From Osaka to Urakawa, Hokkaido: Building a Home and Wine Bar with Jinba Kensetsu — Terra-Cham

Tucked away in the Mukobetsu area just outside the town center of Urakawa, Hokkaido, sits a cozy wine bar where guests can enjoy good food, fine wine, and sweeping countryside views. The name of the place is Terra-Cham.

The owner, Mr. Kazuya Teraura, moved here from Osaka with his wife Sakiko, and together they opened the restaurant in March 2022. Today, Terra-Cham has become a beloved gathering place for locals and visitors alike.

The building—a combined restaurant and residence—was constructed by Jinba Kensetsu, a locally rooted builder that has served the Urakawa community since 1982. Its third-generation president, Mr. Mitsumasa Jinba, is also deeply involved in revitalization efforts throughout the town.

We visited Terra-Cham to hear the story behind the Terauras’ relocation to Hokkaido, and how their dream home and restaurant came to life.

Falling in Love with Horses—and Deciding to Move to Urakawa

Both Mr. and Mrs. Teraura were born and raised in Osaka. Before moving north, Mr. Teraura had long run a lumber business there. So how did Urakawa enter their lives?

“I was never much of a traveler,” Mr. Teraura says with a laugh. “Back in Osaka, I was perfectly happy just going to nearby Arima Onsen.”

His wife and mother-in-law, however, had been visiting Hokkaido for years because they loved racehorses. About ten years ago, during cherry blossom season, his wife finally convinced him to join one of the trips.

“We visited Sapporo, Yoichi, and Asahikawa, but it was cold and the weather wasn’t great. I remember thinking, ‘See? Arima Onsen is enough for me!’” he jokes.

But everything changed when they passed through Tokachi and arrived in Urakawa via the Tenma Kaido mountain route.

“My wife was driving and I’d fallen asleep,” he recalls. “Right as we entered Urakawa, I woke up and saw a mother horse and her newborn foal outside the window. I shouted, ‘Stop the car!’”

“They were just so beautiful. I got out of the car and walked right up to the fence calling out to them. I’d never experienced anything like that before—it moved me deeply.”

That same trip, the couple stayed at Urakawa Yushun Village AERU, where they were able to interact with horses even more closely. After that, they began visiting Urakawa three times a year. Back in Osaka, Mr. Teraura even started horseback riding himself, eventually buying his own horse—a mare named Chrome.

“You can ride horses in Osaka too,” he says, “but riding freely in Urakawa is something special.”

With each visit, their stays grew longer. By the third year, the idea of relocating had firmly taken root.

“We used Urakawa’s trial stay housing and tried living in different areas for short periods,” he explains. “We got to understand the lifestyle here, and we built connections with local residents and other people who had already relocated. That’s when I knew I wanted to move here for real.”

Mr. Teraura also carried another dream close to his heart.

“My late mother and I used to talk about opening a café or an okonomiyaki restaurant someday. I wanted to make that dream come true too, so after moving here, I decided I wanted to open a restaurant surrounded by nature.”

A Difficult Search for Land and a Builder — “Mr. Jinba Was the Only One Willing to Help Us”

As they explored different parts of Urakawa, the couple eventually found the perfect piece of land. However, the purchase initially fell through, forcing them to give up on it for a time. On top of that, finding a builder willing to take on a combined restaurant-and-home project proved even more difficult.

“I saw this place and thought immediately, ‘This is it,’” Mr. Teraura says. “There used to be a greenhouse here belonging to our neighbor. I kept coming back and asking if they’d consider selling it to us. Finally they said yes—and they’ve continued to look after us ever since.”

Even after securing the land, however, the next hurdle appeared.

“Building the house was really difficult. Some people assumed we’d eventually go back to Osaka and didn’t take us seriously. Others said they were too busy. We were turned down again and again, by both large companies and local builders.”

Then, in the middle of that frustration, he found the website for Jinba Kensetsu and decided to make one more phone call.

“President Jinba really listened to what I wanted,” he says. “Then he came out to see the land with me and said, ‘This is a wonderful place.’ Thanks to him, we were finally able to stand at the starting line.”

A Warm, Welcoming Space Open to Everyone

The approach to the entrance features a wheelchair-accessible slope as part of its universal design. The warm, welcoming atmosphere of the building itself reflects Mr. Teraura’s friendly personality.

Guests are welcomed by photographs of horses set against snowy Hokkaido landscapes.

The restaurant is a wine bar centered around French-inspired cuisine, complete with a fully equipped wine cellar.

Large terrace windows fill the open dining space with natural light and sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. In addition to three table seating areas, the restaurant also features a cozy counter where guests can relax and chat with the owners.

Mr. Teraura says, “We’ve been getting more groups reserving the whole place—about once a week these days. When that happens, we move the tables together so everyone can enjoy the space comfortably as a group.”

Originally, they had planned to fully enclose the terrace area as indoor space. In the end, however, they decided to keep it open to the outdoors.

“Now guests can enjoy food outside surrounded by nature, and the terrace flows naturally from the indoor space through the windows. Looking back, I’m really glad we designed it this way.”

Building and Opening During the Pandemic — Now a Beloved Local Favorite

Construction took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, making travel between Osaka and Hokkaido difficult. Most of the planning discussions were handled remotely by email.

When construction began in 2021, the couple made another big decision: they moved to Urakawa immediately and lived in a rental home while preparing both the house and the restaurant.

“I wanted to be here to watch the house take shape,” Mr. Teraura says.

Mrs. Teraura quickly found work as well, and now works several days a week at AERU.

The restaurant kitchen was designed so Mr. Teraura could easily see the dining area across the counter, making conversations with guests feel natural and relaxed.

The building was completed in December 2021, and Terra-Cham officially opened three months later. Thanks to delicious food, fine wine, and the couple’s warm, lively hospitality, the restaurant has become one of Urakawa’s favorite local gathering spots.

Helping Shape the Future of Urakawa

“These days, all kinds of people use this place,” Mr. Teraura says. “Families, women’s groups, ranch workers, even people from the town office. It’s become a space where different people naturally connect.”

Because of that, information and conversations naturally gather there too.

“I’d love to share what I’ve learned—from relocation to housing and work—with people who are considering moving to Urakawa in the future. If I can help or offer advice, I’d be happy to.”

President Jinba shares a similar philosophy.

“I don’t think of a house as just a ‘house’—a structure or box,” he says. “To me, it should be a ‘home,’ a place you return to. For most people, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime investment, so we build homes designed to last for decades.”

Beyond homebuilding, Jinba Kensetsu also works closely with town officials and local residents on projects to revitalize the entire community.

“For anyone thinking about relocating and building a home like Mr. Teraura did, I hope they’ll feel free to reach out,” he says. “Together with the people of Urakawa, we want to help support their ideal lifestyle.”

Terra-Cham Wine Bar

303-60 Mukobetsu, Urakawa-cho, Urakawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
Phone: 0146-26-9401
Website: Terra-Cham Official Website
Hours: 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Closed: Sundays and Mondays
(The terrace is open seasonally from around May through September.)

Interview conducted in September 2025
Photos: Hikaru Honda
Interview & Text: iezoom Editorial Team

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