eigakan-dori in Morioka's central downtown area. The blue exterior walls and red-and-white striped awning make it easy to spot.

Photograph:mikity_suga

Cheesecake for souvenirs is also sold at Morioka Station, but some people visit the shop because they want to take their time and enjoy it in a retro cafe.

They brew the coffee in a siphon after you order. Even the time spent waiting for the coffee to be ready feels pleasant, they say.

Photograph:pimaco6666

They offer a wide variety of cheesecakes. The standard choice is the baked cheesecake, made with French cheese using the same recipe that has remained unchanged since it was created in the 1970s.

They also serve a rare cheesecake made with the same ingredients and set with lemon juice, as well as seasonal limited edition cakes.

Photograph:豆沢まめ子

Tea House Liebe, founded in 1971, was Morioka’s first tea specialty coffee shop.

It is located in Uchimaru, an area lined with many shops, especially restaurants, from the 1940s to the present day. There are also many government offices nearby, so it seems to get crowded around lunchtime.

Photograph:Fiasco

The interior is done in a European style. There are seats on the first and second floors, both with the feel of a retro cafe where you can relax.

They also have tea by the cup, but the tea served in a lovely teapot is especially popular.

Photograph:にせぱんだ

They also offer many meal options, including “pizza toast” made with bread topped with tomato sauce and cheese, as well as a daily lunch.

The “tea punch,” available only at times when the staff have a free moment, is also well liked. This luxurious item combines black tea with orange and lots of fruit.

Photograph:T848

This cafe is located on Miyako Kaido, where it crosses from Sakanacho Shotengai, an all-weather covered shopping street on the east side of central Morioka City. It occupies a large kura (traditional storehouse) that is more than 100 years old.

With the kura’s thick walls, the space feels calm and almost cut off from the bustle of the city.

Photograph:お酢大好き

One thing that sets this place apart is that you can enjoy traditional Japanese sweets. Items such as anmitsu (sweet red bean paste with ice cream and other toppings), which pairs sweet azuki bean paste with ice cream and more, are served as a set with tea.

This café also offers retro menu items such as Lemon Squash, made with lemon juice and sparkling water.

Photograph:yomu2710

The signature dish is hayashi beef rice. It is made by slowly simmering thinly sliced beef and onions in demi-glace sauce and other ingredients, then serving it with rice.

Here, the rice is topped with an omelet, and its beautiful presentation is also popular. It is said to have a classic, deep flavor.

Photograph:テラ_102

Located on Nakanohashi-dori in Morioka City, this shop is near the red brick building. It is a sister shop of Kabuki, a coffee specialty shop in Tokyo.

It stands on the site of a coffee shop that had been there for about 45 years, and they value the feel of a retro cafe. The piano inside also adds to the charm.

Photograph:めがね@@

They offer about five kinds of blended coffee, including seasonal limited flavors. By changing the beans and roast level, they make sure you can discover a variety of coffees.

It is known as a place where you can enjoy high quality coffee, and it also pairs perfectly with cakes and cookies.

Photograph:あきら04101411

They will pair chocolates that go well with each coffee. It seems they offer options such as bitter ones with a nutty flavor and fruity ones.

There are also several kinds of hot chocolate, and the aroma and acidity seem to vary by production region. You can enjoy them together with the "seasonal sweets."

Photograph:moeco33

A coffee specialty shop in Konya-cho, close to the city center where government offices such as Morioka City Hall are gathered. They also sell coffee beans.

Founded in 1980, the shop later moved to its current location, where the coffee's flavor has been carried on by the second-generation owner.

Photograph:Kei-makani

Many reviews say the retro cafe atmosphere and the owner's warm service make this a very comfortable place to spend time.

They roast their own beans, and you can enjoy about 15 kinds of coffee, mainly deeply roasted beans roasted until they develop a dark glossy sheen.

Photograph:ozazapi

They brew each cup of coffee by hand drip after the order comes in. They offer rich, full-bodied dark roast coffee as well as coffee with a gentle taste.

Homemade pudding is also popular. In addition to the standard pudding, they also have "kawari pudding (creative pudding)" made with additions like walnuts and pumpkin.

Photograph:トリップアドバイザー

This cafe restaurant is in Tsushida Minami, south of central Morioka City. It stands along National Route 46 in a standalone house-style building, with parking available.

It has been in business for a long time and is said to have remained a favorite with locals. The place also has the feel of a retro cafe, making it a relaxing space.

Photograph:zakuz770

One of the features here is the wide selection on the food menu. The focus is on Hamburger Steak, and they also offer pasta, gratin, and even Homemade desserts.

The popular Hamburger Steak uses coarsely ground meat, so you can really taste the rich flavor of the meat.

Photograph:じぇじぇじぇが過ぎる！

The simple Hamburger Steak is served on a heated Teppan-yaki plate. You can choose from 3 sizes.

The popular “Omu-Hamburger Steak” combines Omurice made with garlic rice wrapped in egg and a Hamburger Steak. The demi-glace sauce also gets great reviews for its taste.

Photograph:sumire0208

A tea specialty shop that has been operating since 1985. They directly source Special tea leaves from tea estates around the world each season.

It is located on Nakanohashi-dori, on the east side of the Nakatsugawa River that runs through central Morioka City, in an area dotted with historic buildings. The shop is a renovated kominka (traditional Japanese house) with a Western style.

Photograph:まろん051014

The interior has the warm feel of wood. The first floor has counter seats, and the second floor has table seating, creating a relaxed space like a retro cafe.

They serve a thin and sweet black tea that the owner says made a strong impression when they first encountered it at a tea plantation. The milk tea, simmered with milk from Iwate Prefecture, is also well received.

Photograph:Lady hana

The photo shows the “Wagamama Curry.” It is said to be an aromatic curry made with chicken from Iwate Prefecture and spices that are ground before being blended together.

They also serve curry doria, made by placing curry over rice and baking it in the oven. Another nice point is that the food menu comes with a small cup of tea.

Photograph:moeco33

This coffee shop stands along the Nakatsugawa (Nakatsu River) that runs through central Morioka, across from a lush green park. The exterior walls and entrance are covered with ivy and greenery.

Opened in 1968, this retro cafe is filled with antique furnishings. The window seats, which look out over the greenery, the park, and the river, seem to be the most popular seats.

Photograph:moon,

On sunny days, you can also sit on the bench in front of the shop and relax.

The menu mainly focuses on drinks. It is also recommended to get Takeout and enjoy it while walking along the nearby riverbank.

Photograph:テラ_102

Inside the cafe, you can also enjoy cakes that go well with coffee or tea. The selection seems to change depending on the day, with options like cheesecake and apple pie.

There were also reviews saying that the cake plates and the cups used for hot drinks are lovely.