Lately, I’ve been reading on a number of Japan blogs that many people have caught colds and are taking a long time getting over it. It seems so coincidental because I’ve been in the same situation since Golden Week. I caught a stubborn cold that just wouldn’t go away and I think I’ve finally over it now. Must be one of those Tokyo things.

Anyway, this past weekend I found my new favorite cafe in Shimokita just a few metres from where I used to live in Ichibangai. Cafe Use is a small, privately owned cafe where you can’t smoke, use your cell phone or bring a pet. Good coffee shops generally are non-smoking so you can enjoy the aroma. Also they don’t allow junior high school students, not sure why the owner would put up a sign like that since I think junior high school students are generally more well behaved than high school students, who knows. But the coffee is REALLY GOOD. I ordered an ice coffee and it took 20 minutes to prepare. They cool it slowly without using ice so the coffee remains thick and tasty and not diluted. The cheesecake and chocolate cake were also very good.

The most interesting part of the shop is the quaint decor. It’s apparent when you walk in that the owner has a thing for lanterns and matchboxes and irons. The ceiling and walls were decorated with all kinds of fancy gas lanterns with the wicks replaced with light bulbs. We chose a table sitting side by side facing a nice display of matchboxes from coffee shops from the ’50s and ’60s. The owner’s father collected them all way back when. They were very cool and I spent a long time examining each one. Check out the left one in the 3rd photo: what’s that train line coming out from Hachiko?