Tokyo
Since Tokyo is the biggest city in Japan, you can find pretty much anything you want here! My favorite thing to do was try cafes and coffee shops, so there is a big focus on that on this list. When I lived in Japan, I had a very limited budget and most of my dining out treats were 2,000 yen or less.
While of course you should visit Tokyo, I highly recommend also visiting other places, even if itโs just day trips. Kamakura is an hour by local train, and there are plenty of other places like, Tochigi, that all have really fun things to do and good food.
Shibuya, Omotesando, Harajuku
Parfaiteria bel
Japan, ใ150-0043 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Dogenzaka, 1 Chomeโ7โ10 ๆฐๅคงๅฎใฝใทใขใซใใซ (Google Maps)
The concept behind this place is that in Hokkaido, instead of eating ramen after a heavy night of drinking, they eat parfaits. Everyone Iโve talked to from Hokkaido says that this isnโt actually a thing, but this place has delicious late night parfaits nonetheless. They are also the inventors of the parfait vending machine, with canned parfaits! I highly recommend it because they have delicious and super cheap parfaits, plus itโs a night time activity for people who donโt drink. *They also have locations in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Sapporo, and Osaka, the parfaits change per location.
Gochiton
Japan, ใ150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 3 Chomeโ17โ5 ้ดๅฑใใซ 1้ (Google Maps)
My favorite soup is tonjiru. The first time I had it was when I was a teacher with my elementary school lunch, any day that was tonjiru day was my favorite! While Gochiton doesnโt taste anything like the lunch centerโs tonjiru, I will absolutely be stopping in on my next trip to Japan. *They have multiple locations but they seem to open and close a lot.
SHOZO TOKYO STORE CAFE & GROCERY
Japan, ใ107-0061 Tokyo, Minato City, Kita-Aoyama, 3 Chomeโ10โ15 1F (Google Maps)
This is a famous coffee shop from Kuroiso, where I lived for 3 years in Tochigi prefecture. While I absolutely recommend making a trip to Kuroiso (only 1 hour by shinkansen, 3 hours by local train) to go to the original location there(itโs incredibly different, and often credited for helping create Japanโs cafe culture), this little stand carries some of the inaka cafe spirit in one of Tokyoโs busiest areas. SHOZO is famous for scones, so make sure to get some!
Shinjuku
One of the biggest financial districts in Japan. It also has massive nightlife and red-light district.
KITASANDO COFFEE
Japan, ใ151-0051 Tokyo, Shibuya, Sendagaya, 4 Chomeโ12โ8, Sunny Side Up Bldg, 1F (Google Maps)
A short walk away from Yoyogi station, KITASANDO COFFEE serves high quality single origin coffee and delicious baked goods in a quieter corner of the city. I recommend stopping by for a little treat and enjoying a drink on their outdoor patio. Be warned though, they do not accept cash.
Golden Gai
I recommend Golden Gai if you want that Anthony Bordain drinking experience:
Japan, ใ160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kabukicho, 1 Chomeโ1โ6 2F (Google Maps)
Nakano/Koenji
Nakano and Koenji have extremely different atmospheres, anime, manga, and game fans love Nakano Boardway for all of the used anime goods shops there, while Koenji is more of a place for hipsters and live music fans with a lot of used clothing shops and smaller music venues. The neighboring shops on the Chuo Line, and since one of my favorite cafes in Japan is in the middle of them, Iโm putting them together.
LOU
5 Chome-53-4 Nakano, Nakano City, Tokyo 164-0001, Japan (Google Maps)
LOU is a really nice cafe located on a street on the side of Nakano Broadway. The staff are super nice, when I went it was cold but they only had outdoor seating so they made sure offer me a seat in doors when one opened up. They have very nice desserts and coffee, and they were proud of their domestically sourced produce. If you can get a seat, I highly recommend this spot while you visit Nakano Broadway!
RAD BROS CAFE
1 Chome-4-2 Koenjikita, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0002, Japan (Google Maps)
One of my favorite cafes. They have a really good modern coffee menu that they pair with seasonal cakes. But the most important thing is that the building has cats. I asked the coffee shop owner what the deal was with them, and apparently theyโre are three different cats that come and go, they belong to the building owner and they just hang around as they please. Absolutely the best part, especially if youโre a cat lover who doesnโt wanna go to a sad cat cafe.
Rect Stand Cafe
Japan, ใ166-0003 Tokyo, Suginami City, Koenjiminami, 3 Chomeโ54โ14 1F (Open in Google Maps)
This vegan cafe is more of a food base cafe than coffee shop, and I absolutely love it. They have a menu with specials that rotate daily, itโs definitely a popular shop so there might be a line on the weekends!
Nishi Ogikubo
This is a popular place for university students to live, but it also has an older population that has been there since the Showa era.
Saten Japanese Tea
4 Chome-44-5 Koenjiminami, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0003, Japan (Google Maps)
If you love matcha and are looking for a modern take on matcha, this is the cafe for you. They have matcha drinks, sweets, and also have a great ogura toast.
CAFE Orchestra
A very good local curry shop with Indian inspired curries!
2 Chome-20-5 Nishiogiminami, Suginami City, Tokyo 167-0053, Japan (Open in Google Maps)
Shoan Bunko
3 Chome-12-22 Shoan, Suginami City, Tokyo 167-0054, Japan (Open in Google Maps)
This cafe is a taste of the inaka cafe in Tokyo, located in an old Japanese house. Highly recommended if you want a countryside get away in the city.
Kichijoji
I lived in this area for 1.5 years, itโs incredibly popular with university students because there are many universities nearby. If youโre a bit of a nerd, itโs also where one of the Persona 5 expansions takes place.
CAFETELIER
Japan, ใ180-0004 Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji Honcho, 2 Chomeโ7โ3 ใใงใชใชๅ็ฅฅๅฏบ ๏ผ๏ผ๏ผ(Open in Google Maps)
This shop hosts rotating cafes, all of which are delicious. How it usually works is that they cafe will rent the space for a day of the week, like Tuesday, and will set up for that day of the week. If you try to go I highly recommend checking their Instagram page, it will usually have a calendar with what concept is there on what day and it will also have the days itโs closed. Some concepts are more coffee focused, some are more sweets focused.
Komagura Cafe
Japan, ใ180-0004 Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji Honcho, 2 Chomeโ14โ28 3F (Google Maps)
A very nice cafe with a good view of the side street below. Itโs on the third floor so be sure not to miss the stairs leading up to it!
LIGHT UP COFFEE
4 Chome-13-15 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0004, Japan (Google Maps)
I recommend this place if youโre interested in coffee! They have a coffee flight for you to try their different roasts, itโs very fun!
Hikiniku to come
2 Chome-8-3 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0004, Japan (Google Maps)
Very popular spot that serves char grilled hamburgers and rice. It can be very difficult to get into, you might have to show up early to line up to get a time slot! You can also get lucky on some weekdays and just walk in. No advance reservations.
WORLD BREAKFAST ALLDAY
2 Chome-4-2-102 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0004, Japan (Google Maps)
A very interesting all day breakfast spot. They have their standard menu with English, American, and Taiwanese breakfasts, but they have a special menu that rotates bimonthly with a different countryโs breakfast. They work with chefs from that region3 to create authentic meals, I know one of my Swedish friends would always make sure to go when they were serving Swedish food so she could have the taste of home. I highly recommend the experience. *Locations also in Ginza and Gaienmae
Shimokitazawa
A very popular area with younger people and hipsters. Lots of used clothing shops and restaurants. I donโt actually have many specific recommendations for this area. Iโve been multiple times, it kind of has a bit of a Harajuku vibe before it got so commercialized. Itโs also getting heavily commercialized now too.
Ogawa Coffee Laboratory Shimokitazawa
Japan, ใ155-0031 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Kitazawa, 3 Chomeโ19โ20 reload1-1 (Google Maps)
This place has an extensive bean selection that can be a bit overwhelming, but an exciting experience nonetheless. All of the coffee comes with a little card that talks about the flavor notes of the roast.
Other Tokyo Recommendations
These are places that left a big impact on me that might be in smaller neighborhoods of Tokyo or places I don’t have a lot of recommendations for.
Gas-O Coffee Co.
4 Chome-20-11 Wakabayashi, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0023, Japan (Google Maps)
This is a dear friend of mine’s coffee shop! I have been following them since their pop-up days and now they have a physical location in Shoin Jinja Mae. The owner is super nice and friendly, he speaks English and has lived in Canada and Australia. A lot of coffee shops in Japan can feel a little quiet and maybe a little cold, so he wants to create a shop that feels warm and welcoming to customers where they can chat and enjoy their coffee! He was the only who introduced me to an espresso tonic, 2 years before it became the drink of the summer in America. Look out for their seasonal drinks!
Los Tacos Azules
1 Chome-17-9 Kamiuma, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0011, Japan (Google Maps)
This restaurant is a perfect example of what fusion food should be. The chef is from Mexico and opened up this shop in Sangenjaya and focuses on tortillas. They used imported blue corn to make their own masa, but then used locally sourced ingredients and flavor profiles to create delicious tacos. Itโs also one of the few places in Tokyo where you can find a tamale, when I went they had a savory chicken tamale and a dessert matcha and red bean tamale. I was a homesick Texan in Japan for 7 years, so this place was a gem to me personally. They also do an omakase menu with a focus on showing the flavor of their corn tortillas and local ingredients.
The French Toast Factory Akihabara
Japan, ใ101-0028 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kanda Hanaokacho, 1-1 ใจใใใทAkiba8F (Google Maps)
My favorite place to get Japanese souffle pancakes! Sometimes thereโs a line, so there might be a wait, I had the best luck going early in the mornings.
DAVIDE COFFEE SHOP
2 Chome-3-1 Iriya, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0013, Japan (Google Maps)
Nothing will replace the joy I felt when I saw the barista making a delicious looking drink and found out that it was mine.
Suke6 Diner
Japan, ใ111-0033 Tokyo, Taito City, Hanakawado, 1 Chomeโ11โ1 ใใใฟใใซ (Google Maps)
A great place for breakfast in Asakusa.
ROCCOโS NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA
Japan, ใ114-0022 Tokyo, Kita City, Ojihoncho, 1 Chomeโ1โ24TK101 ใใคใ็ๅญ (Google Maps)
Best New York slice in the city, maybe in the country. They also have pink lemonade. This place is a favorite of homesick Americans.
TAKAO COFFEE
2400-1 Takaomachi, Hachioji, Tokyo 193-0844, Japan (Google Maps)
Mount Takao is my number one recommendation for a taste of hiking in Japan because a train from Shibuya will take you directly to the trailhead, you donโt really need to bring any special equipment or shoes, there are plenty of people, you can take a cable car up most of the way if you want, the hike is about 90 minutes, and thereโs this delicious cafe at the base if you want to get a little treat before you head back on the train to Tokyo.
Be sure to check out our other post about cafes and restaurants in Japan, such as Nagoya, Kyoto’s Kiyomizu and Shijo-Kawaramachi, Kamakura, Nasushiobara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Onomichi, and Hagi!
Learn about Japanese street food at Ise Shine!
Tell us your favorite places to eat in Tokyo!
