A Book Cafe Where You Can Take a Relaxing Break: “Bookstore nico”

True to the owner’s vision of creating “a place for everyone,” this book cafe is housed in a renovated old Japanese house. Inside, you can feel the warmth of wood as adults and children alike relax surrounded by books, each spending time as they please. Events where everyone can learn and enjoy together are also held irregularly.

The store interior, designed to be a place for everyone

Centered around books and coffee, the cafe also offers a “One-Box Bookshelf Owner” system for free book lending and space rental services.

New Releases Corner

The new releases corner is curated with heartfelt selections by owner-manager Ms. Iwasaki.

Drawing from her experience as a former kindergarten teacher, the corner features an abundance of warm picture books. Reflecting the trend of “picture books for adults,” it also offers a rich selection of picture books enjoyable for grown-ups.

Additionally, the selection includes books that lift your spirits when you’re troubled, books that offer quiet companionship, and various other titles designed to resonate with readers.

Cafe Area

Inside the shop, you can choose seating suited to your purpose.

Near the entrance, open counter seats are available. Here, you can chat with owner Iwasaki about books or enjoy casual, everyday conversation.

Meanwhile, the counter seats facing the back wall offer a quiet space to immerse yourself in reading, daydreaming, or simply losing yourself in your own world.

The charm lies in being able to spend time here in your own style, drink in hand.

The counter also sells cookies made by a confectionery shop connected to the store. Why not pick some up to accompany your drink?

One-Box Bookshelf Corner

This is the “One-Box Bookshelf” corner, one of nico’s distinctive features.

It’s a unique system where you can rent a section of the shelf to display your favorite books.

The bookshelf owner (the “Bookshelf Master”) experiences the joy of sharing their personal tastes with others, while visitors enjoy the fun of peeking into the Bookshelf Master’s mind as they browse the books.

The One-Box Bookshelf Owner system started in neighboring Yaizu City. While it’s spreading nationwide, I believe this is the first instance in Fujieda City.

The overall bookshelf also radiates the kindness that defines nico, adding to its charm.

Becoming a shelf owner costs a monthly fee of 2,000 yen. Visitors only need to pay a one-time registration fee of 300 yen to borrow books from this shelf for free.

The spacious area at the back of the store is also available for rental.

Here, various small-group events are held irregularly, ranging from fun study sessions for everyone to relaxing concerts and refreshing yoga classes.

Event information is updated regularly on the official Instagram account, so interested parties should check there.

Those wishing to plan and host their own events are encouraged to consult with the store staff.

The usage fee is ¥2,500 for 3 hours, with each additional hour costing ¥500. (As of October 2025)

Rental Space

The spacious area at the back of the store is also available for rental.

Here, various small-group events are held irregularly, ranging from fun study sessions for everyone to relaxing concerts and refreshing yoga classes.

Event information is updated regularly on the official Instagram account, so interested parties should check there.

Those wishing to plan and host their own events are encouraged to consult with the store staff.

The usage fee is ¥2,500 for 3 hours, with each additional hour costing ¥500. (As of October 2025)

The Kind-Hearted Owner

This is Ms. Iwasaki, the bright and cheerful owner with a wonderful smile.

Looking back, whenever she faced worries about work or life, books were always nearby. Rather than seeking advice from others, she turned to books for clues, finding help countless times whenever she needed it.

The Path to Becoming a Bookseller

During a period of feeling somewhat aimless, she encountered a booklet titled “The Journey to Becoming a Picture Book Store” at the shop of picture book author Michiko Egashira in Mishima. That moment sparked her thought, “This is it.”

Then one day, when kindergarten children asked him, “Mr. Iwasaki, what do you want to be?”, he remembered that and replied to the children, “Hmm… maybe a bookstore owner? I want to be a picture book store owner. Do you think I can do it?”

The children responded, “You can do it! You can do it!”

So she promised them, “Well then, I’ll try my best. When the bookstore opens, everyone come visit, okay?”

That promise became the reason she decided she had to make the bookstore happen.

By the time the store was being built, those children were in first grade. But when Ms. Iwasaki contacted them, every single one came back.

They even helped build the store, chopping patterns into the walls with their hands.

　

What kind of shop did you envision?

Ms.Iwasaki: “I hoped it would become a place for everyone.

First and foremost, for times like when I’m just curled up at home, grumbling, but don’t really want to see anyone.

But then thinking, ‘Maybe I could relax a bit if I went there. I should go there, they have books too.’

Yes, I wanted to create a place where people could think, ‘I can go there.’

I thought kids who aren’t going to school could come too.

And then, of course, people feeling a bit down mentally or worn out from work.

I’d be happy if they just came in during times like that.

The kids built such a great wall there. I’d originally planned to put bookshelves there, but I completely changed that idea. I made that table instead, thinking, ‘Let’s make this a place where you can face yourself.’”

This gentle thought, born from Mr. Iwasaki’s own diverse experiences, is deeply embedded in the space.

Connections of Many Kinds

Connections with Welfare Organizations

Ms. Iwasaki has a child with disabilities.

This led to connections with welfare organizations like Harmonia, Yushosha, and Ichinyo.

The shop sells sweets, blackberry tea, toilet paper, and other items made with great effort by people with disabilities at these organizations.

“I wanted to connect, and I wanted to stay connected. I want to make the world a place where people with disabilities can live more easily. I truly hope this becomes a place where everyone can come and feel at home,” says Ms. Iwasaki.

Artworks Decorating the Shop

The shop features artwork that inspired its creation: paintings by Egashira Michiko, gentle illustrations by machi, and lighthearted, mood-lifting drawings by Yoshitake Shinsuke.

And surprisingly, there are also works by the landlord who kindly rents the space.

They were gifted as a gesture of goodwill—see if you can spot which ones they are when you visit.

Supportive People

“Even before opening and since we started, local residents and customers have connected us in so many ways—that’s how we got here,” Iwasaki shared.

　

It’s a wonderful shop where people around Mr. Iwasaki respond to his vision, offering support and encouragement.

Feel free to drop by whenever you feel like it, even on an ordinary day.