Today November 7th is Lidong. On the calendar, it's already the beginning of winter.

Suddenly, the winter ghost is "Yuki Onna", isn't it? Yuki Onna has a strong image of a snowy country, but there is a theory that it originated in Chofu, Tokyo.

And in Chofu, there are still places where you can meet "ghosts" and "youkai." It is "Kitaro Chaya" in Jindaiji Temple, Chofu City, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. Here you can eat a menu with the motif of the youkai that appears in "GeGeGe no Kitaro".

It feels reckless to be ghosted in the cold season, but I definitely want to meet Kitaro and youkai! So, I decided to go to Chofu at once.


■ Jindaiji promenade with an emotional landscape

To get to "Kitaro Chaya", take a bus from Chofu Station to Jindaiji. It takes less than 10 minutes to be shaken, and after getting off the bus around Jindaiji Temple, walk down the slope for a while. Then you will arrive at an emotional promenade surrounded by fresh trees.


There are dumpling shops and Japanese sweets shops on both sides of the road, and many people are sitting on chaise lounges drinking tea and chatting. It's a very tasteful and heartwarming sight.


■ Arrive at "Kitaro Chaya"

"Kitaro Chaya" is located in a corner of such a quaint promenade. An old-fashioned wooden house that feels like you've slipped back in time. And there is a huge "geta" on the roof! Is that Kitaro's clogs ...?


Life-sized (?) Kitaro and Nezumi Otoko are welcoming you.


And, I found "Yokai Gacha Gacha" at the entrance of the shop! It seems that a can badge with the youkai that appear in the manga, such as this gacha, Kitaro and Neko Musume, is contained in the capsule.


Alright, try your luck today! I also tried to challenge. Will Kitaro come out? clatter…


Paka ...


....... "Hyakume" ... Yeah ... I see ...

■ "Kitaro Chaya" Seating and ordering is self-service

Regain your mind and go to "Kitaro Chaya".

The teahouse is located in the back of the souvenir shop that sells youkai goods. It is a self-service system where you take your favorite seat first and then go to the counter to place an order.


...Hmm? I feel like someone is watching me ... a plaster wall! The backrest of the two-seater chair was a plaster wall! And Kitaro is sitting in the chair.


By the way, the BGM in the store is, of course, that song. Gege, Gege, Gegege no Kita ...

■ Order the youkai menu

This time, I ordered "Itan-momen teahouse sundae" and "Nurikabe miso oden".


For "Itan-momen Teahouse Sunday", you can choose your favorite from two types of syrup, matcha or black honey. As a result of my worries, I decided to choose matcha syrup this time.

Then, I found something called "Yokai Beer" next to the cash register! I wonder what it tastes like ... I'd definitely like to try it next time.


■ Try eating youkai sundae and youkai oden

First of all, "Itan-momen Teahouse Sunday" was brought in!


"Ittan-momen teahouse sundae" is a sundae with corn flakes on the bottom, soft serve ice cream and red bean paste on top, peaches, cherries, and "Ittan-momen" made of agar. The agar "Ichitan Momen" is the main character, but it's small! And translucent! It's too cute.


A cookie "heartwarming quote cookie" with thankful words from Professor Shigeru Mizuki is also attached. The message to the author is "Let's take it easy" .


By the way, you can buy this "heartwarming quote cookie" at a souvenir shop. It costs 945 yen for 27 pieces.

After sprinkling matcha syrup on the whole Sunday, it is recommended to mix the flakes with red bean paste and soft serve ice cream. You can enjoy the creamy and smooth texture and crispy texture.

Then, "Miso Oden on the Nurikabe" was brought in!


"Nurikabe miso oden" is an organic konjac at the foot of Mt. Daisen in Tottori prefecture, the hometown of Shigeru Mizuki. Eat with a special miso sauce.


A bite with a thick and rich miso sauce. Konjac is Purunpurun! Elastic, smooth and fine-grained konjac. It has no odor and goes well with anyone with sweet and spicy miso! It's a taste that makes you feel nostalgic.

■ Aim for weekdays, wait up to 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays

There were about 10 tables in total in the store and in the garden, but it seems to be quite crowded on Saturdays and Sundays. According to the clerk, the peak congestion is around 2:00 pm and the waiting time is around 30 minutes at the maximum. I went there around 1:00 pm on weekdays, but the number of customers was relatively vacant with 4 groups. If you want to enter without lining up, it seems better to aim for weekdays.


■ "Yokai Gallery" is on the 2nd floor


On the second floor of "Kitaro Chaya", there is "Yokai Gallery". Admission is 100 yen. When you go up the stairs to the second floor, you can see a lot of youkai goods in the showcase lined up in a spacious tatami room where you can see real ghosts at night.

At the corner of the room is a bran with a peephole. Looking inside through the hole ... there are creepy youkai! I am looking forward to seeing what kind of youkai are hiding.


In addition, youkai figures, national youkai maps, and commentary books that explain in detail the internal mechanism of Kitaro and the eye-catching father are displayed.


When you open the glass door facing the outside, there is a deck surrounded by lush trees. There is a chabudai on the tatami mat, which is a place of relaxation where you can take a rest when you get tired. It might be a good idea to stop by on your way home from the teahouse!


■ Buy "Medama-Oyajiman" as a souvenir

I enjoyed the teahouse and the gallery, so it's time to buy some souvenirs and go home! So, I went down to the 1st floor again and bought "Medama-Oyajiman". Of course, you can also eat inside the teahouse!


■ Try eating "Medama-Oyajiman"

"Medama-Oyajiman" is a steamed bun with the eye-catching father in the bath stamped on it. Black soybean flour and tofu are kneaded into the skin.


The moment you bite it, it's soft and soft, and when you chew it, it's a chewy skin. The smooth and not too sweet "Koshian" melts on your tongue. It's so delicious that if you eat one, you'll want to reach for another and another.


From delicious teahouses to cute souvenir shops and a little thrilling youkai gallery, Kitaro Chaya is full of charm. Why don't you enjoy a moment when you forget about your daily life with the crazy youkai at a teahouse in a place surrounded by nature, which is so quiet that you can't think of Tokyo?