Source: New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter) - image used with permission
Seemingly abandoned building hides cafe with breathtaking ocean view and retrofuture design
- Tags:
- Abandoned / Haikyo / kissaten / Okawa Oasis / retrofuture / Sanuki / Seto inland sea / Showa nostalgia
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If you're driving along Route 11 in Sanuki, Kagawa Prefecture, situated along the Seto Inland Sea, you may not notice it at all. With its two silo-like structures with narrow slit windows, the roadside restaurant and facility Okawa Oasis may appear at times like an abandoned building, especially when no cars are parked there.
It's that appearance which caught the attention of Twitter user New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter), who lists haikyo 廃墟 (abandoned places / ruins) among the numerous interests on his profile.
In a Tweet which already has 52,000 likes and over 300 retweets at the time of writing, he posted what he describes as "an unbelievably breathtaking view" of the Seto Inland Sea from the vantage point of a cafe, the access to which he gained by "cautiously entering a roadside facility which looked like it was abandoned."
Seeing how his initial post had gone viral, he followed up with more photos the next day, taking his readers through his journey of discovery:
"These cylindrical towers made of hand-carved mortar cement had a haikyo vibe, but inside, there was an enchanting spiral staircase with stained glass windows."
Reproduced with permission from New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter)
The spiral staircase...
Reproduced with permission from New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter)
Beautiful stained glass windows
Reproduced with permission from New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter)
And then, he arrived on the upper floor, which yielded a far greater surprise than the staircase. Hidden from the road on the other side of the building, there's a cafe / restaurant with floor-to-ceiling glass windows providing a stunning panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea.
Reproduced with permission from New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter)
Reproduced with permission from New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter)
It's not only the view which deserved praise. As Nyu Ibuki points out in conversations with other Twitter users, the interior has a Showa Era mood to it and shows what he calls a science-fiction inspired retrofuture design.
Reproduced with permission from New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter)
Reproduced with permission from New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter)
And just so there aren't any misunderstandings, although Okawa Oasis may give off a haikyo look when no cars are parked and no signs of life are visible from the outside, it's a fully operational facility and a local favorite spot. It has a convenience store, a banquet hall, and a gift shop, in addition to the restaurant which serves excellent food. It doesn't usually get crowded to begin with, but even fewer people have been coming due to the pandemic.
Another Twitter user pointed out that Okawa Oasis opened in 1964 and the current building opened in 1967. The restaurant has been operating since then.
Nyu Ibuki decided to have an iced coffee while enjoying the unparalleled view.
Reproduced with permission from New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter)
He adds, "If you ever go, you should aim for a day when the weather is nice."
As his photo clearly demonstrates, you should probably follow his advice:
Reproduced with permission from New Ibuki ニュー伊吹 (@ibuki_inter)
If you'd like to visit, here's the information you need to know: