Ochudo cafe is located in the lovely village Shirakawa-go If you ever have a chance to visit this village, make sure to check this cafe out.
This 350 years-old gassho house is semi-underground which offers a cozy and delightful atmosphere for about a dozen people. The cafe is run by a fifty-ish couple who keeps their eyes on the customer, very tentative to what they need. We sat around a large irori hearth which has a cast iron nabe pot of Zenzai soup (sweet red bean dessert) slowly cooked over. The menu is surprisingly simple: Japanese curry, rice balls, toast, coffee, tea and juice. We ordered set meal of 1000Y including plain curry brown rice, a drink, Zenzai soup and extra toasted bread and coffee. Let me tell you, that is the best curry and toasted bread I have ever tried in a long time. Not too mention, since I order latte, I got to choose my own cup among hundreds of old vintage cups at the counter. we were offered postcards for free as souvenir when make payment.
