In this edition of The Café That You Want to Visit to See Someone, I visited Kayaba Coffee, a coffee shop in Yanaka, Tokyo, which is a perfect example of the old and traditional shitamachi neighbourhoods. Kayaba Coffee is just a 10-minute walk from both Nezu Station and Nippori Station. This is a place I've visited in my private time out of work and I'm always excited to go. Kayaba Coffee was established in 1938, and actually closed in 2006. But due to public demand, the cafe reopened just two years later in 2008. It's a popular coffee shop loved by people of all generations.   Time to head on in.   The first floor houses the counter and table seats, while the seating on the second floor is traditional zashiki style on tatami flooring. Although it's a cafe, you I feel so relaxed in there that it's like I'm visiting my grandma's house. The sun shines through the big windows, making you all warm and want to take a nap. I ordered their super popular egg sandwich! The menu was changed in May this year, and a new and improved version of their egg sandwich was put on there. It's made using sourdough bread from VANER, a local bakery in Uenosakuragi not far from the cafe.

Breakfast Menu - Egg Sandwich | ¥1,000

The chewy, sour bread is the perfect combination with the fluffy eggs.

Lemon Squash | ¥600

The lemon squash has a cinnamon aftertaste. Everything on the menu is made with love and perfection; before I realised it, I was hooked on going there.

Strawberry Shaved Ice | ¥800

This was my first shaved ice of the year! I went with the classic strawberry flavour. The syrup is super juicy and nearly collapsed the fluffy shaved ice the moment I put it on. It has a syrupy texture and the strawberry juice has a sweet and sour kick that's just simply delightful♡   And you can make it even sweeter by pouring over your desired amount of condensed milk. It was really tasty. Kayaba Coffee is the same as it was back in the day, and continues to be loved dearly. I think even people who visit it for the first time will feel a sense of nostalgia. If you have a place you can go to relax on bad days or when you're feeling down, it's sure to give you the strength to work hard again. This cafe is a wonderful place that's close to people's hearts.   I want to visit there again already.   Writer/Model: Ema TaniokuPhotographer: Haruka YamamotoDesign: Yuko Takayama (ASOBISYSTEM)Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

HANABAR, a floral themed cafe and bar in Koenji, Tokyo, released two breathtaking new cream sodas on Friday which capture the sentimental feeling of summer transitioning to autumn. HANABAR opened in September 2017 as Japan's "first dried flower cafe." A sister store, gmgm, opened last year selling gorgeously gourmet doughnuts topped with dried flowers. Both stores as produced by Nana Yui, a dried flower artist.

Lavendel | ¥1,100

Coloured an eye-catching purple, this autumn-time cream soda is made with lavender, butterfly pea, and lime.

Aimatsurika | ¥1,100

A refreshing mix of jasmine, grapefruit, and lemon topped with sweet ice cream that has a citrus fruit aftertaste.   The flowers draped inside the ice are all elderflower which has high nutritional value.   Beat the Japanese heat this summer in Tokyo with one of these tantalising cream sodas.

In this edition of The Café That You Want to Visit to See Someone, I visited Sepia in Shibamata, a Showa-retro style cafe which I've always wanted to visit. The cafe is just a 2-minute stroll from Shibamata Station which appears in the Japanese film Otoko wa Tsurai yo. The walk along the road that leads to Sepia, which is nearby the Buddhist temple Shibamata Taishakuten, is a pleasant one. Tokyo is a city consistently perceived as one that is cutting-edge in every aspect, but what I felt from each and every building surrounding Shibamata Station was a kind of warmth that you feel when something has history to it.   It's been seven years since I came to Tokyo. Visiting Shibamata made me me realised how many places there are which I still don't know about. It invigorated me. As my mind wandered with these pondering thoughts, I finally spotted the sign outside the cafe, and it sure is a cute one! The moment I stepped inside, I stood, my mouth agape, and looked at my surroundings. It's the first time I've entered such a bright, shining cafe. It was littered with characters I've never seen before, manga, magazines, and more.   When you hear the word kira kira ("glitter," "sparkle"), the first thing that comes to mind for a lot of people is probably Harajuku and the Harajuku style, but Sepia's version of kira kira is a nostalgic one betwixt 1965 and 1975 during the Showa Period. The cafe is incredibly delicate in every spot and corner, like I'm looking inside some grand treasure chest. The owner of Sepia is Kiyoko Hasezawa. The cafe gets its name from the manga Milky Sepia Monogatari by Ako Mutsu. Ms. Hasezawa said that she wanted to bring to life the world of the manga she loved. The cafe is full of her dreams and is enjoyed by everyone, both children and adults alike. The cafe menu is even inspired by the food that appears in the Milky Sepia Monogatari manga. The hard pudding I had, which combined caramel sauce and cream, was an absolute delight.

Homemade Showa Pudding & Cream Soda Set: ¥1,200

If we're talking cafes, then you can't go wrong with cream soda. The cream soda served at Sepia comes in seven different flavours and colours: melon, Blue Hawaii, strawberry, lemon, peach, grape, and orange. I was spoilt for choice on which to go for, but in the end I went with the pink-coloured strawberry. It had a sweet flavour and was really delicious.

Strawberry Cream Soda: ¥750

I devoured the hotcakes too. The pastry was so fluffy and tasty - I could have eaten a hundred of them. The second one I ate with honey.

Hotcakes: ¥600

At the back of the cafe, they also have the "Candy Candy Museum." There's a personal collection of items from Candy H Milky, a female fashion enthusiastic who used to be a customer at Sepia. There's a photo spot for snapping a photo in the cafe too.   It's a great time getting to go and look at the displays after eating. I recommend going to see the collection yourself with your own eyes. Entry to the museum is ¥300. There's a tearoom up on the second floor which has a nostalgic vibe to it. I felt warm and relaxed, like I'd been transported to my grandma's house.

Humans can't travel back in time, but if we look after mementos properly, we can go back there in our minds and memories. Sepia, a place that continues to be cherished and loved, is everybody's treasure trove.

 

My oh my, I really want to go back there again.

  Writer/Model：Ema TaniokuPhotographer：Haruka YamamotoDesign：Yuko Takayama（ASOBISYSTEM）

gmgm released a new collection of "Cold Flower Doughnuts" on July 17 for the summer season which you need to scoop up to eat.

 

gmgm is a cosy cafe and doughnut shop in Koenji, Tokyo which serves beautiful doughnuts topped with edible flowers.

Scoopable "Cold Flower Doughnuts" - ¥450 (Before Tax)

Combined with refreshing summertime lemon jelly is a creamy panna cotta filled with lumps of fresh fruit. On the surface of the jelly is colourful and elegant seasonal edible flowers. The bottom layer is the super soft panna cotta which enjoys the richness of the fresh cream and the juiciness of the fruits.

In this edition of The Café That You Want to Visit to See Someone, I visited J-COOK in Gaiemmae, a place I visited one time while off work which ended up in me wanting to absolutely feature it in the series! It's just a 5-minute stroll from Gaiemmae Station. The cafe enjoys lots of sunlight, which is brightened further by all the plants scattered through the shop. The cafes I have visited to date are often a little darker with only a little light seeping through the windows to create a certain atmosphere, and they are wonderful, but this was the first I have ever visited with so might light and so many plants. The air felt clear, adding to the level of comfort in the cafe, perhaps because there are so many plants adorning the interior. The cafe also has a space with a slightly more darker light and atmosphere on the left side. I haven't sat in that area yet, so I think I'll try it out on my next visit. When I come to J-COOK, my eyes always wander over to the marzipan creations (¥450). These ones here were actually all individually handmade by the owner's husband from the early morning. If you look really closely, you'll notice all the dog designs are different. When ordering, get to pick out which one you want, so try finding your perfect pup! I had mine together with an iced coffee (¥450). The sweet marzipan is a delicious combination with the bitterness of the coffee. I also got some potted cream (¥450). It's kind of like a Japanese custard pudding with just a moderate amount of sweetness. I had mine with a bit of brandy which had fragrant vanilla notes. They've had this brandy for 33 years since the store first opened. The cream was sensational, and the gentle notes linger afterwards. They have a lot of different homemade soups too which are perfect for the coming cold weather. I got the New Orleans-style gumbo soup. It's spicy with clam and okra in it. Relaxing jazz music plays in the cafe while you sit and enjoy your drink and meal. J-COOK is a wonderful little cafe run by a husband and wife. When I first came, the wife came and talked to me. She's super friendly, and although it was our first meeting, she made me feel really comfortable and welcome. She must be full of happiness, which in turn naturally gives people who visit the strength to be positive and work hard.   I reckon their smiles have saved a lot of people.   I can't wait to visit again!   Writer/Model: Ema TaniokuPhotographer: Haruka YamamotoDesign: Yuko Abe (ASOBISYSTEM)Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

It’s been a while since our last date with Yutaro. He’s been very busy with film shoots. He had some spare time today so we paid a visit to Nihonbashi for our next date. “ECO EDO Nihonbashi: Enjoy Cool Edo With All Five Senses” is an event held every year in the Nihonbashi area which takes the Edo period cultural idea of “coolness”―an in, to enjoy being cool during the summer－and puts a modern spin on it. There are many exciting things to look forward to, including the art aquarium which proves massively popular every year.   We gave ourselves more time to arrive at the meeting place to be in the safe side, but it seems Yutaro-kun was already there waiting for us!

Nihonbashi Information Center | IPPIN CAFÉ “Sparkling Herb Tea” – ¥518 (Tax Included)

“Here, you must be boiling.” Yutaro-kun kindly offers a cup of IPPIN CAFE’s limited-edition sparkling herb tea. It’s a delicious mix of fizzy soda and lemon, a perfect refreshment for the summer. Since he ordered takeout the drink came with a goldfish straw. Goldfish are a staple sight during Japanese summer festivals so it’s very fitting for the occasion!    With our drinks in hand, it’s time to head to Nihonbashi for our Edo summer date!

Wind-Chime Forest Path

Lining the path between Fukutoku Shrine and Fukutoku Garden is the Wind-Chime Forest Path where around 200 Edo-style wind chimes dangled. This year, during the evenings, the path is illuminated with beautiful lighting.  When the breeze rolls past the wind chimes ring one by one－a cool and refreshing sound. “I hear each one of these Edo wind chimes are individually handmade by craftsmen.” When you hear the sound of the wind chimes it makes you feel cool like a gentle breeze of the wind.   After strolling along the Wind-Chime Forest Path we make our way towards this year’s ECO EDO Art Aquarium event. The moment we step instead Yutaro is already dazzled by all the goldfish: “Wow! I knew about this place from what I’d seen online, but this my first time here! This art aquarium really is something!”   The full title of the event is “ECO EDO Nihonbashi ART AQUARIUM 2019 ~Edo, Coolness of Kingyo~ & Night Aquarium.”  Goldfish were a huge part of the common culture in Nihonbashi during the Edo period. This event recreates that and brings that “coolness” aspect while combining it with contemporary art by having people observe the fish in lots of different artistic environments.

Super Oiran

“This is the biggest fish tank, apparently it has 3,000 fish swimming inside!” “Seeing the light reflect on the water from the illuminations lets you see the fish in a different light, doesn’t it?” Looks like Yutaro-kun is having a lot of fun taking photos. He’s equally interested in just about every fish tank! These other fish tanks have a different aesthetic to them. Their Japanese-style designs make for great photos.

Kaleidorium 3D

“This one’s beautiful, it’s like a kaleidoscope.” It really does look like one. When you take a peek instead you can glimpse all kinds of colourful fish gently swimming around.

Ceiling Kingyo

“There’re goldfish swimming on the ceiling too. So cool! This aquarium is incredible. It brings together the great culture of Edo and contemporary art.”   The Art Aquarium bustles every single year with visitors, but this year will mark its last run. It’s being held at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall, so if you have the chance to go then please do. We of course checked out some local Nihonbashi treats too! We stopped by morozoff for some cheesecake after the aquarium.

morozoff Kamadashi Cheesecake (Goldfish) – ¥270 Each (Tax Included)

These cute cheesecakes with their goldfish designs are available for a limited time only. They’re filled with sweet red bean paste. They perfect with iced tea. “Got some! Let’s eat them while we head back.”

Goldfish Lantern Walkway

Our first date in Nihonbashi was so much fun. While on the date Yutaro-kun spoke about the new live-action film he’s in, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War.   “It’s a romance film with mind games to try and make the other person confess their love. I play the character Tsubasa. His number one highlight scene is the kabedon scene. That was my first day shooting, so I was super nervous, but I got along well with the other actors, and the atmosphere on set was harmonious, so I was able to relax for the shoots. Tsubasa is a genuine guy who will believe things that have been said to him in earnest. You’ve definitely gotta check out all his scenes throughout the film!”   “A lot of the cast are the same age as me, so we were all energetic together in the waiting room. There’s a scene at the end where all the cast get together. It took 3 days to shoot so we ended up getting along really well.”   “This film has made me realise that love comes in many shapes, and that mind games happen in a variety of ways between guys and girls. There’s cute scenes that express that small bit of pride that teenagers have, the embarassment they feel, when they get butterflies, scenes that will warm your heart. The film has various elements to it so I thoroughly enjoyed watching it myself. I hope that couples in love in their teens and twenties watch it, and I also hope that married couples watch it and crack up laughing too.”   “In the film it’s summer break, and they go and see fireworks and stuff. It’s definitely one to watch durnig the summer. You’re gonna come watch it too, right? Shall we go?”   An offer we cannot refuse! We’ll definitely go and see it with you, Yutaro-kun!    Model: YutaroWriter: Yuki YokooPhotographer: Kayo Sekiguchi