Renowned Kyoto-based company Sakanotochu champions sustainable agriculture by supporting young farmers at every stage of production—from cultivation to marketing. Their core principle is a commitment to the planet’s well-being 100 years into the future, prioritizing the use of renewable resources.

In the recently renovated ShinPuhKan building in Kyoto, Sakanotochu has brought their mission to life with the opening of a concept café. All ingredients here are of exceptional quality, sourced locally, and environmentally sustainable. Their vegetables (which are also available for take-home purchase) are strictly seasonal and as fresh as possible.

When it comes to coffee—despite the fact that coffee isn’t grown in Japan—the same rigorous standards apply. Sakanotochu ensures quality and sustainability at every step of the process, from bean to cup. The company’s Q-graders frequently visit coffee farmers, primarily in Asia (Myanmar, Vietnam, China, and Thailand), to oversee production. These visits aren’t just about sourcing specialty-grade green coffee but also about guiding small-scale farms toward more sustainable and eco-friendly practices.

Sustainability extends to the café’s equipment, inherited from the legendary efish, one of Kyoto’s earliest minimalist third-wave coffee shops, which recently closed. Their barista—a former staff member of the pandemic-shuttered Light Up Coffee—now crafts beverages using efish’s vintage espresso machine.

OyOy isn’t just a café—it’s also a bookstore, as reflected in its name. Visitors can browse an eclectic collection of books focused on lifestyle and cuisine. Alongside books, coffee, and eco-friendly vegetables, the café also offers exceptionally fine natural wines sourced from Kyoto’s ethelwine shop.