Sensing Touch of Earth – Ten Minute Tokyo

Name: Sensing Touch of Earth

Kind: Café

Location: 35°42’54.38″ N 139°47’19.92″ E

Stations: Ueno Station, JR Lines, or Tawaramachi Station, Inarichō Station, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Keisei Skyliner

Free Wifi: Yes

Our Rating: ⭑⭑⭑⭑

Worth it? Don’t miss it.

Address: 3-1-12 Matsugaya Kappabashi Dogugai, Taito 111-0036 Tokyo

Phone: +81 80-7808-5622

Site: https://stoe-cafe.tokyo/

Updated 8/25/2021

About 10 blocks east of Ueno Station in northeast Tokyo is the weird street of Kapabashii-Dori Ave – Tokyo’s kitchen supply area.

The main street is lined with shops under covered awnings. Tucked under one of these awnings around 35°42’54.38″ N 139°47’19.92″ E, with hardly even a sign, is the fabulous, but strange upscale café called Sensing Touch of Earth.

You wouldn’t expect a place like this in Kapabashii, but nonetheless, there it is.

Upscale + Weird

Upon entering Sensing Touch of Earth, you are greeted with a modern pre-fab concrete-walled cafe in front, with a bar lined with high-end modern coffee + espresso machines. You can have a seat at a table just as with any coffee shop.

However, Sensing Touch of Earth also offers full-service dining in the back with strange decor + furniture: the same prefab walls abound, but are divided into several formal dining rooms compete with a bizarre mix of both post-modern + medieval furniture. One room has a retro sound system console, but strange-colored portals on one wall + medieval chairs around a large steel table. Another room has more modern furniture + padded walls.

Weird.

Despite the odd mix of interior decor, the service and food are outstanding.

Prices are a little high ranging from 700¥ for a cup of espresso to $20-30 for a small meal. Still, the atmosphere and quality make it worthwhile.

You can’t really go wrong here, either for meals or just for a cup of coffee in the café out front.

Access

For Sensing Touch of Earth you have 2 rail choices: You can go to Ueno Station on JR Lines, or on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, and then walk approx. 10 blocks east. Or you can take the Ginza Line to Inarichō Station, a little further to the east already, walk 3 blocks east, then turn left (north) onto Kapabashii-Dori Ave and then walk about 8 long blocks north. It’s not too far to walk from Ueno Station for most people, but it will take some time – the journey on foot totals around 20 blocks. If you exit Ueno Station you’ll want the main, or south exit.

Conclusion

Sensing Touch of Earth is weird, yet wonderful. If you’re in the Ueno area, it’s worth the extra walk just to experience it – and the coffee’s really good.

Enjoy!

Additional Photos