On a sunny weekend, we drove to Hayama with our child. The water there is clear, and the sea stays shallow for a long way out, so kids can splash around safely. Look closely between the rocks and you’ll find small crabs and tiny sea creatures everywhere. It’s one of our favorite family spots.
Our usual parking lot was full that day, so we kept driving south along the coast and found a much bigger one: the Nagayagasaki prefectural parking lot. After parking, I noticed a small cafe tucked into the corner of the lot. I told myself, “We’re getting coffee there before we go home.”
What is Corail Cafe & Labo?
It’s a small cafe run by Hayama Hotel Otowanomori, a local hotel. It opened in 2024. “Corail” means coral in French. All the sweets and drinks are made by the hotel’s pastry chef and bartender, and everything can be taken out.
The inside is simple. There’s one long counter facing a big window, so every seat looks straight out at the sea. There are only about 10 seats in total, including a small terrace. When we stopped by on our way home, every seat was taken, so we ordered takeout and enjoyed it in the car. On a weekend afternoon, I’d plan on takeout.
The muffins
The glass case is full of seasonal muffins made by the hotel’s pastry chef. We had two:
- Plain (¥500): Simple, but very soft and moist
- Hayama Honey (¥700): Made with local Hayama honey, topped with lemon slices and a little dropper of honey. This was my favorite.
Both were moist and tender, not dry at all. That day the case also had a persimmon muffin (¥600), an apricot muffin (¥650), and a new Hayama cream puff (¥650).
Drinks: Hayama Sunset & Hayama Beach
We ordered the two non-alcoholic cocktails named after Hayama (¥900 each). Hayama Sunset fades from red to orange like an evening sky. Hayama Beach goes from bright blue to yellow, like the sea and the sand. They’re sweet, so kids will love them, and they look great in photos.
Other menu items (prices tax included)
- Coffee ¥600 (regular) / ¥700 (tall), café latte ¥600
- Cream soda ¥800
- Hotel cheesecake ¥600 (whole cake to go ¥2,970)
- Hayama Beef Curry ¥2,200 (limited to 10 a day)
- Croque monsieur ¥1,500, onion gratin soup ¥1,500 (seasonal)
Little details I loved
The coffee guide on the shelf seems to be made from pieces of sea glass. They also sell “Sea Glass” kohakuto, a jewel-like Japanese sugar candy, for ¥1,400 a jar. It looks just like the sea glass you find on Hayama’s beaches, so it makes a lovely souvenir.
Tips for families
There’s a sign at the entrance asking you to brush the beach sand off before coming in. If you’re coming straight from the beach like we were, give everyone’s feet a quick dust-off first.
My take
- Good: Moist, hotel-quality muffins, a sea view from every seat, and parking right outside
- Not so good: Only about 10 seats, so it fills up fast on weekends
- Best for: Families after a beach day, couples on a coastal drive, anyone looking for a Hayama souvenir
Info
- Name: Corail Cafe & Labo (Hayama Hotel Otowanomori)
- Location: Inside the Nagayagasaki prefectural parking lot, along Route 134, Hayama, Kanagawa
- Hours (as of my visit): Weekdays 11:00–18:00, weekends 9:00–18:00 (last order 17:45)
- Closed: Tuesdays
- Hours may change, so check their Instagram (@corail_cafe_and_labo) before you go.