What happens when you get a long time ceramic artist wanting to renovate an old Japanese house into a wooden work of stunning quality?…. A café, art and antique space! Located in a quiet old neighbourhood of Gokasho next to an ancient temple, Hakumokuren (taken from the name of a white flower), offers a perfect day ‘get away’. Feel your body shift back comfortably to country pace in the pleasurable surrounds of honey coloured wood of which there is plenty of here. Then there’s the rotation of quality craft on exhibition as well as the delicious matcha roll cake and tea/coffee for sale. Pick up an interesting and very reasonably priced antique piece of tableware or furniture on your way out. English speaking and artistic staff very likely to be present too. Gokasho also hosts art events at certain times of the year along with a Hina Doll exhibition in the old lavish merchant houses every March.