Machiya Setamai Eki - Sumita’s Newest Community Space & Eatery

　The town of Sumita, situated 20 kilometers inland from the coastal cities of Rikuzentakata and Ofunato has an abundance of natural beauty and many interesting places to explore. It is a town of 5,600, which is quite a bit smaller, population-wise than Ofunato and Rikuzentakata. To that end, Sumita has been working hard in recent years to revitalize the community and promote tourism. One recent grass-roots project in particular has been a huge success – The Machiya Eki (Station) community space and café and its accompanying restaurant Kerasse. It was built to revitalize the downtown area of Setamai and provide the community with a warm and inviting location to meet and spend time together.　

　Beginning in the late Edo period in Japan (1603~1868) the Setamai area of Sumita was an important transport and commerce hub, connecting the coastal communities with those further inland in central Iwate Prefecture. In particular, the merchant house owned by the Kanno family was the site daily trade in rice, seafood from the coast as well as in gold and silver, which continued until the mid-1950s. This historical place of trade was selected as the location for the new revitalization project based on its central location, local history and beautifully preserved building. The work on restoring this important landmark began in 2015, which saw modern lighting and amenities added, while still preserving the traditional wooden building and its charming interior. The front of the building by the street boasts a bright and inviting, free space in which one can enjoy coffee, tea and cold drinks utilizing a pay-as-you-go honor system as well as offering a fine selection of Sumita-made sweets, including almond cookies, biscotti and chiffon cake. Free Wi-Fi is available as well, so one can use the space to relax the afternoon or evening away in comfort.

　The building also has several Japanese-style tatami rooms for rent for a nominal fee for larger meetings or events, and a lovely outdoor courtyard and garden area which lead to several traditional Japanese storehouses (called kura) which are being restored to provide additional event space, such as for art exhibitions or other traditional Japanese arts.

　Toward the rear of the building is where one can find Sumita’s newest restaurant, ‘Kerasse’. Opened in 2016, it has quickly developed a reputation for delicious, farm-to-table style cuisine. The menu has a wonderful mix of European and Japanese fusion fare, including pasta, oven-fired pizza, small tapas-style dishes, sushi, locally-raised roast pork and fresh salads and vegetables. The majority of the ingredients are sourced from Sumita’s own local farms or from the surrounding communities of Ofunato and Rikuzentakata.

Soup & salad bar

Kerasse’s inviting restaurant interior

Fresh-baked bread and local goods to

take with you after your meal

　For those looking for a delicious lunch, the restaurant is open from 11:30am to 2pm with a nice selection of main dishes, all of which include the freshly made salad and soup bar and a selection of teas and juices. Evening dinner service is from 6pm to 10pm, with the last order for food until 9pm (drinks 9:30pm). Both Machiya and Kerasse are open daily, but are closed on Wednesdays.

Kerasse Food Gallery

(A selection of foods I’ve eaten and enjoyed)