Oizumicho in Hokuto City is visited by many people as a summer resort and in autumn to admire the autumn leaves. In the cold winter, the town becomes much less crowded, allowing you to enjoy a quiet, extraordinary experience in a peaceful atmosphere without having to worry about crowds...this is a privilege for locals. I immediately went to Harubaru, a hidden cafe that I had been curious about.

Harubaru quietly opened in the summer of 2025 in a naturally rich villa area with spectacular views of the Southern Alps and Yatsugatake. A hidden cafe known only to those in the know, it is gaining popularity for its relaxing space, lunches made with plenty of highland vegetables, and homemade sweets.

You have to take off your shoes before entering the restaurant, making it feel like you've been invited into a friend's home. Behind the door is a relaxing space with sofa seats where you can relax, casual table seats, and box seats for groups.

The display case was filled with delicious looking baked goods and cakes! I had to check them out for some after-meal sweets.

From the lunch menu, I selected the most popular dish, "Meatball Tomato Pasta." Adding a salad and drink set for an additional 450 yen made it a perfect choice. ♡ The gorgeous, long-stemmed vegetables resemble a bouquet of baby's breath and are just too cute! These vegetables are called "cauliflower." The stems are soft and sweet, and the carrots are slightly sweet, almost like a dessert.

While I was engrossed in my salad, the pasta was ready. I took a bite of the plump, soft, and juicy meatballs, which I knew were delicious just by touching them with my fork. The combination of two of Yamanashi's best brands of meat, Koshu Wine Beef and Shingen Pork, was a winning combination, so the flavor was top-notch! But that's not to be taken for granted; the chef's meticulous handiwork was the result, as he mashed the soft tofu to use as a binder, lightly grilled it to lock in the flavor, and used the meat juices in the tomato sauce.

The fresh tagliatelli pasta is well coated with the sauce and is very chewy.

For the long-awaited sweet treat, try the classic British lemon drizzle cake and specially made hand-dripped coffee. The cake is soaked in plenty of lemon juice, giving it a moist texture without being too light. The refreshing aroma and texture of homemade lemon peel add an accent to the rich lemon flavor, leaving you feeling extremely satisfied.

You don't have to go "far" to find wonderful, extraordinary experiences close to home.
Ah...I'm glad my hometown is Yamanashi...