OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY | Shimokitazawa and Sakurashinmachi
小川珈琲
Sakurashinmachi Store
With a successful history dating back to 1952 post-war Kyoto, it was only a matter of time until specialist coffee house Ogawa Coffee decided to continue its success story over in the Japanese capital. The coffee house’s Tokyo flagship store in Sakurashinmachi offers over 21 different varieties of carefully selected coffee beans which can be enjoyed as single origin coffee, coffee blends, cocktails and a variety of signature drinks. For those too overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices, Ogawa Coffee has also created its very own flavor compass which will help you navigate through the varieties of coffee, aligning them on a scale from light to heavy-bodied.
The light-drenched Sakurashinmachi laboratory was conceptualized with the help of interior design office Yusuke Seki Studio, blending old Japanese materials such as wood, washi paper and even stones from Kyoto’s old tram, with concrete walls and large glass windows to create a new vision of what a modern-day coffee house can (and should) look like.
Sakurashinmachi Menu:
Coffee: ¥410~
Coffee Cocktails: ¥900~
Tea: ¥660~
Lunch Course: ¥2,950
Dinner Course: ¥4,950
Shimokitazawa Store
In 2021, Ogawa Coffee opened its second Tokyo outpost in the hip and coffee hungry neighborhood of Shimokitazawa, where the brand offers coffee masterclasses and more than 40 different coffee tools that you can purchase and take home with you. While the Shimokitazawa store is more of a space to learn about coffee and roasting than a café, there’s still a small selection of coffee and tea drinks as well as scones and vanilla gelato which you can be enjoy in-store or takeaway for a little pick-me-up on your afternoon exploring the neighborhood.
Images courtesy of OGAWA COFFEE
Website
︎ WebsiteAddress
Sakurashinmachi Store︎3-23-8 Sakurashinmachi, Escalier 1F, Shinmachi Setagaya-ku,Tokyo, Japan
︎ +81(0) 3-6413-5252
︎Google Maps
Shimokitazawa Store
︎reload 1-1 3-19-20 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
︎+81(0) 3-6407-0194
︎Google Maps
Hours
SakurashinmachiEvery day:
07:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:30)
Shimokitazawa
Every day:
08:00-20:00 (L.O. 19:30)
Price Category
$$$$METoA Cafe＆Kitchen | Ginza
Located at the backside of Tokyu Plaza Ginza, METoA is a café meets gallery meets design shop created by Mitsubishi Electric as a space where people can meet, gather and enjoy art and technology.
METoA Cafe＆Kitchen on the first floor offers an exciting selection of Australian-inspired foods and drinks such as grilled swordfish, steamed mussels, garlic steak, mini burgers, and fluffy pancakes which come in the three innovative styles “citrus x citrus”, “mixed berries” and “death by chocolate.”
But, our culinary excitment doesn’t just stop with the foods; METoA Cafe＆Kitchen also boasts a refreshing range of fruit and herb detox waters, superfood smoothies, outstanding homemade sodas and cocktails, all presented in perhaps Tokyo’s most beautifully designed menu.
Free Wifi available.
Detox Water: ￥580
House Soda: ￥700
Food from: ￥1,080
Fluffy Pancakes: ￥1,280
Images courtesy of METoA
Website
︎ LinkAddress
︎1F, Tokyu Plaza Ginza, Backside, 5-2-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo︎ 03-6264-5761
︎Google Maps
Hours
Every day:11:00-23:00 (last order 22:00)
Price Category
$$$$Toraya Café・An Stand | Kita-Aoyama
Lovers of Azuki bean paste, which is a staple in any traditional Japanese dessert, might not be able to hold back their excitement after discovering Toraya Café ・An Stand in Tokyo’s stylish Aoyama neighborhood. Featuring not just a selection of red bean paste desserts such as the signature “An Bun,” Toraya Café・An Stand also boasts a whole range of drinks which come with - you guessed it - red bean paste. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that this café also happens to be one of the most stylish ones in the neighborhood, but given Toraya’s track record of creating beautiful cafés and shops all over Japan, we are not surprised.
If you want to discover more of the confectionary maker’s stores, why not head to Toraya’s beautiful Tokyo Midtown shop which we have featured here.
An Bun: ￥431
An Paste Matcha au Lait: ￥661
Images courtesy of Toraya Café
Website
︎ LinkAddress
︎3-12-16 Kita-aoyama, Minato-ku Tokyo︎ +81-3-6450-6720
︎Google Maps
Hours
Every day:11:00-19:00
Closed:
2nd&4th Wednesday of the month & New Year holidays
Price Category
$$$$Starbucks Tsutaya | Ginza Six
Although we are not usually too keen on featuring large coffeeshop chains, there is just no denying that Starbucks at Tsutaya Ginza is one of the most gorgeous stores the coffee giant has ever produced. Surrounded by art and design book specialist Tsutaya and featuring a very soothing and chic wooden interior, this Starbucks is an absolute must-visit even for non-coffee drinkers. Take a seat by the stunning bonsai at the entrance of Starbucks, grab a drink of your choice and get lost in the sheer never-ending selection of magazines and books.
Before you head out be sure to check out the bookstore itself and then make your way to Ginza Six’ magnificent rooftop garden.
Images courtesy of Tsutaya
Website
︎ LinkAddress
︎6F Inside Tsutaya , Ginza Six, 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo︎ 03-3575-6080
︎Google Maps
Hours
Every day:10:00-22:30
Price Category
$$$$Blue Bottle Coffee | Shibuya and Nakameguro
ブルーボトルコーヒー
Inspired by the tale of Franz George Kolshitzky, a Polish noblemen who is said to have opened the first coffeehouse (named “The Blue Bottle”) in Vienna after the Turkish invasion, Blue Bottle Coffee was founded in the early 2000s in Oakland California and now boasts 15 branches in Tokyo as well as more outposts in Kyoto, Kobe and Yokohama.
It’s fair to say that since its arrival in Japan, Blue Bottle has become somewhat of a coffee hotspot amongst the coffee-loving, stylish crowd of downtown Tokyo, which loves to indulge in the company’s freshly-roasted drip coffee and various snacks and desserts you can get at the stores many locations.
The Nakameguro branch - one of Blue Bottle’s largest - is housed in a former electrical-parts factory, fusing modern coffee culture with industrial chic. In addition to the first floor café, there is also a tasting room where customers can smell and taste different samples of roasted coffee and a workshop hosting seminars on creativity, and of course — coffee.
For one of Blue Bottle’s latest ventures, head to the coffee house’s recently opened Shibuya store in the quiet, upscale neighborhood of Jinnan, where you can enjoy Blue Bottle’s signature coffee, desserts and even late-night wine in the sleek Keiji Ashizawa designed space.
All photos courtesy of Blue Bottle
Shibuya store photographs by Ben Richard/Masaaki Inoue
Website
︎ LinkAddress
Shibuya Branch:︎1-7-3 Jinnan, Shibuya City, Tokyo
︎Google Maps
Nakameguro Branch:
︎3-23-16 Naka-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
︎Google Maps
Hours
Shibuya Branchevery day:
08:00-22:00
Nakameguro Branch
every day:
08:00-20:00