Category Archives: Travel

Travel, Turkey

Review: Horseback Photoshoot with Cappadocia Ranch

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Cappadocia Ranch Review - Cappadocia Balloon Sunrise

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Capturing Magical Moments

With Cappadocia being utterly magical, I wanted to make sure I captured a photo of that magic.  I somehow got it stuck in my head that this magical photo needed to involve a horse, probably because Cappadocia is known as ‘the land of beautiful horses.’  I was thinking the only way I’d be able to get a photo of myself on – or with – a horse was to do one of Cappadocia’s many horseback riding tours.  But even then, I was worried if there would be enough time to capture the perfect photo while on the tour – not to mention, find someone patient enough to take some photos of me during their tour.

Long story short, It was all looking a little bit dismal until I checked into Cave Hotel Saksagan and got talking to the owner.  He mentioned that Cappadica Ranch not only did horse riding tours, but also offered a private Horseback Photoshoot Session.

I repeat, a private Horseback Photoshoot Session!!  Could this be any more perfect?  I was immediately sold.

 

The Experience

The photoshoot session began with free pick up service from my hotel – already a great start.  Upon arrival, I was invited inside and offered a Turkish Coffee, while the Aktas brothers asked me about what I was looking for in terms of photos.  I already had some inspiration shots on me which I shared and the brothers also had some examples of previous work they could recreate for me.

Next it was time to pick my horse.  Because my outfit was dark, I decided to go with a white horse. I was also able to dress him and chose red and black accents to match my outfit. Once ready, we rode out into the beautiful landscape of Cappadocia and picked a spot for the shoot.

One aspect I really liked was that Cappadocia Ranch gives you the choice of bringing your own photographer, or they can provide this service for you.  This is great for Instagrammers, because it means you can use your own camera and photographer – something some other photoshoot services didn’t allow (i.e. in Pamukkale).  In my case I was traveling solo, and the staff were happy to help and even learnt how to use my DSLR for the shoot!

I was really happy with the length of time the photoshoot session went for and the staff did not make me feel rushed.  In fact, I had to cut the session short because I had another tour to attend!

To finish, I was dropped back off to my hotel.

Cappadocia Ranch Review - Horse Riding in Cappadocia

Cappadocia Ranch Review - Horse Riding in Cappadocia

Cappadocia Ranch Review - Horse Riding in Cappadocia

Cappadocia Ranch Review - Horse Riding in Cappadocia

Cappadocia Ranch Review - Horse Riding in Cappadocia

Professionalism

Even though I’m a blogger, I am EXTREMELY awkward in front of the camera, so if you have this fear going through your mind as you read this, you don’t need to worry.  The Aktas Brothers were extremely professional in directing me how to interact with the horse and also instructing me to do some poses, which really got rid of any awkwardness.

I’m not going to lie though, working with an animal is quite difficult and a little scary – particularly if you’re not use to working with horses – they are big animals!  But the staff are all well experienced and skilled in equestrianism so they were always there to help and instruct me, creating a smooth experience overall.

I will add a note that the staff are not professional photographers, however I was very happy with my photos.

Cappadocia Ranch Review
The Aktas Brothers
Cappadocia Ranch Review
Another one of the beautiful horses you could choose from. How stunning is he??

 

Customer Service

The Aktas Brothers were very welcoming, friendly and enthusiastic.  I really appreciated that the team checked with me continually to make sure I was happy with the photos and to get feedback.  I really felt like they wanted to do a great job and by the end, they had taken just under 500 photos!  As mentioned above, they are not professional photographers but I admired the effort they went to to make sure I had some good shots.

To give you an idea, I was left with about 40 great photos (which is really good!) – all in focus, where the horse and I were facing the camera nicely.  I have picked my favourite 10 to showcase in this blog post and also two bloopers (see below), so you can see what I mean in terms of the difficulty in getting a good photo – sometimes the horse just wouldn’t have it! haha

Cappadocia Ranch Review - Horse Riding in Cappadocia Bloopers

Cappadocia Ranch Review - Horse Riding in Cappadocia Bloopers

Bloopers! 

Value for Money

The online price for this session is 50 euros which equals to just under $80 AUD.  This is pretty expensive for me as a budget-traveler and also quite expensive when compared to Turkish currency.  However, it was the best paid experience I did during my time in Cappadocia and I am very happy with my photos.  I would do it again and also highly recommend the experience to anyone else that wants to create beautiful memories in Cappadocia!

The details

Service:

Photography Horseback Riding Tour
Service Includes:

Pick up and drop to your hotel

Online booking facility

Professional Tour Guide

Credit and debit card payment facility

Contact:

Phone: +90 384 271 2391

Mobile: +90 538 454 2968

Mobile: +90 535 681 0568

E-mail: info@cappadociaranch.com

Find Them Here:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Trip Advisor

Cappadocia Ranch Review

Cappadocia Ranch Review

Travel, Turkey

24 Hours in Pamukkale – Travel Guide

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Welcome to Pamukkale

Ever wanted to visit a cotton castle? Well according to Turkish legends, the giants of Pamukkale would leave their cotton harvest outside to dry and it solidified forming a gigantic cotton castle that you can visit today.

And while I’m one for legends, Pamukkale is actually an incredibly rare geological phenomenon being one of only two petrified waterfalls that exist on planet Earth!

In fact, this geological wonder fascinates tourists so much that it often overshadows another amazing part of this historical site – the ancient Greek city of Hierapolis.  Built on top of Pamukkale, this town was founded in 2nd Century BC and is said to be home to Cleopatra’s thermal pool of choice, which you can still swim in.

So if you haven’t already, it’s time to add Pamukkale to your travel bucket list, and here’s my guide on how to easily visit it all in just 24 hours.

 

Getting to Pamukkale

Plane

The best and no fuss way to travel to Pamukkale is by plane.  The flight only takes one hour, airport to hotel transfer is super easy and it’s incredibly cheap with a one way ticket only costing $68AUD.  I flew one way to Denizli Cardak Airport from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport with Turkish Airlines.

There’s not a lot of info online about shuttle transfer from Denizli Airport to Pamukkale – but you don’t need to worry.  The Airport’s shuttle company BayTur is easily found right outside the airport exit and times align with Turkish Airline and Anadolu Jet arrivals.  Make sure you don’t take your time exiting the airport, if you miss the bus you will have to wait until the next flight arrival is scheduled to catch the next one.  This could be 2hrs+ of waiting.  Most buses go to Denizli city centre, so tell the driver you want to go to Pamukkale to ensure you get on the right bus.

I’ve read online that drop off is at BayTur’s office near Pamukkale gates, however there were only a few of us on our bus and we were kindly dropped off at our hotels.

Bookings are not needed, but you can contact the company here for more details or extra peace of mind.

Cost:
Plane – $68AUD
Shuttle – 25TL  ($7AUD)
Travel Time: Approx. 1 hour flight + 1 hour bus ride
Denizli Airport Shuttles are located at the airport exit (you can’t miss them!). It costs 10TL to Denizli town centre and 25TL to Pamukkale. Photo from Trip Advisor.

You can also arrange a shuttle with a private company – I initially arranged with DenizliAirport.com but no one turned up.  When I called wondering where they were, they basically said something went wrong and they wouldn’t be able to come to pick me up.  Kinda disappointing.    In the end I caught the next airport BayTur shuttle (as mentioned above) which I highly recommend – it’s cheaper and MUCH more reliable.

Bus

Overnight buses from Istanbul to Denizli run everyday and drop you off at Denizli Otogar bus station.  The following bus operators have daily services:  Pamukkale, Kamil Koc and Metro Turizm.

Make sure you book in advance as buses can fill up quickly.

Cost: 80TL (Approx, $24 AUD)
Travel Time: Approx 12 hours

Once at Denizli Otogar, you need to catch a minibus (Dolmus in Turkish) to Pamukkale.  Ask one of the bus company operators for help if you can’t find the gate number.

Cost: 4TL (Approx. $1AUD)
Travel Time: 30 mins

Car

It’s approximately an 8 hour drive from Istanbul to Pamukkale.  Now I spent most my time driving in Europe, but even I was scared to drive through Istanbul so I opted for a plane.

 

Where to stay

I stayed at Melrose House Hotel which is about a 20 minute walk from the travertine town entrance. I loved it here, I thought the place was beautiful, staff were nice and breakfast was generous and delicious! The best part?  It only cost me $36AUD per night!

The Dolmus/minibus to the Otogar also stopped just down the street from the hotel, making getting my overnight bus to Cappadocia super easy.

When to Visit:

I visited Pamukkale in May (12-13th) and while it was outside peak season, the travertines themselves still got pretty packed with people (mostly tour groups).  By 10am, there was no space on the travertines to have a quiet area to yourself.  In saying that, the town, restaurants and hotels were very quiet.  I found May a good time to visit, because there are less people, but the temperature is still warm enough to have a dip in the travertines.  If you’re looking for instagram-worthy photos of yourself in the travertines with no one around, you will probably need to visit in winter.

Your Itinerary – What to do:

Sidenote: I didn’t expect the travertines or the entire site to be as big as it was!

So this is why Pamukkale is so easy to visit in 24 hours – all the major sites are so close to each other!  Pamukkale/Hierapolis is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so you need to pay to visit it.  There are 3 entrances into the park – Pamukkale Town Entrance, North entrance and South entrance.

Entrance Times and Costs:

From April 15 till October 2 – Open from 08:00 to 21:00 every day
From October 3 till April 14 – Open from 08:30 to 17:00 every day

Entrance Cost for Pamukkale Travertine (B on map) and Hierapolis Ancient City (1-16 on map): 35 Turkish Lira

Entrance Cost for Cleopatra/Antique Pool (A on map): Free inside the complex, to swim you need to pay  32 TL (Adults) 12 TL (Kids 6+) Kids (<6) Free.

Of course, feel free to mix around the itinerary below to suit your schedule.  This is just what I did.

  1. Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis first

Start: 8AM – 9AM.  Duration: 5 hours

I give this advice for a few reasons.  The first is that majority of people swarm to the travertines first. As early as 10am I would say the travertines were crowded – and this isn’t even in peak season!  Starting at Hieropolis Ancient city means you will skip all the crowds – there were only a handful of people around when I was exploring at this time.  The second is that Turkey can get quite hot and the last thing you want to be doing is walking around ancient ruins in the heat and direct sun.  It’s best to start early to avoid the heat and to ensure you allow plenty fo time to cover the entire site.

2. Lunch Break

Time: 1 hour – 1.5 hours

There are two places you can buy food within the site.  The first are the food stalls right at the top of the travertines, next to the seating area or you can also find a number of fast food shops inside the Antique Pool Complex.  Food is a lot pricier here than down in town.

3. Heirapolis Archaeological Museum

Cost:  5TL
Time: 1 hour

I didn’t get a chance to visit here, but if you have some extra time it would be worth checking out.  The museum holds most of the sarcophagi and artefacts excavated from Hierapolis and surrounding towns in the valley.  Artefacts are well preserved and a visit here will provide the missing key to much of the references you’ll read on the plaques as you’re walking through Hierapolis.  I.E References are made to certain sarcophagi and decorations, however a lot of these are actually in the museum and can’t be seen on the Hierapolis site.

4. Swim in the Antique Pool

Cost: 32 TL (Adults) 12 TL (Kids 6+) Kids (<6) Free
Time: 2 – 3 hours

I loved relaxing in the Cleopatra Pool after a long day walking around Hierapolis.  It’s rumoured that Cleopatra is said to have swum in an earlier version of this pool, especially as Hierapolis had a reputation for being a health centre back in the day.  The pools are known to have healing properties against many skin diseases, circulation problems, rheumatism, heart diseases and many more.  The water is a lovely warm temperature that’s very comfortable to swim in, and there’s something really idyllic about swimming amongst the roman columns in this pool.  I didn’t want to get out!

5. The Travertines

Time: 6PM – Sunset 

Leaving the best until last, the travertines are quite amazing – I didn’t expect them to be as large as they were, but they go on for ages!!

In May, the sun didn’t start setting until about 8:30PM.  This means that from 6PM there was heaps of time to get photos in daylight with the pools, swim and walk around the site.  The travertines really become magical though at sunset. The pools mirror the pastel colours of the sky which is amazing to watch and great to photograph!

Enjoy!  Got any questions?  Let me know below.  Also I’d love to hear your experiences in Pamukkale!
Greatly Terrific Food Outing, Japan, Japan Food Guide

Greatly Terrific Food Outing: Sunday Brunch

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THE VERDICT
  • Setting & Atmosphere
  • Food
  • Service
  • Value For Money
4

OVERALL SUMMARY

No crazy food gimmicks. Simple and delicious!

A popular Kinfolkesque brunch joint without the upscale price tag. Sunday Brunch’s Shimokitazawa location proudly shows off its good quality ingredients and variety-on-a-plate concept. Could this be the best value for money brunch you have ever eaten in Tokyo?

SETTING AND ATMOSPHERE

mixture of quiet afternoons, Scandinavian simple finishes, and slow living element vibes Sunday Brunch’s Shimokitazawa cafe offers a stylish and cozy dining experience in the “zakka” aesthetic. With the space’s high ceiling and skylight openings in hipster-loving triangle cutouts, one can enjoy the atmosphere of a relaxed Sunday morning every day of the week.

It’s spacious and well fitted with many seating options suitable for big groups to

single-window dining and comes with fun features like the self-serve fruit infused water station, sweets corner, and even a lifestyle home goods store.

Since it is one of the more popular eating spots in the area, the best time to visit is to avoid the busy weekend lunch rush which peaks around 12PM – 1PM and opt for either an early-late lunch or early tea time to ensure you can enjoy it at your own pace with a good book or some work-time on your laptop.

Food

he first thing you will notice when glancing through Sunday Brunch’s menu is how gorgeous the food looks. Everything here from the plates of pasta to the generous cake slices is just as pretty as the pictures – well-balanced plates with lots of colour and variety. 

The main dishes are simple brunch ideas of mixed plate combinations such as doria (a baked rice dish) with pasta, french toast with a side dish as well as curry butter chicken and they are all filling and satisfying. Vegetable produce seems to be the highlight of each dish as they generously decorate every dish with seasonal vegetables to liven up the dish’s presentation for that “wow” effect.

The first dish was a classic Japanese dish found in many cafes here: the omurice plate with a twist. Unlike the common brown demi-glaze sauce you see on most menus, this one was served with a generous helping of herb cream sauce adding a nice mild creaminess to the tomato rice mixture hidden beneath the egg. The egg omelette was nicely set with that gooey but not overly runny texture should you be the kind of person who doesn’t enjoy that texture feeling. Overall, it was a delight to eat if you feel like indulging especially on a chilly day.

Next was the double carb pasta and doria set: a creamy chicken vegetable cheese rice bake with a simple cured ham herb pasta. It was a combination hard to fault

because of its simplicity as all the flavours go well together. Best of all, the accompanying pasta rotates seasonally for more flavour combinations though the doria generally stays the same.

Moving on to dessert, although their stacked pancakes are a show stopper on their own, for a person who had only a little stomach room to spare their window cake selection was hard to beat with delicately decorated treats layered with fresh fruit and cream. 

Before the season ends, we decided on the Mont Blanc with Seasonal Fruits Cake which had a nice height of light and airy cream and chestnut puree with a centre of fresh cream and some fruit pieces running through it.

To level up your already Instagram-worthy snack time, I highly recommend to skip the drink set menu and order their Uji Matcha Milk Tea for its decent size and good tea flavour. Using Uji’s famous matcha, the drink was nice without the addition of sugar to savour the slight bitterness of the tea powder’s taste. The cotton candy coloured rice puffs on the top was purely for decoration and fun but was a unique presentation that feels like you’re enjoying some sweets from a traditional Japanese sweets store.   

Rice Plate – prawn omurice with a herb cream sauce and garden salad | 1380 yen

Doria and Pasta Plate – a creamy cheese rice bake with a simple cured ham herb pasta and garden salad | 1280 yen

Mont Blanc with Seasonal Fruits Cake | 680 yen

Uji Matcha Milk Tea | 650 yen

SERVICE

or all the times I visited Sunday Brunch, they all seem to fall on a weekday and the service is always very polite with a little local friendliness lent from the area. The staff is very responsive and the food arrives in a very orderly fashion.

The menu is bilingual with Japanese and English descriptions so ordering is a breeze and also some staff can speak a little basic English. The staff will also ask you about any food allergies during ordering which is a nice touch.

VALUE FOR MONEY

ith the cheapest dish being 1150 yen that also includes a salad and the cheapest dessert being around 500 yen, the price is quite average for the area. The best value definitely comes from ordering in sets. 

The brunch set meal which includes a mini salad, pasta of the day, cake dessert, and a drink at 1650 yen is a cheaper choice if you want to experience everything there is to offer and expect to pay for a cake and drink set 1050 yen.

Bucket List Experiences, England, Popular Posts, Travel

The Ultimate Guide to Durdle Door & Man O’War Beach

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Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast, England

Chasing the sun before it fades away, a perfect scene awaits;  an ancient door standing out at sea, under a heavenly sky of blues, pinks and yellows.

To your left an empty beach with fingers that cling to the shore, the sea doesn’t want to go back to the ocean yet, it wants to stay a little more.

For you see, the sea wishes to view the spectacle too.

With chalk white cliffs that frame the coast and the sun casting a golden glow,  wouldn’t you also want to see this magnificent sunset view?

Sunset at Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast, England

 

Experience Sunset at the World’s most Famous Rock Arch

When it comes to famous landmarks in foreign countries, I guess you could say I’m a bit naive.  Outside of London, I really didn’t know much about what England had to offer.   But England has AMAZING scenery with Durdle Door being one of my favourite sites during my trip.  I remember walking down the long path to Durdle Door and being blown away as the scenery was revealed before me. Durdle Door is, very, very beautiful, majestic, and quite fittingly feels very “Jurassic” to behold.

Located behind Durdle Door is Man O’War beach.  Also a beautiful beach, I especially loved the way the pebbles caused the waves to wash up looking like the ocean had fingers gripping the shore!

 

Man O'War Beach
See what I mean about the ocean having fingers!?

 

A little bit of History

For anyone who loves to travel, I think it’s important to get to know a bit about the area and what exactly you’re looking at.   Located on England’s Jurassic Coast, it’s estimated that Durdle Door was created around 10,000 years ago when the waves eroded the limestone rock and created a hole.  Over time the hole eroded to create the door you see now.  Personally I think it looks like a seahorse kissing the ocean…does anyone else see that?

Sunset at Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast, England

 

How to get there

  • Hire a car:

With limited transportation in the area I highly recommend hiring a car.  The drive itself is not too difficult, but the road is windy and narrow in sections so you need to be mindful of oncoming cars.  Simply take your time, be alert and drive at a pace you feel comfortable and you will be fine.  It’ll also save you a tonne of time and give you the freedom to explore the place at your leisure.

I used Google Maps on my phone to navigate, and it was as simple as typing Durdle Door as my destination.  I got there with very little trouble except for the fact that it kept trying to get me to turn into the caravan park on my right (you’ll know it’s the caravan park because there is a sign and gate).  Instead, ignore this and continue straight until you reach the Durdle Door carpark.

I was staying in Weymouth and the drive took approximately 30mins.

From the car park it’s about a 15minute walk to Durdle door by foot.

  •  Tour Bus

All you need to do is a quick Google search to find a selection of tours to Durdle door.  In generall, tour buses tend to leave the site around 4:30PM, so you’re likely to miss the sunset – which is a real shame!  I personally prefer to avoid tours where possible as it often means a sacrifice of freedom and intimacy – you’ll probably be sharing the site with the 20+ other people also on the tour which makes nice photos difficult.

From the car park it’s about a 15minute walk to Durdle door by foot.

  • PUBLIC TRANSPORT

ARRIVING BY TRAIN: The nearest railway station is Wool (on the London Waterloo to Weymouth line). Bus numbers 15, 30, X55 and X54 connect Wool Railway Station to West Lulworth for Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door Park Entrance. The 15 bus operates on school days only. The 30 operates daily between 25 June and 16 September 2017. The X55 and X54 operate daily from 22 May until 3 September 2017.

It’s about a 20 minute walk from here to Durdle Door.   Plan your travel with Google Maps it will give you exact instructions including the location of bus stops, train stations and the bus numbers you need to catch.

ARRIVING BY BUS: There are 4 bus services to West Lulworth for Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door (numbers 15, 30, X55 and X54). The 15 bus operates on school days only. The 30 operates daily between 25 June and 16 September 2017. The X55 and X 54 operates daily from 22 May until 3 September 2017.

Please note, there is no easy access to the site.  It’s not wheelchair or stroller friendly and may also be difficult for those with trouble walking, particularly the hike back to the car – it’s up hill and quite difficult.

Path from the carpark to Durdle Door
Path from the carpark to Durdle Door

 

When to go for the best photos

Durdle Door is a pretty popular landmark and that means tourists!  Tourists can be really annoying when you’re looking to capture that perfect shot.

Here are my tips to avoid the crowds:

  • Visit out of season.  I visited April 5th 2018 and there were still quite a few people here.  I counted about 6-7 other photographers and about 20-30 other people in the area.  This was a small enough amount of people to capture relatively empty shots of the area.   I can’t imagine how busy it would be in summer!
  • Visit at sunrise and sunset.  Most tour buses leave the site by 4:30PM which cuts out a bunch of the crowds.  For even less people, visit at sunrise.
  • The position of the sun may be something you want to consider too.  In the evening, the sun sets behind the white chalk cliffs, as you can see from my photos.  At sunrise, the sun is actually located behind the door.  I’ve seen some cool shots online where people have captured the sun in the centre of the door, but for me, sunset was ideal!

Sunset at Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast, England

Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast, England

Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast, England

Man O'War Beach

[bs-white-space]

What to wear

No matter if you drive or visit with a tour bus, there’s still a 15-20 minute walk to the site that isn’t accessible by vehicle.  Although the walk is easy, it is rocky in areas and has some steep hills and steps.  There’s also a bit of a climb back to the car that will leave you breathless – so it’s important to wear sensible footwear.  I was wearing hiking boots, by any shoes with reasonable grip will be fine,

In the colder months, like when I visited, it’s really, reallly freezing cold, especially when the sun sets, so rug up!  I was in two jumpers and a jacket and still freezing cold.  I remember finding the walk back to the car in the cold horrible, and my hands hurt from the wind and the cold.

 

Things to See and Do:

  • Walk along Durdle Door Beach
  • Catch the sunset or sunrise – perfect if you’re a photographer
  • Explore Man O’War Beach
  • Swim at both beaches – perfect in the summer months!
  • Visit the caves at the base of the chalk cliffs – don’t venture inside though, cliff falls are really common.
  • Hike to Lulworth Cove or explore the various walking trails on the site.  Find out more here: www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/ or pick up a guide from the Heritage Centre in Lulworth Cove.

 

  1. Type in registration plate
  2. Choose coins
    OR
    Choose card to pay by card
  3. Select the price you want to pay – this equates to the number of hours you can spend on the site (there is a pricing table provided on the machine, so you know how much it will cost for the number of hours you want to stay.)

I’ve read online that there is apparently a check-in/check-out system.  I personally didn’t see or use this.

The funds raised from the tickets is put towards maintenance of the site, such as car parks, roads, footpaths, toilets, waste management, event programmes and more!

 

General Info

PRICE

  • Free entry to the site
  • Paid parking – I paid £5 for 4 hours, but you can pay less or more for a shorter/longer stay.

OPENING HOURS

  • Open all year round.
    Carpark timings:

    • April to September: 8am – Midnight
    • October to March: 8am – 4pm

FACILITIES

  • Toilets & Disabled toilets can be found at Durdle Door Holiday Park (about 15 mins walk from the beach, near the carpark)
  • There are no food facilities at the beach itself.  I saw a restaurant in the holiday park, but best to come prepared.
  • Dogs are allowed, but you must pick up after them.
  • Camping is allowed in the holiday park, but not on the beach or carpark.

Sunset at Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast, England

Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast, England

Sunset at Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast, England

Man O'War Beach

Have a fabulous time! 

Let me know if you’ve been here and what you thought – oh and if you’re planning to visit and have any questions, feel free to ask below, very happy to help you guys out!

Japan, Travel

3 Must Visit Coffee Shops in Tokyo

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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.

tokyo coffee festival

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

Bar Zingaro is now a pastry shop called Tonari no Kaikado.
Update: April 2022

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.

Japan, Popular Posts, Travel

5 Best Vintage Shops in Shimokitazawa

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“Fashion is ephemeral. Art is eternal. Indeed what is a fashion really? A fashion is merely a form of ugliness so absolutely unbearable that we have to alter it every six months!”

– Oscar Wilde

ilde’s advice to fashion. Our appetite for fashion is a cycle. One moment being tasteful until we decide to throw it away in disdain only for it to reappear years later relabelled as being “vintage.” However, there is something to the game of “thrifting” any seasoned thrifter will tell you and that is thrift store shopping is a sport. 

A great second-hand find is like a diamond in the rough. 

Oh yes, we all love unique fashion and vintage designer clothes for a steal but the woes of finding “something” in “everything” is the real challenge.

Once you head dive through the unruly piles of discarded clothes, you’ll convince yourself over and over again it’s definitely “granny-chic” not “granny-made” 20 times more before you even make your way to the register.

So how can we simplify the plethora of choices to avoid the deal-breakers and head towards the deal-makers?

Well, let’s start small.  

We have done some awesome vintage-inspired fashion monthly looks (FML) over the years so if you like our style here at The Hidden Thimble, or want a simple style hunters guide to the thrift store maze of Shimokitazawa, here are my top 5 places to start you on your shopping journey.

North Exit Shop Guide

Toyo Hyakatten Shimokita Garage Department Store

A well organised bazaar space with many small stores. The style of each shop ranges from steam punk watches, ethnic accessories, nail and henna tattoo services to a collab rental space for various independent makers to sell their handmade accessories, jewellery as well as small artworks. There are also shops that open only for fashion workshops and courses. Even if you walk out empty handed, you’ll have a

lot of fun walking around looking at everything this place has to offer.

Toyo Hyakatten Shimokita Garage Department Store

Price Range: 500 yen~ | Opens: 11:00AM – 20:00PM | Tokyo, Setagaya, Kitazawa, 2 Chome−25−8, 東洋百貨店

     

LANP by VALON

A second hand vintage shop catering for both men and women, this store sources its clothing and antiques from mainly America all which are dated somewhere during the early 20th century. It’s a lovely curated collection with a more chic modern adult vibe. You can also find some designer brands that have been carefully selected as well as antique decorations.

LANP by VALON

Price Range: 6,000 yen~ | Opens: 12:00PM – 20:30PM | Tokyo, Setagaya, Kitazawa, 2 Chome−25−8, 東洋百貨店 No.７

Nicoro Polo (Marco Polo)

Next to LANP BY VALON and part of the bigger MARCO POLO thrift chain store, NICORO POLO stocks a very nice (but smaller) collection of female second hand clothes that are preppy, romantic and sweet in style. You might also get lucky and find a designer brand here and there in the same style to complete your cute coordination. Their Instagram is a great way to see how they pair their clothes to

show the style and type of vintage clothing they stock.

Nicoro Polo (Marco Polo)

Price Range: 3,000 yen~ | Opens: 12:00PM – 20:00PM | Tokyo, Setagaya, Kitazawa, 2 Chome−25−8, 東洋百貨店 No. 6

South Exit Shop Guide

Grown Up Tabatha

Strictly not “vintage” but worth a visit, one of the most iconic stores in the area Tabatha is a handmade hat and bag store and interestingly, also sells Supreme-like “Shimokita” merchandise which is great for a souvenir gag or just because you love the area so much! They make all styles of modern to traditional hats from everyday caps to more specific styles like tam hats.

Grown Up Tabatha

Price Range: 1,500 yen~ | Opens: 11:00AM – 22:00PM | Tokyo, Setagaya, Kitazawa, 2 Chome−13−13

MOCHA

Though not second hand vintage, Mocha is a fashion shop selling new clothes that combine modern trends with vintage elements. From dainty Peter Pan collar blouses to 90’s inspired plaid pleated skirts, Mocha caters to fashion seekers who are familiar with Harajuku’s youth style mixed with Shimokita’s uniqueness in prints and embellishments. They also have many cute jewellery and I love their unique printed dress shirts.

Mocha

Price Range: 1,500 yen~ | Opens: 10:00AM – 20:00PM | Tokyo, Setagaya, Kitazawa, 2 Chome−1−7