If you walk down the back alleys from the buildings of Nishi-Ikebukuro, you will suddenly come across an old house. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, time flows slowly in this area surrounded by greenery.

Nishiike Valley, located a 7-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, is a complex area developed by the Fukano family, the owners, in a corner of Nishi-Ikebukuro that has been owned by them for generations since the Edo period.

The town began gradually opening up around 2020 with the aim of becoming a "town home" that would be a refuge for local people and where everyone could foster a healthy and cultured lifestyle.

The center of the area is an old wooden house that has been renovated into rooms called "Chanoma" (living room), "Syokutaku" (dining table), and "Attic" (attic), each of which serves food and drinks.

Opening up an old house created a flow of people

"In a city where connections are becoming weaker, we thought that if we could build face-to-face relationships, we would feel much richer," says owner Fukano.

"So, I decided to open up the old house where I lived until eight years ago, hoping that it would become a place of relaxation for everyone, including residents and tourists." Currently, renovations are underway throughout the area, with Chanoma at the center, and the area now attracts more than 1,000 visitors a week.

The area comes together to hold a variety of events. Tea ceremony, parkour, yoga, live music... The diverse lineup of events that may seem like they have nothing in common at first glance is what makes Nishiike Valley so fascinating. The lives of people of different ages and hobbies intersect, and connections are made. This quietly standing old house has become the starting point of such a movement.

Enjoy exquisite sweets in a traditional Japanese house that is over 70 years old

Chanoma is located in a renovated traditional Japanese house that is over 70 years old. It was originally the residence where the owner, Mr. Fukano, lived with his family. With the idea of "making the appearance part of the scenery," the cafe has been renovated into a bright and open cafe while retaining the charm of the traditional Japanese house.

The most popular seating in the cafe is the wooden-floored area, where you can relax and gaze out at the garden trees, and the pleasant light filtering in is especially pleasant from spring to summer.

The garden is planted with cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, yuzu, and other flowers, and one of the highlights of Chanoma is being able to enjoy the changing scenery throughout the seasons.

One of Chanoma's most popular dishes is the Rich Matcha Terrine, a special dish made with matcha from Nishio, Aichi Prefecture.

"I wanted to create simple sweets that would fit the atmosphere of an old Japanese house. I simply wanted to deliver something that people would think was delicious," says Chanoma manager Kato.

Seasonal menus are also offered irregularly, mainly in spring, autumn and winter, such as terrine made with yuzu, which grows abundantly on the premises, allowing you to experience the unique flavors of Chanoma in each season.

The atmosphere here makes you want to come home.

In the big city of Ikebukuro, the quiet flow of time gently envelops visitors.

We hope you'll take a break from your everyday routine and drop in. Nishiike Valley has an atmosphere that will make you want to say "I'm home."

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ニシイケバレイ 
住所：東京都豊島区西池袋5-12-3  
アクセス：JR池袋駅より徒歩7分、東京メトロ有楽町線 要町駅より徒歩5分  
公式HP： https://nishiikevalley.jp/ 

Chanoma  
電話： 03-6709-1139  
SNS： https://www.instagram.com/chanoma11/