Hello, everyone! It’s Chan-Mai!
The Girls Ride that was postponed due to rain during Golden Week finally happened the other day—a successful revenge ride!
It was one of those days where you can really feel the change of the season, with a pleasant breeze brushing against your skin. This time, it was a chill ride of just over 10km round trip to Nakamura Ward.
On the way there, we took a slightly longer route, chatting in the saddle about how "I never knew this road existed!" Can you guess where the yellow iron bridge is?
Circles▶︎▶︎Kissa Tsuzuki
After pedaling for a while, we arrived at today's destination: "Kissa Tsuzuki."
"The coffee shop for coffee nuts who study unique coffee day and night."
Founded in 1946, about 80 years before the current kissaten (coffee shop) boom, it is one of the long-standing establishments that helped root coffee culture in Nagoya.
I feel like the secret to why they've endured in the same form and place, despite the changing times, is packed right into that tagline.
Taking the elevator up from the deep entrance of the building, the shop was bustling with everyone from locals to tourists. We had to wait about 30 minutes, but it's easy to see why it's so popular!
Massive parfaits, Wiener coffee topped with a mountain of whipped cream, and the coffee technique known as the "Ceiling Drop." They’re all legendary.
What impressed me most was that the staff were like entertainers. I was drawn in by their bright smiles while serving and the serious look in their eyes when brewing the coffee.
Laughing about "Can we actually finish this!?" and sharing bits of our orders, our hearts and stomachs were both fully satisfied.
Kissa Tsuzuki▶︎▶︎Atelier Michikusa
After our meal, we didn't head straight home; we took a little detour to "Atelier Michikusa & TUMBLEWEED." Since it's very close to Kissa Tsuzuki, it’s a spot you definitely want to visit as part of your trip.
Atelier Michikusa & TUMBLEWEED is one of Nagoya’s premier flower shops and they also handle the floral arrangements for Circles. Beyond flowers, they have a great selection of goods and apparel. Every piece of furniture and every ornament in the store is so lovely; it's a shop that makes you excited just browsing around.
I was so happy to find plants I don't usually see, and I ended up getting two! Maybe taking time to browse and shop is another girls-only thing? I bought some saffron bulbs as a souvenir for Circles. They’re displayed on the first and second floors of the shop, so let’s enjoy watching them grow together.
The Final Trial... Or Should I Say, A Nice Accident!
Just as we were thinking about heading back to Circles...
"Oh no, I've got a flat tire!"
But luckily, we had our reliable friends with us. "I'll grab the pump!" "I have a patch kit!" "I can get the tire levers out right away!" ...The tools gathered in no time!
I couldn't help but smile at such incredibly smooth teamwork.
Fortunately, we found the hole in the tire immediately, and thanks to Da-chan, who has the skills of a mechanic, the repair was finished in a flash.
"To fix a tube without taking off the tire..."
"The good thing about this patch is..."
She even gave us an impromptu mini-workshop. (Thank you, Da-chan!!!)
Accidents are all part of the ride.
When you've got friends, knowledge, and experience, you’ve got everything you need!
Atelier Michikusa▶︎▶︎Circles
The sun finally peeked out from the cloudy sky, and we headed home with clear hearts. Since we were running low on time, we changed to the shortest route back. Let's go!
Unexpected events often leave the deepest impressions—that 30-minute wait, the never-ending whipped cream, and the accident on the way home all feel like great memories now.
While contemporary language tends to avoid terms that distinguish by gender, I think there is a unique joy and sense of security that comes specifically from a group like a "Girls Ride."
The participants loved it, and we had a blast too! So, we’re planning to hold the next one soon. Girls who ride, please feel free to join us anytime!!
CGC (Circles Girls Collection)
#10 Chan-Mai’s Break Room
As I mentioned, modern discourse often tries to avoid gendered phrasing. I worried whether it was okay to call it a "Girls Ride." But in the end, I truly felt that this ride was packed with an atmosphere that was "just right" for us.
After the ride, Da-chan looked so happy and said, "Today was really, truly fun!" (Please don’t take this the cynical way and ask if that means she’s never had fun before). I was just so happy it made me want to jump for joy. I’ll quietly include this three-panel comic of Da-chan.
