July 21, 2015
by Misa Ito and Yuka Shinde
Kyogoku Dining
There is an unusual café/restaurant in Kyoto called Kyogoku Dining. It is often called a “town cafe.” That is because it serves the local community and is a hub for not only the local community but also for the occasional tourist. In addition, it takes on several different roles, that of “pub,” “café,” or “restaurant dining.”
The main concept behind this café is “information.” It strives to be a place where people can access information to help them in the local community. So the staff listen carefully to the voices and opinions of the local residents. Then they try to meet the demands raised by these voices.
The owner of the shop said that it was first established after WWII, but there were many times when he was not sure whether to continue the shop or not, to keep it going or to tear it down. So he discussed with local residents. However, they thought they needed to revitalize the local economy and therefore the shop needed drastic reform. So they decided to keep this shop as a “home” for the public. It has a soft image. The residents wanted to make “Dining” a place where people can come and hang out all the time.
The café has several features that make it different from other Kyoto cafés:
• You can use the toilet even if you don’t order food
• You can drink water even if you don’t order food
• There is a free Wi-Fi in this shop
• We can bring food from a shopping centre into the cafe
• You can ask the staff anything if you need help
Who Uses this Cafe?
The primary customers are local residents. When the café is open, people who work outside come in to relax. Europeans and Americans who live in Kyoto also frequent this shop.
Employment of People with Disabilities
This café hires people with physical disabilities. It also gives jobs to people who need them most, such as mothers who need extra money for their families. One reason they like to hire people with disabilities is that such people are often excluded from the labor market.
The Future
The owner wants Kyogoku Dinng to become a community center. He hopes that it will be a place where interchange is multi-generational.
Menu
The most famous item on their menu is curry rice. This curry is very spicy. It is profitable because it is 800 yen even with salad. There are other set meals. There is rice, main dish and a side salad. You can choose each one from the showcase. It is also 800 yen. The two are lunch menus. Lunchtime is from 11:00 to 17:00. There are many types of dinner menus. For example, meat dish, fish dish, pasta, pizza and so on.
Staff Voices
We also interviewed a woman who was working at this café. She said that she can learn how to communicate with people who have disabilities. She can also have conversations with local residents and get knowledge about the neighbourhood. Another person said that this work is fun because she loves to work.
Access
The café address is 602-8111 Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Kamigyo-ku, Matsuya-cho (Horikawadori) 28. The business hours are 11:00-22:00 from Monday to Saturday. Sunday is 11:00-18:00.
The telephone number is 075-432-7563. You can get to this cafe by getting on any #9 to #50 city bus from Kyoto Station. It takes about 20 minutes; get off Horikawa-Shimotachiuri bus stop. You can reach this café.
This café is a place that will make a connection with people. Not only people of the local area but also tourists can relax and enjoy a homelike atmosphere. And the staff will tell you a lot local information. We recommend visiting the Kyogoku Dining. Please visit this Website. http://horikawakyogoku.com/