Good coffee, Good times (2019 コーヒーショップ巡り）

Hi friends,

It's been awhile since my last journal, I hope you are all well.

I travel to Japan every year. It never stops exciting me to explore unique Japanese stationery shops small local businesses and It thrills me when I find places that give me inspirations and motivation.  Tokyo has always been a special place to me: full of energy, new ideas, and diversity. There are so many wonderful parts of Tokyo besides stationery culture that I wanted to share with you, so this time, I decided to bring you something different.  If you are a coffee lover and also like neat coffee shops that offer fantastic coffee and sweets like me, you don't want to miss this out! So here are my favorite 8 coffee shops in Tokyo.

1. Coffee Wrights (Sangenjaya 三軒茶屋)

When it comes to coffee shops, I think the biggest difference between Japan and the US is truly in the details.  Coffee Wrights is a cozy little coffee shop that located in the popular station - Sangenjaya. I myself had lived in the area for about 1 year before moving to the US.  It's that kind area where you can always spot the "unexpected surprises" along the hidden alleys.  It's accessible from the famous station "Shibuya(渋谷)".

Delicious and fresh homemade small desert never goes wrong with coffee

Enjoy a quality cup of drip coffee at a sunny afternoon..

During the day, the area is slow and quiet, and Coffee Wrights seems a snug fit for that rhythm of life. The shop is simply designed, with a quiet DIY-influenced interior and zero pretension. There’s coffee beans, cakes, and upstairs some tables and chairs where you can enjoy the coffee.  Everything is centered on the simple idea of making and sharing coffee, an idea reflected in the name of the shop.

Address: 1 Chome-32-21 Sangenjaya, Setagaya, Tokyo 154-0024, Japan

Open Hour: 9AM-6PM

Branch shops available : Kuramae, Omotesando, Shibaura 

Offer: Public cupping, Coffee work shop, Wholesale

Webshop

2. Bongen Coffee (Ginza 銀座)

Bongen Coffee is a small Japan-themed coffee shop that located in the quiet neigherhood of Higashi-Ginza. It is getting a lot of attention owing to the hundred-year-old bonsai plant that serves as a backdrop for the cafe. It looks modern and elegant in its interior. It also has one long bench on one side which has two partitions.

An elegant traditional Japanese design pervades with warm woods and a spotlit bonsai tree(Matsu 松) behind the espresso machine.

They also offer the Japanese style drip coffee packs which are perfect for travel

Traditional Japanese rice crackers with pretty packaging at the counter

Drip coffee and Latte with delicious Japanese raison butter sandwich

The cafe is just 4 minutes walk from Ginza 1 Chome Station’s 11th Exit. It is open daily even during holidays.

Address: 2 Chome-16-3 Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

Open Hour: 10AM-8PM, Mon-Sun

Webshop

3.  Shozo Coffee (Minami Aoyama 南青山)

Shozo Coffee (originally from Tochigi prefecture) is an exciting open-air cluster of food and beverage stalls in Minami-Aoyama. It’s right next to Blue Bottle. Or, Blue Bottle is right next to it, whichever way you want to look at it. It operates out of a tiny Japanese wooden hut, and overall is a great reflection on Japan and it’s modest design and charm. Pour-over coffee is on the menu and together with scones and biscuits makes it the perfect afternoon destination.

A little cute book booth back at the alley at the front door area

Lovely details..

They also offer coffee beans and their original coffee syrup

Don't forget to get some freshly home baked cookies and scones! 

At a beautiful sunny afternoon, a cup of well made drip coffee and delicious chocolate scones made my day even better!

Address: 3 Chome-13 Minamiaoyama, Minato, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan

Open Hour: 9:30 - 6PM. Clsed on Tuesday

Webshop

4. Café Kitsuné  (Minami Aoyama 南青山)

Café Kitsuné ticks all the boxes – your espresso is poured perfectly in Japan’s first Slayer machine.  Delicious Kitsuné “wagashi” are on offer by the elegant desert company Toraya.  The cafe itself is a beautiful entity to lay your eyes on. This comes as no surprise, as the owners are two fine gentlemen – one Gildas Loaëc, a former manager of Daft Punk!, and two Masaya Kuroki, once architect at Ateliers Jean Nouvel. The fusion of French elegance and the uncompromising Japanese attention to detail is Café Kitsuné’s recipe for success.

The entrance is a little hidden..

Classic Japanese wooden sliding door

Take out coffee beans

Freshly homemade lemonade 

Smooth and flavorful Matcha Latte, beautiful barista work 

There is counter table near the entrance area, and also some table seats back will approximately fit about 15~20 people. 

Address: 3 Chome-17-１ Minamiaoyama, Minato, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan

Open Hour: 9AM-11PM, Monday-Sunday

Website

5. Kabuki 蕪木 (Kuramae 蔵前）

Kabuki is a coffee roastry / chocolate shop.  The atmosphere of this coffee place is just too good to be true, very quiet and calm with soothing jazz playing.  It's the ideal place to quiet your mind, quiet the world and just focus on the moment, or focus on yourself.  Home roasted Coffee and self-made chocolate are both amazing! 

Classic wooden tables and chairs, feels cozy and warm

Give yourself some alone moments to savor the good memories..

Delicious homemade chocolate can also be taken out as gifts

The owner taking his time to pour a good cup of coffee 

This is a place with 3 tables (6 seats), and a long counter that allows 6-7 people. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend it for large groups.

Address: 1 Chome-15-７ Torigoe, Taitō, Tokyo 111-0054, Japan

Open Hour: 1-8PM.  Close on Wednesday 

Website

I hope you enjoyed these little memories from my trip and i hope you will be able to visit these lovely spots in person when you have the chance to visit Tokyo!  And also thank you for your patience and continuous support that allow me to take time off to experience and explore the world that I love. Till next time..

                                                                                                                Xo,

                                                                                                               Siming