Tokyo Coffee Guide
I don’t settle for mid or bad coffee. You shouldn’t either. I find it hard to trust sources before going to a city so this valuable list is inspired by my extended, 6-week stay in Tokyo. From minimalist pour‑overs to uniquely flavored espresso gems — here’s a fresh, insider’s guide to Tokyo specialty coffee shops that match your taste: great coffee, cool vibes, zero Starbucks.
☕ What’s the Deal with the Tokyo Coffee Scene?
Tokyo is officially among the world’s top third‑wave coffee capitals (honestly, it should be much higher on the list …), lauded for its obsessive quality, cutting-edge coffee innovation, authentic aesthetics and deep-rooted coffee culture. Unlike the ubiquitous Starbucks or even Blue Bottle, which don’t match my taste (and probably not yours), Tokyo offers carefully sourced, single-origin roasts that echo the craftsmanship of small, passion-driven farmers, roasters and baristas.
There are numerous coffee shops in Tokyo. Some are amazing and one-of-a-kind. A lot are great. A number are not so great – you won’t hear about them from me. So how do you know where to spend your time and money without wasting either? Simple, I’ve done the work for you. Just follow my advice (and account ;).
Here are 3 reels that encompass my full list of recommendations. They will have you saying: “おいしいです”（Oishii desu, “Delicious!”）
🎥 Volume 1: Visiting Tokyo? Love good coffee? Here’s the *only* list of Tokyo Coffee Shops you need
District: Asakusa
Go to this specialty coffee shop when visiting this sight: Ueno Park (Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, and Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum)
District: Ryōgoku
Go to this specialty coffee shop when visiting this Tokyo sight: Sumo wrestling at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena
Bonus Feature
District: Asakusa
Go to this specialty coffee shop when visiting this Tokyo sight: Kappabashi or Kitchen Town
District: Kuramae
Go to this specialty coffee shop when visiting this Tokyo sight: Walking around Kuramae shopping
District: Asakusa
Go to this specialty coffee shop when visiting this Tokyo sight: Senso-ji
Bonus Feature: Cocktails!
District: Sumida City
Go to this specialty coffee shop when visiting this sight: Tokyo Skytree
District: Jinbocho
Go to this specialty coffee shop when visiting this sight: Jinbocho book district
District: Shibuya
Go to this specialty coffee shop when visiting this sight: The Shibuya train station
One of my top 5 coffee shops in Tokyo!
District: Koto City
Go to this specialty coffee shop when visiting this sight: Just go! But it’s near Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT)
Bonus Feature: Try everything but I still dream about their mocktail
District: Shimokita
Go to this specialty coffee shop when visiting this sight: Shopping around Shimokita
District: Shubuya
Go there when visiting this sight: Shopping in Shubuya
One of my top 5 coffee shops in Tokyo!
District: Shimokita
Go there when visiting this sight: Shopping around Shimokita
District: Multiple
Go there when: Everything else is closed between Christmas and New Years in Tokyo (check their Instagram for opening times)
District: Akasaka
District: Simokitazawa (and others)
Go there when visiting this sight: Shopping around Shimokita
District: Shibuya
Go there when visiting this sight: Meiji Jingu and Yoyogi Parkla
District: Minato City
Go there when visiting: Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium, Rugby Stadium or the Olympic stadium
District: Shibuya
Go there when visiting this sight: Harajuku area and Takeshita
District: Shibuya
Go there when visiting this sight: Harajuku area and Takeshita
District: Multiple locations
Directions to the Kamimeguro location
☕️ @lonich_jp
District: Kuramae
Go there when visiting this sight: Shopping around Kuramae
District: Tsukiji
Go there when visiting this sight: The only shop open early enough to grab before a tour of the Tsukiji
One of my top 5 coffee shops in Tokyo!
District: Ginza & Jinbocho
Go there when visiting this sight: Just go there! Expect a line as you get to smell each bean option and chat with the barista to select the perfect bean for you. It will be worth it (if you’re going to Osaka, their Osaka location rarely has a line and has a big indoor space).
🎥 Volume 2: Because Tokyo is full of great specialty coffee … Love good coffee? Here’s the *only* list of Tokyo Coffee Shops you need
District: Minamiaoyama
Go there when visiting: SunnyHills Taiwanese Pineapple Cakes building and shop minamiaoyama
District: Nihonbashi
District: Akihabara
Go there when visiting this sight: Akihabara
District: Taito City
District: Asakusa
Go there when visiting this sight: Shopping around Asakusa Chuo Dori St.
District: Chiyoda City
Go there when visiting: The Kimura Glass shop
District: Nihonbashi
Go there when visiting this sight: Beaver Bread
District: Shinagawa
Go there when visiting this sight: The galleries in this area and the What Museum
District: Marnouchi
Go there when visiting this sight: Underground shopping in the Marunouchi Tokyo train station or taking a train in / out of this station
District: Jinbocho
Go there when visiting this sight: Jinbocho
District: Lidabashi
Go there when: Wanting to enjoy two very Japanese things – stand up drinking/eating, and beautiful dishes and service
Multiple locations
District: Kinshicho
District: Shibuya
Go there when: wanting a cool hidden vibe in Shibuya with great records spinning
District: Meguro
Go there when visiting this sight: this is the coffee shop to visit when walking along the Meguro River to see the cherry blossoms
District: Toranomon
Directions to the Toranomon locations
District: Roppongi, Ebisu, and Sendagaya
Go there when working remotely. Great bright space with wifi (rare)
District: Azabujuban
🎥 Volume 3: Because Tokyo is full of great specialty coffee … Going to Tokyo? Need good coffee? This is the ultimate guide to only the best coffee shops in Tokyo
Calling all specialty coffee lovers. The final installment of the definitive Tokyo specialty coffee shop guide (3/3) is here. When you’re in Tokyo, check out these shops (and the others in my previous vids):
District: Shiba
District: Hongo
District: Sendagi
Go there when visiting this sight: Sendagi shopping street
District: Sumida City
Go there when visiting this sight: Tokyo Skytree
District: Shinjuku
District: Nihonbashi
District: Shibuya
Go there when visiting shopping around Kitasando
District: Shinjuku
Go there when visiting the Yayoi Kusama Museum
☕ @de._coffee
District: Nihonbashi
District: Kachidoki
Go there when visiting this sight: Tsukishima Monja street for some delicious Monja (highly recommend!)
District: Nihonbashi
District: Nihonbashi
Go there when visiting this sight: check out their ice cream (i didn’t have a chance to but why not do both)
☕ @glitch_coffee
District: Jinbocho, Nihonbashi & Ginza locations
Go there at all costs but don’t be in a hurry. There is likely a line and each person gets some time to smell, discuss and choose beans. Well worth it!
Directions to the Tokyo location I found to be the least busy
☕ @baristabase (shout out to the fantastic barista @o_ga_wa87 whom I chatted with when I was there at their @matenrou_coffee pop up location)
District: Check for popup locations
District: Kitazawa
District: Shibuya
Go there for a beautiful and quieter tasting experience that other Fuglen locations don’t offer
District: Yokohama (Tokyo suburb that’s a quick detour from Tokyo via train)
Go there when on a side quest to Yokohama from Tokyo. The only shop I found there that I liked.
Follow @thirdwaving for (only) great coffee wherever you are.
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