Taizandō Café, Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture

Taizandō’s interior is conducive to quiet enjoyment. (© Kawaguchi Yōko)

The café’s eye-catching antique green door. (© Kawaguchi Yōko)

The popular nougat glacé. (© Kawaguchi Yōko)

A display of teacups and tea canisters behind the counter. (© Kawaguchi Yōko)

A walnut tart and house-made ginger soda (left); matcha and white chocolate cake (right). (© Kawaguchi Yōko)

The old pillars, bearing the marks of their former function, blend seamlessly with the café’s contemporary artworks. (© Kawaguchi Yōko)

A perfect spot for solitary contemplation. Artworks are displayed throughout the café. (© Kawaguchi Yōko)