admin – Ten Minute Tokyo

OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY

Name: OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY

Kind: Café

Location: 35°39’48.19″ N 139°40’14.31″ E

Station: Shimo-kitazawa Station, Odakyu Odawara Line

Free Wifi: Yes

Our Rating: ⭑⭑⭑

Worth it? Yep.

Updated 8/28/2021

OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY is originally from Kyoto, but has now opened shop in Tokyo’s Shimokitazawa to the southwest in Tokyo.

The space sits on a corner in the center of town a bit northeast of Shimo-kitazawa Station, at a 5-street intersection, including right across from Shimokitazawa‘s main shopping arcade street.

The large roomy space has a long bar + seating in an open airy building with track lights – a perfect place to while away a morning or afternoon with friends or a book. It’s a delightful environment.

The coffee is excellent – gourmet, and fresh brewed as well as hand-poured. Although the shop is a little out of the way, it’s worth a stop in if you’re in the area.

Conclusion

OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY‘s new opening in Tokyo is a welcome addition to Shimokitazawa. The delightful atmosphere and huge open windows make for an enjoyable experience.

Enjoy!

LINKS

OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY

Shimokitazawa | JNTO

LITTLE SOUL CAFE

Name: LITTLE SOUL CAFE

Kind: Café

Location: 35°39’47.50″ N 139°40’09.53″ E

Station: Shinjuku Station, JR Lines, Various Tokyo Metro Lines, Shimo-kitazawa Station, Odakyu Odawara Line

Free Wifi: Yes

Our Rating: ⭑⭑⭑

Worth it? Yep.

Site: https://www.littlesoulcafe.com/

Hours: 7PM – 2AM

Phone: +81 03-5454-9800

Updated 8/28/2021

About 2 miles southwest of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo’s Shimokitazawa is a little bar called LITTLE SOUL CAFE. The shop serves drinks + specializes in playing vinyl jazz records.

The atmosphere is subdued + cozy and the music makes it a comfortable place to relax and have a few drinks.

Access

To get here, get to Shinjuku Station listed above, then head southwest down backstreets. Using a GPS map on a phone is best as the bar is a bit hidden on some backstreets in a nondescript residential area.

Alternately you can take the Odakyu Odawara Line to Shimo-kitazawa Station Station, head about 10 blocks northeast, then turn left and head west down a side street.

As a footnote, northeast the station is a café called 小川珈琲｜OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY

Enjoy!

LINKS

LITTLE SOUL CAFE

https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/index.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinjuku_Station

Shimokitazawa – Wikipedia

Shimokitazawa Area Guide | Tokyo Cheapo

VIDS

Rapha Café

Name: Rapha Café

Kind: Café

Location: 35°40’33.04″ N 139°42’21.36″ E

Station: Harajuku Station, JR Lines, Omote-sando Station, Metro Ginza Line

Free Wifi: Yes

Our Rating: ⭑⭑⭑

Worth it? Do not miss it.

Updated 8/28/2021

Also see our related Harajuku + Omotesando Superguide.

There’s a cool little café called Rapha in northwest Harajuku not too far from Harajuku Station. The café is just south of Shinjuku and offers a wide variety of gourmet coffee.

They also have a bike rack for locking your bike if you travel that way.

The staff + owner are friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is nice.

Access

To get to Rapha, either go to the new Harajuku Station on the JR lines, or to Omote-sando Station to the south on Metro Ginza Line, then head north through the backstreets. The cafe is northeast of the JR station and northwest of Omote-sando Station.

Harajuku/Omotesando area map. Harajuku Station is in the lower left, Omote-sando Station is right, center. Rapha is the pin shown near the top. Off to the left (west) is Yoyogi Park. North out of view is Shinjuku Station.

Conclusion

This is a cool little cafe on a corner with big glass windows and great coffee.

Note that the café is closed for COVID but will be reopening soon.

Enjoy!

LINKS

Rapha Cafe, Tokyo

Rapha

Metro Ginza Line

Harajuku + Omotesando Superguide

Swing by coffee

Name: Swing by coffee

Kind: Café

Location: 35°42’20.67″ N 139°43’50.03″ E

Station: Kaguazaka Station/T05, Waseda Station/T04, Metro Tozai Line

Free Wifi: YES

Our Rating: ⭑⭑⭑

Worth it? Yep.

Updated 8/28/2021

Also see our other posts on nearby Kaguazaka and Waseda University.

Near Waseda to the west, and Kagurazaka to the east, is the hip little café called Swing by coffee. Catering mostly to university students in the area, and to visitors the the charming little town of Kaguazaka, the shop offers both roasted brewed _ hand-poured coffee (coheé in Japanese).

Access

Kaguazaka Station (T05) on the Metro Tozai Line is the closest Metro station to Swing by coffee. If you are coming from Waseda, which is just one stop west on the Tozai Line, take the subway back east 1 stop.

From Kaguazaka Station, take the north exit, then head west (left) on Rt. 25 for a few blocks, then turn north (right) onto Edogawabashi-Dori Ave. The entire distance is only around 1/2 a mile. The walk from Waseda to the northwest is just over 1 mile.

As a footnote, just a few stops more west to the end of the Tozai Line is another small charming town: Nakano – if you have extra time be sure to drop in and check it out also.

Conclusion

This is a cool little cafe in close proximity to Kaguazaka, and Waseda, so if you’re in the area stop in and have a brew.

Enjoy!

LINKS

Swing by coffee

Kagurazaka Station – Wikipedia

https://www.tokyometro.jp/lang_en/station/line_tozai/index.html

Human Japanese | Kagurazaka

A Day in Kagurazaka: Walking in the Footsteps of Geisha and Discovering Modern Nostalgia | LIVE JAPAN travel guide

Waseda Station/T04 | Route/Station Information | Tokyo Metro Line

Walk in Waseda

A stroll in Kagurazaka

Nakano – Shinjuku’s charming satellite town

VIDS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48QeaX8PL-w

SWING Cafés

Name: SWING Café

Kind: Cafés

Location: 3 Locations in Suidobashi, 1 in Shibuya. 35°42’01.36″ N 139°45’17.79″ E

Station: Suidobashi Station, JR Lines, Metro Ginza Line, Metro Marunouchi Line

Free Wifi: Unknown

Site: https://www.shibuya-swing.com/

Our Rating: ⭑⭑⭑

Worth it? Yep.

Updated 8/28/2021

SWING Cafés are a little chain of retro coffee + beer pubs in west Tokyo south of Tokyo Dome City.

There is also one in Shibuya to the south.

These pubs offer a relaxed atmosphere with jazz music, coffee, and beer.

A great place to unwind or meet your friends.

Access

The closest station to the 3 in Suidobashi is Suidobashi Station on the Metro Ginza Line, or some of the JR lines. The station is east of the area the cafes are in. But you can also get to them from Tokyo Dome City to the north on the Marunouchi Metro Line. From TDC just walk south on Hakusan-Dori for a few blocks – all 3 will be in the immediate area on your right (west).

Enjoy!

LINKS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suid%C5%8Dbashi_Station

https://www.shibuya-swing.com/

Shibuya Superguide