I guess I don’t have to convince anyone that the biggest metropolis in the world has numerous types of cafes to offer. On our days in Tokyo, we tried to hop around to at least 3 cafes a day for coffee, sweets, pancakes or everything together 😊 I have compiled the list of cafes in Tokyo according to the district for ease of reference. We haven’t tried all of these cafes, hence, only some have my review. However, other cafes I am including are either recommended by someone or based on research.
Best Cafes in Akihabara and Ginza
DAWN Avatar Robot Café: DAWN was one of the cafes on my list absolutely not to be missed. As the name tells you, the café uses robots for its services. The main idea is offering people with disabilities a chance to work here via use of robots. You order when you enter and choose a table with or without a robot – you do pay surcharge for the robot table. Once you are seated, a person with disabilities will speak to you via a robot. We spoke to a girl from Niigata area. The robot brings you your food and drinks. I can’t say any of them were memorable – I don’t even remember what sandwich I ate, it wasn’t good or bad. But this café is certainly for experience. The café also has some robots you can give instructions to and speak with. Overall, this was very interesting and cute experience on a very rainy day.
Pokemon Cafe: This branch in Tokyo, like the one in Osaka, sells out very fast. The reservations open 31 days before the desired date at 10am. So if you have several days to work with, you have more chance to grab the reservation on their website. I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle, so I can’t report on the process from my own experience. But from what I see on different forums, it’s pretty hard to get this reservation.
@ Home Café: I am not a fan of the maid café concept. To me it’s very strange and uncomfortable. However, Akihabara area is known for this type of quirkiness and this café is pretty popular, if you do want to check one out.
Tricolore: One of the most famous cafes in the Ginza area. It’s more European style, as it’s common in the district.
Nakajima-no-ochaya: This tea house is located near Ginza, in the Hamarikyu gardens. While we didn’t manage to visit it due to time constraints, this traditional tea house really does have a lovely environment.
Best Cafes in Akasaka and Roppongi
This area has a number of international modern cafes, that is due to the fact that many embassies and foreign companies have been concentrated here for decades. As a result these areas have a reputation, as the most foreigner friendly part of Tokyo.
National Art Center Cafe: The National Art Center in Tokyo is an impressive modern building with modern exhibitions. It’s a go-to cultural center for locals and visitors alike. The cafe in the Center covers several floors and is truly beautiful. This is the cafe that was featured in the anime Your Name.
Streamer Coffee Company Akasaka: This café with simple modern décor has great coffee. We stayed at the Henn na Hotel nearby and were able to visit easily.
Connel Coffee: This café is closed on the weekends and has short opening hours on weekdays, so we never managed to hit the right time. It does look lovely though.
Verve Coffee Roasters: If you want modern specialty coffee and vibes.
Little Darling Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee in a modern atmosphere.
% Arabica: This coffee chain from Kyoto provides delicious coffee, whatever its location. I highly recommend to check it out, but not too late at night, as you may not be able to sleep 😊
Best Cafes in Harajuku and Shibuya
Harajuku is extremely busy area all the time, but especially on the weekends. One Saturday we simply were unable to find any café, which didn’t have at least an hour waiting time. So if you want to check out any of its cafes come early, when the cafes are just opening and on a weekday. Or another option would be in the late afternoon of a weekday, although considering the tourists hoards and the fact that many cafes close at 5-6pm, this strategy probably wouldn’t always work.
There certainly is no shortage of amazing kawai cafes around here. I am listing a few that particularly stand out:
Pompompurin Café (Permanently Closed): This cute café doesn’t take reservations. There is often a huge queue with a couple of hours waiting. However, we came here at exactly the opening time – 11am on a weekday and were third in the queue, despite the fact that this was a busy touristy season in November. We managed to get a table very quickly. If you however come at an inopportune time and have to wait, you scan the code and possibly get the approximate wait time, then you can wander around the area and come back.
The place is so cute, we couldn’t help but take tons of photos and act like children 😊 The coffee and sweets are decent, certainly not the best, but you don’t come to this café for great coffee, you mainly come for its kawai atmosphere to get cutified (I know I know, that’s not a real word, but nothing else describes the feeling better).
Peanuts Café: Another character café if you like Snoopy. As you would expect, this one also has big queues. They do take reservations, so if you are very keen to visit, probably best try to reserve, rather than be disappointed because of the huge waiting time, when you arrive.
Café Reissue: One of the, if not the, most famous cafes for 3D art among tourists visiting Tokyo. They definitely do gorgeous things, but as most cafes in the area, they are always extremely crowded. They also don’t take reservations. So I decided to get the experience of 3D art at the Hatcoffee instead.
Ralph’s Coffee: Very popular French style café, if you want something European around the area.
Micasadeco & Café: Now, this is definitely one of the most delicious Japanese cheesecakes. It has two branches, this one and in Osaka. Unfortunately, the space is very small and as a result the waiting times are huge. As with other places, I suggest to come early at the opening time and on a weekday, otherwise you are in for a couple of hours of waiting.
Q-Pot Café: This café is one of the cutest. It also does various events, like Halloween theme.
Café Kitsune Aoyama: Lovely spacious themed café with decorations.
The Roastery by Nozy Coffee: This is one of the great specialty coffees in the area. We stopped by, when we got cold from walking in the evening. Their coffee was definitely great and while they don’t have too many places to sit, the vibe is nice. Stop by if you want coffee on the go.
L’Occitane Café Shibuya: I haven’t been to this café, as its main appeal is that it gives views over the Shibuya crossing. But if you are keen to get those views, it’s one of the good spots.
Best Cafes in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro
Shinjuku is not actually the area to track cafes as such, it’s more for nightlife and shopping, but it does have some cute cafes as well:
Coffee Seibu: A kissaten from 1960s with beautiful décor. They not only offer coffee, but food and sweets too. I especially loved the vibe, it was gorgeous.
Cinamoroll Café: This cute themed cafe is definitely not just for the kids. Waiting times here don’t seem as bad as in other character cafes.
2D Café: One of the black and white cafes you nowadays will find all around the world. But if you haven’t been to one before, definitely do visit.
Sanrio Café Ikebukuro: If you are a fan of Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters, don’t forget to visit this café, it will definitely cutify you. While it is usually as crowded, as the other most famous character cafes, you can beat the crowds by arriving early, or instead later in the evening, as unlike many other cafes, it works till 9pm. We came at about 8pm on a weekday and didn’t have to wait at all. Again, like with any other character café, don’t expect amazing coffee or cakes. Just accept that you are coming for the cute vibes not for the taste of food and drinks.
Best Cafes in Asakusa and Ueno
Dandelion Chocolate Factory and Café Kuramae: This place is particularly famous. I believe it’s an American chain, with the branch in Tokyo. I wanted to try it, but didn’t make it. Next time 😊
Kirby Café: If you like character cafes, you have probably heard about this one and it’s notorious reservation policy, which is no less than that of the Pokemon café. I honestly didn’t want to reserve weeks in advance, while I was not as interested. So we did skip this. But if you do want to visit, you have to book it on the 10th of each month for the next month. Here is the relevant website. I have also seen the information in various travel groups that some people managed to get a last minute reservation by showing up early in the morning before the opening time, but as I understand you have to be very lucky to find a spot this way.
The 3D lateart coffee is famous and can be found in several cafes in Tokyo. I chose this one, as it did have an option to prebook and I didn’t wanna wait in any queues. The 3D art is really cute indeed – the bear one not so much, but we particularly loved the cat one. With 3D art you can’t make different requests than they offer, but they do accommodate requests with 2D art. You can show them a picture and they will make the 2D for you.
Coffee wasn’t amazing, it was pretty good though considering that people visit for the experience, not much for the coffee taste 😊 Cakes were pretty nice, even though not to my taste. However, you won’t be coming here for tasty coffee. Rather for this cuteness.
I booked via their Instagram page. Keep in mind that you will have to order 2 items (2 coffees or a cake and coffee) per person, if you prebook. Otherwise, you can always show up and queue. Depending on the day and time the queue may not be too big. Btw, queuing here doesn’t mean you have to stand there. They will get your details and message you once it’s your turn.
Overall, this place is definitely not cheap, as any 3D latte art, but for sure worth trying at least once.
February Café: This café has at least 3 locations around Asakusa. The one I linked is the biggest. This is another location, while this is the third one.
This was recommended to me, as the best place for Japanese pancakes. I didn’t get a chance to try it though, as the day we were nearby we already ate too much sweets 😊 But if you, like me love the fluffy pancakes, you may want to check it out.
Fuglen Asakusa: A Norwegian café with several branches in Tokyo.
Kagurachaka: This café is everything macha with cute bears. I am personally not a fan of macha, so can’t really evaluate, but it does look cute.
Coffee Shop Galant: This old kyssaten style coffee shop is near the Ueno station. They do allow smoking inside however, so do consider this, if you decide to visit.
Everyone’s Café: This café is located inside the Ueno park and has lovely surroundings.
Best Cafes in Shimokitazawa
This area is one of my favourites. It is very cute and cozy. You can walk around and enjoy the vibes of the market, the green walkways along the tram line, the cute cafes and trinkets all around.
Shirohige Cream Puffs: This is a must visit spot for Ghibli fans and not only. Even if you don’t want to wait to sit upstairs in the café area, do come by and buy these cutest delicious Totoro cream puffs. The atmosphere is amazing, it’s in a small alley and has the Ghibli decors all around. It was very hard to choose which cream puffs to get. The pictured cream puff with the cute blue hat is the chocolate cream version. There are also custard ones. Otherwise, you will seasonally find different flavours – from strawberry to mango to chestnut.
Important note: Come early, as they run out in the second half of the day.
Best Cafes in Kichijoji
This area near the Ghibli museum follows Ghibli vibes with amazing cafes:
Shirohige Cream Puffs: Another branch to get this delicious Totoros. Definitely don’t miss it, if you are in the area.
Kichijoji Petit Mura: Adorable themed cat café with Ghibli vibes.
The Straw Hat Cafe: The Studio Ghibli Museum official café is certainly always crowded. If you are terribly lucky and get the museum ticket, you can check their cutest drinks and sweets out.
Farther Away
Peter Rabbit Garden Café: Cutest British Beatrice Potter themed café.
Popular Cafes not Worth the Hype
There are hundreds of very popular places, especially due to Insta and TikTok, however, some are simply not worth the hype or just not good at all. So here is a couple of places we tried but would not recommend:
Marion Crepes – this is a chain for the crepes that look amazing. People love them, so we decided to try at their Harajuku branch. To be honest, crepes seemed like it was made long ago and slightly warmed up. It was simply not tasty, so while there’s a little chance that other branches are better, I wouldn’t count on it.
Rainbow pancakes in Harajuku – we tried these at the Ikebukuro branch, which now closed. Honestly their pancakes were just ok, nothing special at all.
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