Brewing around the world : Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵
Where ramen gets all the glory, but coffee quietly runs the show
Let’s be honest — when people think Tokyo, they think sushi, ramen, convenience store onigiri at midnight. But Tokyo’s coffee scene? Quietly, stubbornly excellent. And once you start pulling on that thread, you can’t stop.
This is a running list of spots I’ve visited across multiple trips. Some are legendary, some are happy accidents, and at least one required two separate attempts spanning two winters. You know who you are, BONGENCOFFEE.
- Fuglen, Yoyogi
- BONGENCOFFEE Ginza
- Byron Bay Coffee Company, Hamamatsucho
- KOFFEE MAMEYA, Omotesando
- Think Coffee, Ginza
Fuglen, Yoyogi {#tokyocoffee-fuglen}
If you’ve done any research into Tokyo’s specialty coffee scene, you’ve already heard the name. Fuglen is one of those places that appears on every list, and for once, the hype isn’t exhausting — it’s earned.
Originally an espresso bar that opened in Oslo back in the 1960s, Fuglen brought its Scandinavian sensibility to Yoyogi and the city hasn’t really been the same since. The location, sitting right at the edge of Yoyogi Park, means there’s always a crowd spilling out onto the footpath — locals, tourists, coffee snobs, curious passersby. All united by the queue.
Step inside and the European vibe hits immediately — warm wooden interior, coffee artefacts and brewing devices displayed like they belong in a museum (of the good kind), and behind the counter, a full wall of spirits and liquors. Which made me stop and wonder: what does this place look like at 10pm? Apparently quite good, actually — Fuglen doubles as a cocktail bar at night, which feels very Oslo of them.
The pastry selection leans Scandinavian — think baked goods you can’t quite name but absolutely want. Beans are available to take home, and there are a few other branches dotted around the city (Asakusa and Sangubashi, if Yoyogi is too busy). My advice? Go early, especially on weekends. By mid-morning, the outdoor gathering has transformed into a full scene.
BONGENCOFFEE Ginza {#tokyocoffee-bongen}
This one is personal.
BONGENCOFFEE Ginza is famous. Viral, even. The kind of spot that shows up on every Tokyo coffee reel with captions like “worth the wait.” I decided to test that theory — twice.
The first attempt was during my 2023/24 winter trip. I joined the queue, watched it slowly move, got within a few groups of the front… and then remembered I had a hair appointment. Reader, I left the queue. I still think about it.
So I returned the following winter. Armed with a revised strategy: arrive at least 30 minutes before opening. And I did — only to find 20+ groups already waiting outside, also with revised strategies. Fine. We all love coffee. This is fine.
From the moment doors opened, it became clear why the line moves the way it does. Each group orders multiple drinks. The baristas brew each coffee with the kind of focus that makes you feel slightly guilty for checking your phone. It was another 40 minutes before my turn. Was it worth it?
Yes. And the shopfront really is very cute.
Byron Bay Coffee Company, Hamamatsucho {#tokyocoffee-byronbay}
This. Place. What a pleasant surprise.
I stumbled across Byron Bay Coffee Company entirely by accident — I was staying at the 9 hours capsule hotel in Hamamatsucho on a budget leg of the trip, and naturally the universe compensated by placing an excellent Australian-style café right next door.
The name says it all, really. Flat white on the menu? That’s the Australian passport right there. I grabbed a flat white and a little banana bread for a quick brekky, and it hit exactly the spot that a budget hotel stay tends to leave empty.
Is it the most mind-blowing specialty coffee in Tokyo? No. But if you’re around Hamamatsucho and craving something that tastes like home — or like the café near home that you took for granted — this is it. Sometimes the surprise discoveries are the ones that stick with you.
KOFFEE MAMEYA, Omotesando {#tokyocoffee-mameya}
Everyone has heard about this place. Everyone talks about it. And for once — no hype. The moment you step in, you understand why.
KOFFEE MAMEYA is tucked quietly in Omotesando, its minimalistic exterior giving nothing away. No flashy signage, no cluttered window display. Just the quiet confidence of a place that knows exactly what it is: a specialty coffee shop. Nothing but coffee, done properly.
Approach the bar and the staff will walk you through the range of beans — origins, processing methods, flavour notes — and make recommendations based on what you actually like. Not in a gatekeeping way. In the way of someone who genuinely loves what they do and wants you to love it too.
This is, quietly, the place where my coffee journey began. That pour over changed something. The barista who served me explained the whole process — temperature, bloom, pour rate — and I understood maybe 40% of it, but I walked out different. Curious. The kind of curious that leads to you standing in queues across multiple countries, apparently.
They’ve since opened a coffee omakase and cupping bar on the other side of the city in Koto district. I haven’t been yet. That’s a next-trip problem.
An absolute must for any coffee lover visiting Tokyo. Full stop.
Think Coffee {#tokyocoffee-think}
Another one that doesn’t announce itself loudly — Think Coffee is a low-key roastery and café that feels more neighbourhood local than destination spot. Which is exactly what makes it interesting.
The setup is relaxed: they serve the usual café food alongside a roster of drinks that includes both serious coffee and those vibrantly coloured fancy sweet beverages (yes, Matcha Strawberry, I see you). Not judging. Mostly.
What sold me before I even ordered was the smell. There’s a roasting machine right at the entrance, and walking through that door in winter is — genuinely — like being wrapped in something warm and nutty. The kind of smell that slows your pace and makes you want to stay longer than you planned.
For a roastery that keeps things understated, the coffee is solid. Worth seeking out if you’re in the area and want something that feels a little off the beaten Tokyo coffee trail.
More Tokyo brews to come
The list doesn’t stop here. Two more spots are on the radar — Chatei Hatou and Torahebi Coffee — and they deserve a proper write-up rather than a rushed mention at the end of this post. Watch this space for Part 2, or an update when I make it back.