cafe Runta is a cozy café located in the Kumanogawa area of Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. The café occupies the renovated building of the former Kuju Elementary School, once a place where local children came to learn and grow.
Today, the old school building has been transformed into a welcoming gathering place for local residents and travelers. While preserving the nostalgic atmosphere of the former school, the building has been given a new life as a warm and inviting space.
Surrounded by the mountains and quiet landscapes of Kumano, cafe Runta offers visitors an opportunity to slow down, enjoy locally sourced food, and experience a different side of rural Japan.
One of the attractions of cafe Runta is its focus on locally sourced and organic ingredients.
The café serves meals and sweets prepared without animal-derived ingredients, following a vegan-style approach. The dishes are designed to make the most of the natural flavors of the ingredients, offering simple and gentle tastes inspired by the surrounding countryside.
Popular choices include lunches made with locally grown vegetables as well as homemade baked goods.
For travelers exploring Kumano, stopping here provides a chance to enjoy a relaxed meal while experiencing the flavors of the local region. The café’s food reflects the abundant natural environment of the Kumano mountains and the care taken by the people who live there.
The building was once known as Bookcafe KUJU.
After the former Kuju Elementary School closed, the building was renovated and reopened in 2013 as a unique combination of a café and bookstore. The project received support from the Kyoto-based bookstores Hohohoza and Gake Shobo, helping create an unusual cultural space in the quiet mountain community.
Inside, visitors could find books and magazines covering a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, lifestyle, outdoor activities, and subculture. The former school thus became a place where ideas and people from outside the area could meet the local community.
Local artists also sold handmade goods, while workshops and other events were occasionally held. In this way, the space developed a role as a bridge connecting local residents with visitors and newcomers from outside Kumano.
The story of the former school is also closely connected with the recovery of the local community after a major natural disaster.
In 2011, severe torrential rains struck the Kii Peninsula, causing extensive damage in the Kuju area of Kumanogawa. The former elementary school building was flooded and was initially scheduled to be demolished.
However, young people who had moved to the area wanted to preserve the building. They proposed renovating the old school and giving it a new purpose as a café and community space.
At first, some local residents were understandably concerned about the project. However, as they saw the commitment of the young people who were already working hard to support disaster recovery, more residents gradually began to support the idea.
The renovation progressed through continued interaction with the local community, eventually giving birth to Bookcafe KUJU.
The project therefore represents much more than the renovation of an old building. It is also a symbol of community resilience, local connections, and a new approach to rural revitalization.
Inside the building, some of the desks and chairs once used by students have been incorporated into the space. Their presence helps preserve the nostalgic atmosphere of a traditional Japanese school.
The warmth of the wooden building creates a relaxing environment where visitors can read a book, enjoy a meal, have a drink, or simply take a break from sightseeing.
For international travelers, the experience can be especially memorable. Rather than visiting a purpose-built tourist attraction, guests are able to step inside a real former school and see how a community has adapted an existing building for a new generation.
cafe Runta is a place where food, books, local culture, and community history come together.
The former school building retains memories of the children who once studied there, while its new role provides a welcoming space for residents and visitors. Its story also reflects the determination of people who worked to rebuild their community after the devastating 2011 floods.
The café is a particularly appealing stop for travelers exploring the Kumano Kodo or the Kumano River. After walking through forests and mountain landscapes, visitors can relax in the peaceful surroundings of this former schoolhouse.
For those interested in rural Japan, sustainable community projects, local food, and places with a genuine connection to the people who live there, cafe Runta offers an intimate and heartwarming experience.
Address: 315 Kuju, Kumanogawa-cho, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture, inside the former Kuju Elementary School
Located in the quiet mountain landscape of Kumanogawa, cafe Runta is a charming place to slow down and experience the warmth of a local community while discovering another side of Kumano.