The Best Coffee Shops Tokyo Has To Offer
offee lovers unite!
When the hour is gold and light is low, it’s time to seek a quiet pour of smooth afternoon delight.
Japan is home to many coffee shops. Some are great cafes making tasty brews and some, well, not so much. On top of that, getting your usual coffee fix can be quite an expensive treat here. A small cappuccino can be over 450 yen, ouch!
Despite the high price tag, finding local coffeehouses are worth it as independent coffee shop owners are serious at their craft to perfect the perfect brew.
Here are three of my picks of the must-visit coffee joints in Tokyo that perfectly represents the uniqueness of Japanese coffee culture that everyone should visit at least once during their time to the big city.
QUICK JUMP MENU:
1. Chatei Hatou
he coffee shop that inspired the infamous Blue Bottle. Chatei Hatou is a hidden gem amongst coffee enthusiasts who wish to travel back to the good old days of “kissaten” coffee house culture.
Off the main road away from Shibuya station, Chatei Hatou has been operating since the 1970s and everything from the choice of furniture to the exterior retains its nostalgic charm.
If you get the opportunity, the best seat in the house is sitting along the 11-meter long bar counter made out of a single piece of pine. From there, you get an up-close look at how each coffee is made to order.
Their specialty is hand drip black coffee and they offer a wide selection of coffee
beans to choose from. They also serve other coffee like Vienna coffee and tea cakes.
If you are unsure about coffee types, I recommend the Guatemalan charcoal roasted coffee (ギャテマラー炭火焙前珈琲). It’s full-bodied with a chocolate nutty sweet undertone.
Before the coffee is poured into dainty vintage cups, the coffee beans are measured and grounded on the spot. As an added touch, each cup is selected to reflect the personality of the customer drinking it.
Chatei Hatou is a great place to visit on a rainy day or to relax after a long day of shopping in Shibuya.
Vienna Coffee
Hand Drip Coffee (¥850 yen w/o tax)
2. Reissue Coffee
wned by the man who pioneered the 3D latte art trend, Reissue Coffee is located off the main road in Harajuku and offers you a chance to experience professionally made 3D latte for yourself.
Since lots of milk foam is needed to make 3D latte art, the menu only offers the service for cappuccinos, lattes, and hot chocolate. Ordering from the basic coffee menu will include an adorable 2D latte art design but for an extra 400 yen, you can
request for the special 3D latte design from the barista.
For their latte designs, Reissue Coffee creates everything from cute kitties to the melting clock from Salvador Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory.” The designs are randomly picked so every coffee is different to make every order a special drinking experience.
3D Latte Art (¥1100 w/o tax) | Photo Credit: _totravel_istolive_
Normal Cappuccino with 2D Latte Art (¥650 w/o tax)
3. Bar Zingaro
any people might have heard of Bar Zingaro as it was born from the creative mind of artist Takashi Murakami and the popular coffee house Fuglen.
This collaboration space combines the best of both worlds; Fuglen’s laid-back coffee shop and bar aesthetic and the strong presence of Murakami’s iconic prints.
If you have the taste buds for discerning coffee traits, their selection of coffee offers
an interesting selection of flavours like dark chocolate, red apple, citrus, and almond. One particular blend described it was a mixture of tangerine, orange, and melons flavours. It was the first time I have ever heard of melon and citrus-infused coffee before!
If you enjoy a quirky touch to your coffee experience, visiting Bar Zingaro perfectly reflects the eccentricity and sophistication of Takashi Murakami and Fuglen’s vision paired with the comfort of Scandinavian style seating.
CHATEI HATOU
1 Chome-15-19 Shibuya, Tokyo
REISSUE COFFEE
3 Chome-25-7 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
BAR ZINGARO
Nakano Broadway 2F, 5 Chome-52-15 Nakano, Tokyo
CHATEI HATOU
Website: http://osietesite.com/gourmet/tokyo/cafe-tokyo/chatehato
REISSUE COFFEE
Website: https://www.reissue.co.jp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/george_10g/
BAR ZINGARO
Website: http://en.bar-zingaro.jp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bar_zingaro
- Unlimited travel to anywhere in Japan affordably using the JR Pass! Pre-purchase a 7 day, 14 day or 21 day here before leaving Japan.
- Get affordable unlimited 4G WiFi for Japan for less than AUD$11
- See and touch the cutest critters at a Hedgehog Cafe
- Mingle with Hedwig’s friends at an Owl Cafe
- Have fun, eat cute food and enter the world of cosplay at a kawaii Maid Cafe
Need a place to stay in Tokyo? Search for accommodation using the widget below:
- View the sea of clouds at Kurumayama Shrine during sunrise
- Discover one of the best places to view Mount Fuji
- Explore Japanese mythology at The Spring of the Gods with this Day Guide to Oshino Hakkai
I am not a coffee drinker but I absolutely loved reading this post! I really like Tokyo and that cat coffee looks soooo adorable!
Victoria-Maria xx || Vidcaria
I’m glad you liked reading my little coffee shop guide Victoria!
I know right? It was so sad to see it get ruined as I slowly reached the bottom of my coffee cup :(
Xx
Siree
Omg all of these coffee shops are so damn cute!! If I ever get a change to visit Tokyo, I’ll deff check these places out!
xo,
H
http://firsttimethings.com/
Thanks for stopping by Hillory!
Yes, please do! Even though these are just three of my fav places, there’s so many more in Tokyo to explore as well :D
Xx
Siree
I’m not a coffee drinker, in fact I hate coffee, but I do love great design & all of these places def have it. Oh & cats are life so obviously love all of that haha.
Kara Aragon
http://www.thekaragon.com
I know! I also saw them doing a cute shiba dog design as well :D
Xx
Siree
Okay I’m not a coffee person but those designs were just too cute! I’d buy a cup just to stare at the perfectly arranged foam, haha! :)
Hope you are having a great week so far! I’m feeling a bit under the weather unfortunately, trying to rest up (as much as you can with two kids, ha!).
Away From The Blue Blog
This looks so pretty and amazing hon… thanks for sharing x
https://zunera-serena.com
YouTube Series Thinking About Divorce or Separation
omg!!!! So cute
xx
Mónica Sors
MES VOYAGES À PARIS
NEW POST: CASUAL SPRING IN LA
I don’t love coffee but i like visit coffee shop at least once during my traveling time in the big city.
Those shop look so pretty and amazing hon… thanks for sharing x
daisy
kickshere
OMG the kitten coffee is way too cute! Need to go there one day. Have a nice day! xx
Andreea,
http://couturezilla.com/
Oh I definitely need to come back to Tokyo – all of this looks sooo fabulous!! :-)
♥
xxx
Tina
http://styleappetite.com/en/trend-report-plastic-vinyl-see-through/
This is such a beautiful post – I love everything featured in this and it’s posts like this which make me want to travel!
Absolutely beautiful photos and can’t wait to see more from you!
Layla x
http://www.sprinklesofstyle.co.uk
Such cute coffee shops! I love all the cups & saucers in these photos, so cute!
SkeletonWeirdo
[…] Sip on a good brew at 3 must-visit coffee shops in Tokyo […]