Lemon

While Lemon has the outward feel of a relaxed neighborhood café, unfolding the menu reveals a serious focus on handmade soba. Set in the quiet residential quarters of Niihama in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, the space provides a calm, unhurried atmosphere where solo diners can easily unwind over lunch or afternoon tea.

The meal choices cover an expansive range. Buckwheat noodles ground and cut by hand feature simple chilled seiro, fragrant sesame sauce seiro, duck-and-leek kamo seiro, and crisp kakiage tempura soba, alongside summer-only chilled bukkake soba. Balancing these traditional selections are hearty Western café meals, including soup curry served with salad, Japanese-style pasta, spicy mentaiko spaghetti, savoury galettes with coffee, and baked meat doria.

After the meal or for an afternoon break, the dessert selection reflects both sides of the kitchen. Traditional sobagaki shiruko (buckwheat mash in sweet adzuki soup) and chilled shiratama zenzai sit alongside baked sweet potato brûlée and chiffon cake. Freshly brewed house coffee, freshly squeezed lemon squash inspired by the shop's name, hot lemonade, and Mariage Frères teas offer gentle companions for a peaceful midday pause.