Welcome to Jicca

Hi everyone! It’s Kurubushi from Sarukuma ☆彡

Today I’m introducing a special little spot tucked away in Miyoshi, Koshi City:

Jicca (じっか).

Wait—”Jicca”? That means “parents’ home” in Japanese!

Yes! It really is called Jicca!

The owner created this café out of a heartfelt wish: to give families with young children a place where they could relax as comfortably as if they were visiting Mom and Dad’s house.

When you spot the welcoming sign out front,

you might just feel like bursting into happy tears and shouting “I’m home!” at the top of your lungs.

(I held it in. Out of respect for the other guests, of course ☆彡)

Coming from central Kumamoto City along Route 387 toward Miyoshi Station, turn left at the intersection in front of Saishun Medical Center (look for the Sukiya restaurant as a landmark).

At the third corner, you’ll find a small Jicca sign at the base of a utility pole.

Such a charming little signpost!

Turn right here, and you’ll find another guide sign on the block wall at the next corner.

So cute!

Turn left at the house at the end of the road, and there’s Jicca.

Parking is easy here—four spaces are right next to the café,

and there’s more parking right across the way—no need to worry about finding a spot.

The lot is deep, so groups can double up by parking in tandem if needed.

Believe it or not, there’s even a second parking lot on top of all this!

Step inside and you’re greeted by a tatami-mat seating area—the kind of soothing traditional Japanese space that immediately puts you at ease.

My son made a beeline straight for the toy corner in the middle of the room.

Beloved play kitchens, wooden fishing games, shape sorters—warm, natural wooden toys are all set out for the kids to enjoy.

Seats are arranged around the toy area, so parents can easily keep an eye on their little ones while relaxing.

Out on the engawa (traditional Japanese veranda), there’s a trampoline and rocking horse!

Bouncing on a trampoline outdoors looks so refreshing!

There are plenty of Bumbo seats available too, all in cheerful colors!

And a generous selection of picture books—you’d swear you walked into a children’s community center.

The thoughtfulness extends beyond just the kids—guests with limited mobility are well taken care of too.

For anyone uncomfortable sitting on the floor, chairs are available, and they even provide lap blankets.

During my visit, I saw a beautiful three-generation group enjoying their time together: grandmother, mother, and child.

Grandma sat comfortably in her chair while the grandchild played freely—it was such a heartwarming scene.

Here’s the nursing room. It has tatami flooring, nursing pillows, a diaper trash bin, and even a portable air conditioner!

Just having a nursing room is wonderful, but many places lack air conditioning—so I have memories of leaving them dripping with sweat.

This kind of attention to detail clearly comes from someone who’s been there as a parent.

The bathroom has a step stool, so newly potty-trained kids can use it confidently.

And look at this—diapers and baby wipes are stocked right outside the bathroom!

So if you’ve forgotten yours or run out, you’re covered. What a lifesaver!

They even sell secondhand children’s clothing!

And there’s a corner showcasing local handmade crafts.

Jicca’s Recommended Menu

The main menu features wholesome, additive-free Japanese home cooking:

Choose your main dish, plus seasonal small side dishes, white rice, miso soup, tea, and coffee.

On the day I visited, the main dish options were:

Tender Chicken Nanban with tartar sauce, and Steamed Seasonal Fish & Vegetables with mushrooms in aromatic herb sauce.

You can freely choose your own small side dishes—they all looked so delicious it was hard to pick!

Allergen information is clearly labeled, which is super helpful.

Rice, miso soup, tea, and coffee are all free refills!

The set is ¥1,750 for ages 13 and up, ¥900 for elementary school children (without small side dishes), and incredibly, FREE for preschoolers!

You can serve yourself just as much rice and miso soup as you need, so there’s no need to order separately for small kids—amazing!

My kids tend to eat only rice and miso soup wherever we go, so finding a place like this is a dream come true.

Tea options include water, mugicha (barley tea), kombucha (kelp tea), green tea, rooibos, and more.

And here’s homemade bonito flake furikake (rice seasoning)—absolutely delicious!

You can sprinkle as much as you like on your rice—it’s an unlimited topping.

You’ll find yourself going back for seconds (and thirds!) of rice.

This is the Chicken Nanban.

The tartar sauce is made with omega-rich eggs from Ogata Egg Farm.

It’s made with chicken breast, but it was unbelievably fluffy and tender—seriously delicious.

And here’s the steamed fish and vegetables wrap.

The fish was beautifully fluffy, and the vegetables were infused with a gentle, comforting flavor.

It was the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out.

Both dishes are mildly seasoned, making them perfect for sharing with little ones.

After your meal, when they ask “How about dessert?”—

I genuinely don’t believe anyone could say no.

That kind of self-restraint? Left it behind in the delivery room!

Parents who spend every day cheering up their kids deserve to cheer themselves up with something sweet, right?

So we ordered:

Rice Flour Chiffon Cake with Ice Cream — ¥500

Light, fluffy chiffon cake with delicately sweet flavor pairs beautifully with the ice cream.

Soy Milk Pudding with Kuromitsu (Brown Sugar Syrup) and Kinako (Roasted Soybean Flour) — ¥300

The handmade soy milk pudding paired with the sweetness of kuromitsu and kinako is pure comfort.

Dessert-only visits are also welcome, with a free drink set for an additional ¥300.

Other ice cream flavors include vanilla, kuromitsu-kinako, blueberry sauce, and strawberry sauce.

Phew—what a satisfying meal!

But the day wasn’t over yet.

That afternoon, a volunteer storyteller had come to read picture books aloud.

The kids were absolutely captivated.

After playing, eating, and now storytime—we truly felt like we were lounging at our own grandparents’ house.

The kids seemed even more absorbed in the books than usual!

Jicca also hosts morning yoga sessions:

Held on Sundays (regular closing day) starting at 8:30 AM, followed by breakfast together.

You’re welcome to come in pajamas with no makeup—how wonderful is that?

Children are very welcome too!

Crawling babies might climb on top of mom doing yoga poses,

and older elementary school kids can join in the yoga themselves.

My kids were too busy playing with toys to join.

After yoga, everyone helps line up tables, wipe them down, and serve the meal—

It’s like a fun camp gathering, with the kids eagerly pitching in.

“I helped set out the chopsticks!”

Tamago kake gohan (rice with raw egg) made with fresh eggs from Ogata Egg Farm!

After yoga, everyone gathers to eat together, introduce themselves, and chat—a truly joyful, lively time.

The Heart Behind Jicca

Jicca is a comfortable haven not just for children, but for moms and dads too.

I asked the owner about the vision behind this special place.

Until my son was three, we lived in Fukuoka. We were a dual-income family with no relatives nearby—I was constantly doing it all alone.
Balancing work and parenting was truly exhausting.
When we moved back to Kumamoto, life was still busy, but having my parents close by meant I finally got the help I needed.

Mizojiri-san (left in photo)