Lit. is a hipster coffee shop and bakery in the city of Iida, Nagano Prefecture, opened on April 1, 2025, by young baker Issei Shimodaira. He is a fourth-generation baker from a family bakery who decided to launch his own project. Before opening, he completed an internship at the renowned Q.O.L. COFFEE in Nagoya, where he immersed himself in coffee culture in general and specialty coffee in particular.

Inside, there’s an open kitchen, the aroma of fresh bread, and a vinyl record shelf. Among the records are Jimi Hendrix, Tom Waits, and other favorite musicians of the barista-baker (Issei’s self-described title), which makes the atmosphere of the place even more hipster.

The coffee is brewed using beans from well-known Japanese roasters: County from Fukuoka, Passage from Tokyo, and, of course, Q.O.L. COFFEE. The countries of origin and specific farms for the coffee beans are regularly updated.

The café has 33 seats, divided into four distinct zones so guests can choose a spot according to their mood: a bar counter with Arne Jacobsen chairs, low tables with sofas, and standard tables with vintage chairs inherited from the old family bakery.

Once a week, the café turns into a bar in the evening, where Issei offers various cocktails, including coffee-based ones.