Coffee Mori no Tokei 珈琲 森の時計 and Ningle Terrace ニングルテラスin Furano – 14 June 2016
I am a fan of unique coffee houses, so when I was in Furano, this place was highly recommended by the Tourist Guidebook. It was also highly raved by bloggers.
When we arrived at Furano, it was dark and drizzling – putting our plans for a Farm Tomita into disarray. We did not want to check in or hotel as well – so I suggested a visit to this café to seek refuge from the rainy day. Imagine how nice it is to enjoy a warm cup of freshly grounded coffee while the rain drizzles outside – warm and safe in the café…… ^_^
Referencing from websites and maps, the café was said to be located in the forests below New Prince Hotel Furano. We were worried whether we could find it in all that rain, but I decided to brave a trip anyway.
After we parked, I found Ningle Terrace instead:
I would advise visitors to park next to Ningle Terrace. I found a sign next to the Terrace:
That means we are on the right track! Follow the route the sign says.
It led us into the route just next to Ningle Terrace. I was a little worried then, as I was not sure whether it was too deep inside, and it was raining. Nevertheless, I decided to go in still.
Eventually, after a few minutes of walking, the sight wasn’t too welcoming.
Was it closed???
I walked deeper to the front.
Now it looked more welcoming… actually they were repairing the road to prepare for the loads of visitors in summer.
How charming! A little cottage in the woods!
It was nice and welcoming inside… away from the rain!
This couple was enjoying their coffee while looking at the view.
We chose to sit at the bar where we could grind our own coffee. This was the view we had:
The menu was simple. Either a few main courses or desserts/drinks.
The cakes look was yummy. The combo of cakes and coffee looked good!
But it was cold and we wanted some food too.
We ordered a Mori no Curry and a Real Snow cake.
The bartender showed us our personal coffee grinder…. And beans to put to grind.
We were to put the roasted beans inside and grind it ourselves.
After the beans become powder, the sweet lady emptied it out and made coffee for us.
And our nice cuppa coffee was born!
I can’t say it’s excellent coffee, but it’s certainly good coffee. And the ambience is good – sipping coffee in a nice and warm place, whereas it was raining outside.
The curry wasn’t fantastic. But it was decent and generous. We were hungry due to the cold weather and we liked it.
The cake was the main draw.
Creamy and light. The cake was soft as snow and melts in your mouth. There were different layers of cream in the cake, as you can see. It was sweet but not overly – and it blends well with the coffee.
The café looks so nice and inviting… you don’t even want to go out.
The coffeehouse was apparently a setting for a j-drama: Yasashii Jikan優しい時間 – a touching drama by popular scriptwriter Kuramoto Sou. I’ve never watched the drama but the setting is really nice.
When we left, an old man was just coming in. He too was alarmed when he saw the renovations and asked whether it was opened.
It was still raining but we took a stroll out of the forest through Ningle Terrace.
The paths lid by the lights were so charming……
Although it was raining, there were still people walking around.
There was also a nice coffee house inside.
The shops were selling trinkets relating to the drama.
Verdict
yay – A unique coffee house definitely worth visiting. In winter, it’s even more charming as the roofs are all white – like a fairytale house. Food and drinks are nothing to rave about but the ambience and the environment – being set deep in the woods – makes you feel like a character in a j-drama. It is quite far and away from town though, so that’s why it’s a small yay. If you are a café hopper, then this is a café that can’t be missed.
Ningle Terrace is worth a visit too, but I am biased and I think the coffeehouse is a bigger draw than the Terrace.
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