Penny Lane
Rain-Soaked Nostalgia at Penny Lane Bakery, Nasu
雨に包まれた那須・ペニーレーンベーカリーの静かな時間
Established in June 2009, this bakery and restaurant takes its name from the Beatles’ 1967 hit single “Penny Lane,” a song inspired by a real street in the Mossley Hill area of south Liverpool. From the start, the reference sets a nostalgic tone that feels intentionally transported far from Japan, yet comfortably familiar.
After spending time along the Kinomata River with my border collie, Dale-chan, we made our way here because the bakery offers outdoor seating and welcomes dogs. I had imagined a short break to relax together, but by the time we arrived, the rain showed no signs of easing as the wet terraces and glistening benches in the photos clearly reveal.
I picked up a few pastries to enjoy during the two-hour drive back to Yokohama. Toward the back of the bakery is a restaurant space, and what immediately stood out was the sheer density of Beatles-related memorabilia. Posters, photographs, cups, and collectibles filled nearly every shelf, wall, and hidden corner, all accompanied by a steady soundtrack of Beatles songs playing throughout the shop.
I enjoy some Beatles songs, though I wouldn’t describe myself as a devoted fan. The owner of Penny Lane, however, clearly is. Thinking about it more, many of the passionate Beatles fans I know in Japan are my parents’ age; people who came of age during the 1960s and 70s. In fact, the parents of many of my friends are the ones who have kept the spirit of Beatlemania alive here. Through them, I was exposed to a lot of Beatles music in the 1980s and early 1990s, and as a result, certain songs now carry a quiet sense of nostalgia for me, decades later.
If I were to open an artist-themed café or bakery of my own, choosing just one influence would be difficult. Madonna, U2, David Bowie, Cher, The Smiths, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Sia, or Tom Jones would all be strong contenders, albeit with a very different vibe.
Returning to Penny Lane itself, the element that most captured my eye was the setting itself: lush greenery surrounding the buildings, softened by rain and filtered light, while elegant street lamps cast a warm amber glow across the grounds. I don’t know whether this particular style of lamp is common on the streets of Liverpool, but they are a familiar sight in Yokohama, especially along waterfront parks and rose gardens, where gas street lamps imported from Glasgow in 1859 became the first of their kind in Japan. In that sense, Penny Lane felt less like an imitation and more like a quiet convergence of places and eras.
References:
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Location: Nasu Town, Tochigi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/09/02・15:35
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
48 mm ISO 3200 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/6.3
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:
・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses
・Explore gifts and merchandise
Location: Nasu Town, Tochigi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/09/02・15:36
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
28 mm ISO 3200 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/5.6
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:
Location: Nasu Town, Tochigi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/09/02・15:38
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
28 mm ISO 3200 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/3.5
