Yakult opens first-ever cafe in Japan

About the cafe: The cafe is part of the company’s first service center, the Yakult Gohonmaru Cafe and Gallery, in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. The center launched on Sept. 20, but its cafe only made headlines this week.

Customers can treat themselves to a range of meals, including ice cream and tiramisu made from the popular probiotic drink. Aside from the cafe, the center houses a gallery, a salon and a daycare center.

Behind the spot: Utsunomiya Yakult Group Corp., the company behind the project, said they are the first Yakult distributor in the country to open a service center with a wide variety of features, according to The Mainichi. The salon, for one, offers cosmetic services such as facials using lactic acid bacteria.

The gallery can be rented for various events, including wellness classes and business conferences. Meanwhile, employees can bring their children to the daycare center.

What the company is saying: Utsunomiya Yakult President Keizo Shibata expressed hope the service center would become a hub for potential customers to learn more about Yakult and the different ways to enjoy it. After Utsunomiya, the distributor is looking to open a second branch in the future.