A 51-year-old man's story of going to a traditional folk house cafe for sweets, only to have his heart stolen by curry

On Sunday, May 31st, I continued my leisurely drive from yesterday, heading to Hotani in the northeastern part of Hirakata City, Osaka, to visit a traditional folk house cafe I found on YouTube.

For people in Osaka, the name Hirakata might bring to mind Hirapar (said to be Japan's oldest amusement park).

But Hotani is a place where the sky is wide, the mountains are close, and you can smell the fields—it's hard to believe it's in the same Hirakata.

Sunflowers in summer.
Cosmos in autumn.
Depending on the season, local vegetables like edamame and potatoes are sold by the side of the fields.

In this satoyama area, where you can get a taste of a short trip, there is a traditional folk house cafe that caught my interest.
This time, for a new discovery, I went to "Hotani Yasai Cafe Tsuchinotoiroha" in Hotani, Hirakata City.

According to official information, the location is KOMINKA Mizunoe, 2-6-1 Hotani, Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture. It is introduced as a cafe where you can enjoy Hotani vegetables and coffee in a Taisho-modern space. Business hours are 11:30–16:00, and business days are Monday through Thursday, but since this is subject to change, it is advised to check Instagram for the latest information. There are 3 parking spaces in front of the store, and a second parking lot is also available. The phone number is 072-896-9131.

Source: KOMINKA Mizunoe official website, confirmed June 1, 2026.

The exterior already has a great atmosphere.

The building, a renovated traditional folk house, is not flashy.
But the wooden pillars, tiled roof, black walls, and the tools around the entrance carry the weight of time.
And there are medaka at the entrance.

This, too, is wonderful.

Rather than "I'm going into a shop,"
it feels more like "I'm stopping by a relative's house in the countryside."
That's the kind of feeling it has.

My purpose this time was actually sweets.

Spending a quiet time in a traditional folk house cafe, eating sweets.
For a 51-year-old man, this alone is a sufficient holiday reward.

However, when I arrived, there were almost no sweets.

My plans were slightly derailed here.

Moreover, I hadn't eaten lunch yet.
I was quite hungry.
There was no choice but to change plans.

So, I ordered the Hotani vegetable curry.

This was a happy miscalculation.

First of all, it looks great.
In a deep blue bowl, curry, five-grain rice, and plenty of vegetables are served.
The vegetables on the side are not just a garnish.

Leafy greens, bell peppers, lotus root, baby corn, carrots, purple cabbage, and a boiled egg.
There are many colors.
Even before eating, it has a convincing look that it's good for the body.

The local information site "Hirakata Tsushin" also introduces that the shop has a corner where you can buy Hotani vegetables and that there were baked goods for takeout. It also mentions that it would be good to visit in conjunction with the cosmos or harvest festivals from the end of summer to autumn.
Source: Hirakata Tsushin, published August 10, 2025, confirmed June 1, 2026.

The curry itself is gentle.

It's not the type that attacks you with intense spiciness.
There is a sense of spice.
But rather than making you sweat from the heat, it feels like it gently enters your body.

It goes well with the five-grain rice, and even though it's healthy, it doesn't feel lacking.
Eat the vegetables, eat the curry, then eat the vegetables again.
This repetition is strangely comforting.

Before I knew it, I had eaten it all.

I came for the sweets, but I was completely won over by the curry.
This kind of unexpected turn of events is quite delightful.

My friend ordered the chocolate muffin in the photo.

The appearance is simple, but the white of the powdered sugar, the black of the chocolate, and the red of the berries are beautifully arranged, making even the empty space on the plate look like a picture.
According to my friend, it was moist, the chocolate was rich, and it was delicious.

Even though there were few sweets, when a dish like this comes out, the satisfaction of the cafe time is high.

By the way, the official Instagram introduces it as "a traditional folk house cafe in the satoyama of Hotani, Hirakata" and "Hotani vegetables and coffee in a Taisho-modern space." It also notes that pets are not allowed and provides information on phone reservations and DM reservations up to the day before.
Source: Hotani Yasai Cafe Tsuchinotoiroha official Instagram, confirmed June 1, 2026.

The goodness of this cafe is not just the food.

The place of Hotani itself is already a bit of a journey.

If it's a cafe in the city, it tends to end with just eating.
But here, there are fields on the way, mountains, seasonal flowers, and the lingering impression remains until the way home.

Rather than "going to a cafe,"
you can enjoy it as "going out to Hotani."
At 51, I think about this.

When I was young, I only looked at the destination.

A delicious shop.
An Instagrammable shop.
A famous shop.
But recently, the road to get there, the entrance to the shop, the medaka at the door, the color of the dishes, the way the vegetables are arranged.

My heart has started to be moved by such small things.
This time, too, I went to eat sweets, but I was filled by the curry, healed by the atmosphere of the traditional folk house, and my feelings were relaxed by the scenery of Hotani.

This kind of holiday is not flashy.

But I will remember it later.
Even for those living in Hirakata, if you extend your trip to Hotani, you can encounter a slightly different Hirakata.

The season of sunflowers, the season of cosmos, the scenery of fields where vegetables are lined up.
While you're at it, eating Hotani vegetable curry at a traditional folk house cafe.

This is definitely a good idea.

Even though I'm a 51-year-old man who went for the sweets, I think it's worth going to the Hotani traditional folk house cafe just for the curry.