AIRSIDE RESTAURANT AND DEPARTMENT, a café-restaurant that resembles an airport lounge

"AIRSIDE RESTAURANT AND DEPARTMENT" is located in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture. Based on the owner's experience traveling around the world, you can enjoy interior goods and ornamental plants selected from all over the world, and the cafe space offers international cuisine, desserts, and drinks that are not limited by style.

AIRSIDE is located in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture. It is about 540 meters from Nakagawara Station on the Kintetsu Yunoyama Line.

The owner's sense of style shines through in the store, which displays rare antiques and art from around the world. Once you step into the store, you will feel as if you have visited a café in another country.

AIRSIDE can also be used as a private party venue for wedding receptions and after-parties.

There is also Takasago in the back of the store.

A place that is neither Japan nor belongs to any country.

Mr. Saiki, the owner of AIRSIDE

Mr. Saiki originally traveled the world as a backpacker. We asked him about the cafe's commitment, including the reason for its opening and its renewal.

Mr. Saiki: “AIRSIDE opened about 10 years ago, in 2008. I think that there were cafes in Nagoya as a matter of course, but there weren’t any in this area. There was no cafe that I wanted to go to.

Then, we decided to create our own ideal café and opened it. I have been traveling abroad since I was a child, and when I was a student, I traveled around the world as a backpacker. From such experience, I am conscious of "travel" as the concept of the cafe. We offer an international menu, mainly for lunch.

The word "AIRSIDE" in the store name refers to the area lined with duty-free stores and departure gates after completing immigration procedures. It is Japan, but it is not Japan. It is a place that does not belong to any country. We have been doing this for about 10 years with the hope that when you come here, you will find new travel destinations, gather information before you go on a trip, and that it will be a good opportunity for you to travel."

A space that mixes old and new

Antique items are scattered throughout the cafe, creating a space that mixes the old with the new.

A modern bar counter like an airport lounge.

Saiki: "Before the renewal, the design was more mid-century, but after 10 years, our own lifestyles have changed. We decided to renew it in 2018, a milestone year, in order for our customers to enjoy it even more.

After the renovation, we used antique items to retain the oldness, but also created a sophisticated space like an airport lounge. We also set up a product sales space with the renewal. We have carefully selected items from all over the world, so I would like you to see them together with the cafe. ”

Greek olive oil is also used in the cafe's dishes. The plates and seasonings used in the cafe are also available for purchase at the store.

There are many sofa seats, and we saw mothers chatting with each other during lunch time.

-Do you continue to travel as much as you did before?

Mr. Saiki: "Yes I do. I fundamentally love traveling, so I make time to go out. When I come across delicious food from around the world, I wonder how I can incorporate it into the cafe's menu. We are building our store through trial and error every day, asking ourselves, "will customers be happy if we carry the product in our store?

I would like to create a place that will make people excited about coming to and where people will find something interesting. I would like to continue to convey the wonder and deliciousness of travel through our cafe."