20 Cafe Tour Guides You Must Visit in Tokyo

architechu

The disappearance of boundaries
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Space is an organism. In the city, it changes its form organically through the scale of buildings, the relationship between space and people, and the communication between the area of space and the area of nature. This is also evident when reading society and space.
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Today's space directly connects the city and buildings, as well as the relationship between space and people, without any boundaries. Located in Omotesando, Tokyo, this space communicates with the city through the alleys and winding paths behind Omotesando. The experience of walking on a pedestrian-focused street is completely different when walking straight versus walking around corners. Walking straight, you can walk without paying much attention to the road and easily confirm your destination. However, walking around corners forces you to continue checking the path and makes the same distance feel a little longer. Walking around corners while observing your surroundings allows you to experience various scenes visually. This becomes a way to enjoy the city to the fullest. Meeting today's space with these winding paths uniquely makes you perceive it as part of the city and think of it as one of the many streets.
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There is nothing to obstruct human entry into the space. In other words, there are no entry doors or windows that turn the space into a closed area, allowing you to simply walk up and take a look around or cross through it. In fact, you can sit on the slope and watch without using the scenes shown in this space, such as cafes and galleries.
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Furthermore, the people who maintain the space pay no attention whatsoever. The owner of the enclosed space, who is inside a small box, does not start a conversation until someone speaks to them first. This service method shows that everyone can enjoy the space as if it were part of the city and connected to it.
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What is interesting is that this completely open space without any boundaries is greatly influenced by the lack of internal and external boundaries, experiencing the impact of the natural environment. When it's hot, the heat comes in, and when it's cold, the cold comes in. In a country like Japan with four seasons, this is not a suitable way of creating space. However, thanks to this expression, it is perceived more as part of the city than simply being experienced within the category of buildings.
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Just as one knows that walking outside in winter feels cold because it's winter, this space persuades people about how the space operates in a similar manner.
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Even the raw concrete blocks without decoration lend credibility to all of this content. Instead of forcefully asserting that the building is a single area, the unadorned building settles down heavily and presents a contemplation similar to a rock on the street. Particularly, the beautiful proportions shown by the space make it appear not just as a rock but rather as an artwork encountered in the city.
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Looking at the past, this place often changes its appearance and becomes a pop-up store. However, the scenes typically shown in the space are cafes and small galleries.
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This is a space without boundaries <the mass>
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📍Location _ 5 Chome-11-1 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
⏰Operating hours _ 10-19
🚗No parking ❌
📝💵 Coffee _ Americano 400 yen, Latte 500 yen

architechu

Painter of light, building of light
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Claude Monet, a representative impressionist painter, is a painter of light. At the end of the 19th century, realist painters who accurately depicted phenomena were mainstream. In contrast, there was the Impressionist movement. Impressionism means drawing things not as they are, but as they are felt. Claude Monet, who is well known to us, is the painter who led the Impressionist movement.
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He claimed that his works change according to light, the viewer's mood, environment, time, weather, etc., and his characteristic is drawing flowing pictures without contours according to his feelings. One well-known painting is "Water Lilies."
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You may wonder unexpectedly why we are talking about painter when we talk about Louis Vuitton's space. However, this space is important because the space designer Jun Aoki was inspired by Monet's work "La Grenouillère" when designing this building. It is a painting of people enjoying leisure on the water's edge. He made efforts to design this building inspired by the shape of lily pads in the water. In fact, if you search for the painting and compare it with photos of the building, you can see a very similar form.
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This space also adds a soft and finite color sense shown in Monet's paintings. Space designers who draw spaces like this often get inspiration from various fields of artists. In turn, artists from various fields also get inspiration from space designers. However, a space does not end in a small canvas or a small scale of about 5m*5m*5m. The important thing is how space designers apply the inspiration. Especially when a part of the inspiration is realized as a building, it often loses its functional aspects due to excessive settings.
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But this space today is different. This building, which is surrounded by a special pattern of dichroic film on the exterior walls, has no windows when viewed from the outside. Buildings without windows, like traditional department stores, may sometimes exist, but considering factors such as ventilation, light environment, and psychological elements for people working inside, windows are necessary. When you enter the space with such questions, you can see how they are being resolved. Ventilation is done mechanically. So, what about the light? External film was used to increase the transparency of the bulging and protruding parts thin enough to be used as windows. It is an appropriate way to express windows according to the method of manufacturing external panels. Just by looking at this scene, you can see that this building is a very well-designed space. Beauty and functionality, that is the basis of design. Furthermore, it is undeniable that it is a masterpiece that applies the design language appropriately both internally and externally, expressing the feeling of water lilies through staircase halls or the expression of wall surfaces. The rest of the story about the space will be left to the discretion of the experiencer.
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+ It looks like a Louis Vuitton store, but they operate a chocolate café on the rooftop.
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This is Louis Vuitton Ginza, a building of light in Ginza.
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📍Location _ 7 Chome-6-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061 Japan
⏰Business Hours _ 11~20
🚗No Parking❌
📝Menu attached.

architechu

The reeds sway in the wind.
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"The reeds sway in the wind, and the trees break in the wind." It is a sentence speaking about flexibility. In modern and contemporary architecture, concrete is a material that always appears without fail. This is because with the advancement of concrete technology, there is an advantage that buildings can be built taller and sturdier than when using wooden or stone materials. Especially in architecture, there is no material that sways in the wind like reeds, but when looking at the life of the entire building, it could also be talking about the possibility of recycling.
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Japan is a country located in the earthquake-prone Pacific Ring of Fire. Especially, Japan is a country well known for its frequent earthquakes and terrifying tsunamis. Thanks to this, Japan has long preferred wooden buildings. This is because wood is flexible and resilient in earthquakes.
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Anyways, the space being introduced today is a work by the world-famous architect "Kuma Kengo." From afar, it looks like a cluster of tangled branches, but when you look closely, the exterior of this building has a specific pattern. The surprising thing is that this exterior serves not as a mere decoration but as part of the building's structure. It is a design language that represents both structure and exterior. This is a modification of the traditional Japanese wooden construction method called "jigoku kumi."
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Kuma Kengo is a proponent of "weak architecture." He prefers weak materials that can be reused or easily rebuilt in disaster-prone environments rather than concrete. Although he has left many works on the theme of "wood," he also weaves spaces through the seemingly unrelated material of "paper."
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Among his many works, this space is a small-scale project that uniquely showcases the beauty of wood's texture and structural elegance. Due to the unique pattern of the structure, it creates a unique experience when looking out from the inside or when light enters. It is currently a cafe selling pineapple pie under the name "Pineapple Cake Sunny Hills." It is possible to eat inside, and there are more people than expected, so there is a wait on the first floor before going up.
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His works are plentiful in Japan, but in this episode, we will briefly introduce his presence and revisit his stories designed in Tokyo. (This story will be covered in 24 years)
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📍 Location | 3 Chome-10-20 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan
⏰ Opening Hours | 11:00-19:00
🚗 No parking ❌
📝 Menu | One box 2400 yen [6 pieces], there is also Tina Coffee.

yoribogo_

A bakery in Tokyo that ranks among the top 5 most popular, loved by both locals and tourists. Offers a wide variety of bread, doughnuts, and ice cream.

architechu

Only 6 places in the world -

There are Starbucks stores only in Seattle, Chicago, New York, Shanghai, Milan, and Tokyo. They have a large Reserve store where they showcase everything including roastery in one go. In the past, Starbucks has unveiled the 'Reserve Roastery' store with such anticipation that it even provoked speculation about its entry into Korea in 2021. These stores are different in their class, utilizing an entire building and showcasing various food and beverage cultures such as cafes, bars, and teas.

However, what is most important to me is who they collaborated with to design this space that showcases the brand's grandeur.

This space telling the story of Tokyo's space is the same designer as Tokyo Sunny Hills. It is the work of the world-renowned spatial designer Kengo Kuma, who weaves spaces using wood and materials that are the foundation of that region.

Understanding the physical properties of the materials his works consist of, they are implemented into space through extreme patterning. It is known that he also created a stay in Jeju Island, South Korea. Through photos of his works, such as raising the roof through the basalt of Jeju Island and patterns and structures created by the material of wood, it is evident that the flow of nature is recreated.

Similarly, today's space is realized through the material of wood, which is the main material that he deals with, and through Japanese living and traditional patterns.

As mentioned above, this store, of which there are only 6 in the world, is a space prepared by the brand to strongly convey its grandeur and maximum diverse experiences to customers. Therefore, everyone involved in designing this space and integrating the experience of the space inside it is fully prepared.

Even before entering the front of this space, you can see the raised wood beams protruding into the sky. The repeated thin wood beams create a linear image, which is bundled as a whole, and the surface faces the sky, naturally directing the line of sight towards the sky. Interestingly, the store sign, like Dior's store, is located at the top of the building with a star-shaped logo, showcasing its grandeur. The entrance is huge. It is not easy to open the huge wooden door. Thanks to its difficulty, the view of the space seen from the entrance by opening it gives a sense of achievement.

Upon entering the store, you can see a huge golden barrel. When I asked the staff at the entrance to explain what it was, they told me it was a 'coffee barrel.' This barrel penetrates the floors and continues to capture part of the scene inside the building. While the scene changes on each floor, it also serves as a role in confirming where I am located.

The first floor has coffee sales and a merchandise shop where many people gather.

Even though the second, third, and fourth floors all showcase different food and beverage cultures, it is said that it does not matter where you sit.

The space under the roof seen from the outside is designed as an outdoor space, and seats are provided for enjoying the night view while drinking coffee. The unique ceiling finish seen as you go up the floors is said to be using traditional Japanese craft patterns.

The one who designed this space is known as a great multi-artist, so there are countless works placed all over the world, but it is not common to have such an easy access.

However, as always, with this easy access, there are difficulties in enjoying the pure taste created by the form, pattern, and material. Nevertheless, there is no regret in the way he pursues the composition of space to bring a better brand experience to those who come.

This is the 'Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo,' which is only in 6 places worldwide.

Location _ 2 Chome-19-23 Aobadai, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0042, Japan

Hours of Operation _ 07-22

Parking available

yoribogo_

One of the five Fuglen locations opened in Japan, it's a great place to stop by after touring Senso-ji. Try the waffles that you can only taste here.

pillter_

Iron Coffee, a takeaway specialty cafe in Setagaya-ku, serves delicious drip coffee. I remember having a long chat with the owner.

pillter_

A lemon pie shop I've wanted to visit ever since I saw Sono's guidebook three years ago. It was definitely worth making the time to go. The cakes were also delicious.

yoribogo_

The Blue Bottle, located in the trendy Shibuya shopping district, is a great place to rest while shopping.

sonokoro

It means 'public bus' in Portuguese.
It contains the owner's desire to be a natural existence in everyday life, like a public bus, and a space that connects people. Through ONIBUS COFFEE, we want to reach more people through coffee and become a connection with many people.

ONIBUS COFFEE Naka-Meguro, the second space of ONIBUS, received a lot of attention as soon as it opened for reasons such as narrow alleys, unique atmosphere, warm interior, and small park. We provide coffee to suit each customer's individual preferences while learning the steps.

The outdoor seating on the 1st floor has the advantage of being able to enjoy communicating with the clerks, and the 2nd floor has the advantage of enjoying coffee while watching the train passing by. ONIBUS, which has been loved so much by residents and travelers, is an essential course in Tokyo Cafe Tour.

inoru_jun

櫻井焙茶研究所, Sakurai Tea Research Institute

Aoyama, the city of fashion and youth, is always crowded with huge crowds, but there are shops all over the city that are quiet and calm as if there is a shade everywhere. Sakurai Tea Research Institute is just such a place. It operates by reservation system and only has about 10 counter seats, so even though it is right in front of Omotesando Main Street, you can't hear the noise of the downtown area.

The design of the space is impressive, but the taste of Gyokuro tea, which is carefully selected from all over Japan and brewed with extreme care, is truly shocking. Tea that extracts such a strong umami taste and cleanly cuts out the negative taste of bitter and astringent tea is really difficult to taste in a commercial facility like this, except in some tea ceremony classes and private tea ceremony gatherings.
In addition, Hojicha, which is brewed directly upon order, and various original blended teas, differ in texture from teas from popular tea brands.

Japanese tea is so profound that it takes decades to learn. It is not easy even for foreigners to enter, but Sakurai's tea is a place that can broaden the base of tea for anyone without discrimination. If you want to experience a whole new car, you should definitely visit.


Sakurai Tea Research Institute
Reservation system operation (reservation by phone, English available)
Budget 5,000¥ per person

yoribogo_

Camelback, known for its delicatessen featuring sushi-style egg sandwiches, is a famous spot for Tamago Sando. It's advisable to try it before heading to the nearby popular cafe, Fuglen. Be warned, preparation can take a while if orders are backed up.

hesaidthat

An essential cafe in Shibuya, it's a good place to start your Tokyo cafe tour. Originating from Norway, this cafe is always bustling with people.

FUGLEN TOKYO

📍1 Chome-16-11 Tomigaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0063
📍Open from 7:00 AM to midnight (Until 10:00 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays)

sonokoro

Glitch coffee
A specialty coffee shop located in Jinbocho, an old book street in Tokyo.

Created by a coffee world champion
One of the best coffee restaurants in Tokyo.

- Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kanda Nishikicho, 3 Chome−16
- 09:00 ~ 19:00

sonokoro

If you ever find yourself passing through Shibuya, there's a cafe you absolutely must visit for its incredibly delicious coffee! It may sound all too familiar, but if it were right in front of my house, I'd probably go there every day.

pillter_

In the vast expanse of Shinjuku, there is a cafe called Covert Coffee that exclusively deals with drip coffee. A variety of beans are prepared, allowing you to choose according to your preference, or you can even get recommendations from the barista. It's nice to be able to have such premium drip coffee in Shinjuku, where franchise cafes are more common.

pillter_

About Life Coffee Brewers, a take-out coffee shop located in Shibuya, offers quality coffee with a variety of bean selections.

seee.zip

Høyglen, meaning 'bird' in Norwegian, is located near Yoyogi Park, also known as Tokyo's Central Park. Although not large, it is a cafe with plenty of natural light and a vintage wooden interior that feels like stepping into a cabin. The coffee is delicious, and there are simple desserts available, making it a great starting point before shopping in Shibuya.

seee.zip

A small cafe packed with Tokyo vibes. They offer pudding, scones, and simple sandwiches/brunches, which seem perfect to enjoy at an outdoor table on a nice day, overlooking the streets of Tokyo.