Introducing Ao.HOSTEL & CAFE LOUNGE

Hello and welcome to my first post of 2024!
This is Uentsu, a slightly part-time member of the Sarukuma writing team.
Thank you so much for joining us this year — we hope you’ll keep reading along!

Today, I’d like to introduce a wonderful spot located in Konya-machi, Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“Ao.HOSTEL & CAFE LOUNGE”.
Located about a 10-minute walk from Hitoyoshi Station and very close to the historic Aoi Aso Shrine, this charming building houses a café on the first floor and a hostel on the upper floors.
It originally operated as a guesthouse but was severely damaged during the devastating July 2020 floods, with water reaching the second floor. A year later, the building was completely rebuilt and reopened as the café and hostel you’ll find today.
A line painted on the exterior wall (left side of the photo) marks the water level reached during the floods. The height is honestly hard to fathom in person.

On this visit, I stayed overnight at the hostel and enjoyed breakfast at the café in the morning.
Since I was there, I’d love to share a peek at the rooms at Ao.HOSTEL & CAFE LOUNGE as well.
I stayed in a 4-bed room. With a table in the middle, it was a wonderfully relaxing space.

Here’s what the interior of the Ao.HOSTEL & CAFE LOUNGE café looks like.
Just inside the entrance, you’re greeted by a beautiful large moon mounted on the wall.
The space is built around a soothing gray color palette accented with warm wooden touches throughout.

Recommended Menu Items at Ao.HOSTEL & CAFE LOUNGE

Since it was breakfast time, I ordered toast and a drink.
As a huge matcha lover, I went for the toast with a matcha latte.
Just look at that gorgeous latte art ♡

This café is famous for its seasonal parfaits, which change throughout the year!
Around the New Year, they were serving a special “Osechi Parfait” inspired by traditional Japanese New Year cuisine.
When another customer ordered one, I snuck a peek — it was absolutely loaded with ingredients and looked incredibly luxurious!
Ao.HOSTEL & CAFE LOUNGE has a small parking area across the street with about 4 spaces.
I wasn’t able to photograph the menu, so for the latest details please check out the café’s Instagram page!

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and opening hours may change. Please check before visiting.