Japanese tea served in an old cafe in Nagareyama, and　a meal with white mirin and Nagareyama vegetables used throughout the meal.

HACHAYA_TERADAEN

Hello, I am “Kotaka”, a resident of Otakanomori. Today I went to “Ipchaya Teradaen”, a restaurant where you can dine in a retro storehouse in the old town of Nagareyama, and　I would like to share my experience with you.

The restaurant is a 5-minute walk from Nagareyama Station on the Nagareyama Railway Nagareyama Line.

The building was built in 1889 and　is called “Mise-gura” (storehouse and　residence) and　is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Originally a teahouse, the interior has been remodeled in a modern style and　is now a cafe specializing in Japanese tea. The Edogawa River flows nearby, and　there are many merchant houses and　the Kikkoman Nagareyama Factory is also located nearby, indicating that Nagareyama prospered due to water transportation. The site of Isamu Kondo’s camp and　the memorial museum for Issa Kobayashi and　Souju Kobayashi are also located nearby, making the area attractive to history buffs.

The area is dotted with old houses like this one, and　across the street is the Kiyomizuya main store (registered as a national tangible cultural property), which sells “Jinya Monaka.

Oh, yes, this Teradaen is also the restaurant that was televised on location for the Japanese TV station NHK’s “Ko-Cafe-Kei, Haru-san’s Holiday”. So, let’s try “Kotaka” as well as the show’s main character’s signature line.

Then. It is no exaggeration to say that the value of an old café is determined by the first contact. Here we go!

Ho-ho-ho. The interior of the restaurant is modern, yet harmonious with the atmosphere of the exterior, making it a wonderful place to eat. This Teradaen was produced by Kirinji Co., Ltd. which operates the tea restaurant “Sakuu Chakuu” at the Jinnan House complex in Shibuya.

Hmmm, it is more stylish than a “kotaka” house.

Well, now, I am starving. What shall we have?

Let’s take a look at the menu. Since we are here, I would like to order the same menu as “Hal’s”.

Let’s see, Hal-san ordered TERADAZEN with tea set, I think, and　the tea was simply sencha, wasn’t it? Also, I’m curious about the anmitsu and　dango. You also have cold candies that would look great in an old café! Hmmm… What should I do? Since we’re here, let’s order these as well!

The second floor is a gallery where works by Yasuko Nakazato, a world-renowned kaleidoscope artist living in Nagareyama City, are also exhibited and sold.

While waiting for our meal to be served, we visited the gallery on the second floor where kaleidoscopes by Yasuko Nakazato, a kaleidoscope artist living in Nagareyama City, are on display.

Mr. Nakazato is an amazing person who has won the grand prize in the world kaleidoscope competition six times.

Very nice. The wait for the food to be served was so short that I was so engrossed in watching it. We enjoyed the fantastic world of the kaleidoscope.

Sencha green tea before meals

Sencha has arrived. It smells so good. We usually have tea when we eat sushi or soba noodles, but this is the first time for me to drink sencha tea in a formal way. Shall we have some tea?

Hooray. This is my first time. It has a very strong flavor. For the second roast, pour hot water by yourself, set the hourglass, and　let it steep until the sand falls off.

We have a little more patience left.

I think we have about three seconds. Now!”

Whew, I managed to make it in time. Now I’ll have the second cup of coffee.

It’s very different from the first brew, and　the taste is refreshing and　clean. It goes perfectly with the dumplings I served with it.

Limited quantity TERADAZEN

The TERADAZEN you have been waiting for has arrived!

Wow. My first impression is that it is beautifully colored and looks very healthy. The dish is served on a tray with a list of dishes.

Hmmm…I see. Isn’t this especially recommended for those who come to Nagareyama for sightseeing? Ingredients of Nagareyama origin are used in abundance. Vegetables are carefully selected from Nagareyama vegetables and are in season. The vegetables are prepared using a simple cooking method that brings out the best of the ingredients.

Mirin (sweet cooking rice wine) is used throughout the dishes to give them a mild and gentle taste, which is appropriate for Nagareyama, the birthplace of white mirin (sweet cooking wine).

Seasonal okowa

　Nagareyama Honmachi’s Wagashiya Meizuki’s special rice with seasonal vegetables

steamed vegetables

　Vegetables are purchased at the Nagareyama produce market “Shinsen Shokumi” and　served with a homemade sweet-and-sour sauce made with mirin (sweet cooking rice wine).

Tofu paste with fruits

　Teradaen’s original tofu paste made with handmade tofu from Futagawaya Tofu Shop in Higashifukai, Nagareyama City, using mirin (sweet sake) that has been boiled off and spilt ume plum.

KOBORE-UME refers to the lees of mirin (sweet sake). It has been called koboreubai since ancient times because of its similarity in shape to ume blossoms.

soaked egg in mirin soy sauce

　Fresh eggs are purchased from Nagareyama Honmachi’s “Tamago no Ebihara” and　marinated in mirin and soy sauce.

soup

　This bowl is made with plenty of Nagareyama vegetables and　is slightly sweetened with mirin and　spilt ume plum.

small confectionery

　daily special (e.g. meal)

pickled vegetables

　Chiba Prefecture pickled with salted malt

Anmitsu and chilled candies

Thank you for the food. It was very delicious!

Souvenir Corner in Nagareyama

Seasonings made from the white mirin used at Terada Zen are sold as souvenirs.

Tea and teapots can also be made into souvenirs.

About Terada Garden (as of June 2023)

• Open 10:00-18:00 (last order at 17:30)
• Closed on the second and　fourth Monday of the month (If the Monday is a national holiday, the next day will be closed.)
• 電話：04-7190-5601

How to get to Teradaen

• If you take the Joban Line route, transfer to the Nagare-tetsu Nagareyama Line at “Mabashi Station” and get off at the last stop, “Nagareyama Station”, and　walk.
• From “Nagareyama Otakanomori Station”, take the Keisei Bus Route 【Nagare03】get off at “Nagareyama Shiyakusho-mae” or “Nagareyama Station” and　walk.
• From Nagareyama Otakanomori Station, take the Tsukuba Express to Minami Nagareyama, get off at Shin Matsudo Station on the Musashino Line, walk 2 to 3 minutes to the next station, Yukiya Station on the Nagare Railway Line, change trains at the last stop, Nagareyama Station, and　walk.
• If you are coming by car, the following parking lots are recommended.

Places to visit around Teradaen

• Nagareyama Kikkoman Corporation Street Museum
• Leaf teahouse Teradaen/Kaleidoscope Gallery Mise-zo (National Tangible Cultural Property)
• Cafe & Bar Kuragokoro (National Tangible Cultural Property)
• Wagashi-Shimizuya Main Store (Registered National Tangible Cultural Property)
• Ruins of　Isamu Kondo’s camp, Shinsengumi main camp (National Tangible Cultural Property)
• Issa Souju Memorial Hall (City-designated monument)
• Akagi Shrine: the place of origin of the name Nagareyama
• Nagareyama temple
• Choryuji Temple
• Atelier Dawn in the Forest
• Nagareyama Station, Nagareyama Line
• Sengen Shrine, Fuji Mound
• Standing with the Temple
• Yama (king of the world of the dead, who judges the dead)

There is an electric kickboard sharing service.

There are several electric kickboard sharing services in front of and around Teradaen, so we recommend this service for getting around to nearby points of interest. There are no electric kickboard or bicycle rental sharing services in the Otakanomori area at this time, so we look forward to seeing more in the future.

So, if you want to go sightseeing and　have a meal in Nagareyama Old Town, “Ipchaya Teradaen” is an option! This was the information sharing by “Kotaka”.

Please come to Nagareyama once for sightseeing. In Otakanomori, there are “new townscape”, “attractive commercial restaurants”, and　”the newest railroad, Tsukuba Express”, and　in Nagareyama Old Town, you can enjoy “retro townscape”, “history”, and　”local train”. Nagareyama is a city where you can enjoy the “newest and retro” at the same time!

I will see you soon!

◆Link to BLOG Top

◆Link to Otakanomori Pedia Home Page