“It’s a mysterious café vacuum sealed with an energy that feels like it’s the time of the Japanese economic miracle”   We’re at the third installment of this series where we take a stroll to old-fashioned cafes filled with a sense of nostalgia. I, Ema Tanioka, will be introducing to you another retro café that I am in love with. Today, we go to “Galant” in Ueno, a town where the Showa mood still lingers.   Galant has continued to be loved by many people since it opened its doors back in 1977. This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the popular café. “Galant” sounds a little space-y, don’t you think? It’s a little different from the norm. When I enquired to the staff about the origin of the café’s name, they told me that it comes from the Mitsubishi Galant as the owner is a fan of cars. To think that a car’s name became the name of a café! But it has a ring to it and is easy to remember, so it might actually be a huge success.   Anyway, without further ado, let’s make our way there! Galant is on the 2^nd floor of this building. As you head up the stairs, it no longer felt like I was in the real world. A completely different world opened before me. Because of the entrance’s chic brickwork, I was surprised by the dazzling lights floating inside. And here! Here too! There was so much sparkle. The first thing to peak my interest was the uniform the staff were wearing. So cute... You don’t see that red & yellow combination much these days. It helped amplify that retro mood of the café even more.   The male staff wore red & black! Black was the base colour and had that well defined, guy-like feel to it. Together with the checkered vests, it completed that retro look. It was wonderful. The café was also playing popular Showa era songs. I really felt like I had stepped back in time.       And then... and then! The menu arrived! The most popular item on the menu is the chocolate parfait (￥900 tax incl.). It was absolutely stuffed with cream all the way to the middle. For people who love sweet things this is an irresistible delight. By the way, I must ask, what do you do when it comes to the cherry on top of the parfait? The truth is, I absolutely love parfaits, but I’m really not into the cherry – I usually leave it until the end. Even though it looks so cute on the parfait... Another item is the cream soda (￥750 tax incl.). When going to a café, you just have to get a cream soda!! It’s because you don’t see them around much besides at cafes and family restaurants, so I’m the person that ends up ordering one unintentionally when if I see it on the menu. There’s a nice fat serving of ice cream in there. It’s a drink you can enjoy that has the aesthetic of a dessert. The melon soda is crystal clear like a precious gem. The best part about cream soda is how the ice cream slowly melts into the drink. It’s pretty fun to watch! Galant is the kind of café where the more you get to know it, the more you start to love it. Its fans have been supporting it for many years, and even when I become a grandma in the future, I reckon it’ll still be bustling all the same.  

"A coffee lounge where you can step back in time and spend it in luxury."   Showa, retro-style coffee shops that are comfortable and echo a sense of nostalgia. I, Ema Tanioka, love going to these kinds of cafés. I hope to make you want to visit a place like this, the kind of place where you want to meet with someone.   For today's stroll, I went to Kōenji, a conveniently accessible location from the city just one stop from Shinjuku on the Chūō Line. When you think of Kōenji, you think of its plentiful second hand clothes shops and shops selling miscellaneous goods, among others, all with their individual traits. It's the kind of town where you're sure to discover something new each time you visit. This time around, I went to "Nanatsumori," a café that has a retro look to it from the outside. It was built in Showa 53 (the year 1978). I heard that the building was originally used as a tea house. At the front of the café is an old-fashioned shaved ice machine. I couldn't help turning it. Upon entering, you can see the interior of the café has weathered. It has an atmosphere reminiscent of the Showa era, like you've just stepped back in time. No matter where you take a photograph in the café it will look beautiful.   There were lots of mysterious ornaments inside; I couldn't help but reach my hands out to touch everything♪ But, in the end, I didn't know what any of the things I'm holding in the photos were. How on earth do you use this stuff...?!   While pondering that, just simply gazing around the interior of the café filled me with a feeling of excitement.

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I ordered Omurice (￥1,185 w/tax) and a Jumbo Purin (￥625 w/tax) for this visit.   I tucked into my omurice first. But you don't eat omurice with ketchup here. Instead, it comes with a traditional style seasoning. The rice was mixed with beef, burdock, and enoki mushrooms, as well as a salty-sweet seasoning that tasted like shigureni. On top of the rice was an omelette that had fresh cream inside. It was wonderful.   The traditional style rice and the sweet-tasting egg went perfectly together! I cleared my plate very quickly. For dessert, I went with my absolute favourite—custard purin♪   It was served in a cute plate that looked like a goldfish bowl. It looked very photogenic. The purin itself wasn't the soft kind. It was an old-style purin with elasticity and a gentle flavour. The caramel sauce was delicious too with its ever so slightly bitter taste. I could have eaten more than one. I also ordered black tea to go with it.   The menu has plenty of other homemade sweets too! I definitely want to try ordering something else the next time I go. Time passes slowly and restfully at "Nanatsumori," with its retro atmosphere. You can spend a happy time there surrounded by its gorgeous interior that makes it seem as if you've stepped back in time.   It made me think "I want to spend some luxurious time here together with someone special."   The next time you head on out to Kōenji, be sure to visit here.   Related Article：【Tokyo Stroll】The cafe that you want to visit to see someone #1 The popular cafe in Jinbo-cho called “Sabouru” that has retro interior and nostalgic food   Related Article：【Tokyo Cafe】Yonchome, Kouenji – reasonable prices, comfortable atmosphere and great lunch.

“Although there are many great things about chain stores, the café has their own dream.”   The café that reminds me of Showa era is somehow nostalgic and comfy inside. I, Emma Tanioku, who love to visit the new café restaurants is going to introduce the café that will make you want to see particular person in their café. Today, I came to Jinbo-cho that is good access from middle of Tokyo, and you don’t have to change the train line from Shibuya station. Jinbo-cho is socially known as the town which has many secondhand bookstores, it is actually the town for gourmets as well.There are many hidden old-established restaurants in this great town.   I want to introduce this café that I was especially curious about. “Sabouru” which you can say its representative retro cafe. It locates right there from the exit A7 in Jinbo-cho train station.This 62 years historical café has established in 1955. In front of this café which appears to look like small mountain hut, there is a red public telephones surrounded by some flowers, plants and a totem pole.This makes me want to take a picture in front of there.This public phone is actually functional, so I heard some people are still using it. There are floor first, semi basement and mezzanine inside. It is little dark inside, but you can still enjoy reading books.Either if you come here alone or with your friends, you can spend the relaxed time. The miscellaneous goods that decorated inside the café were donated by customers. Even though they are all different kinds of souvenirs from all over the world, they look like it's coordinated perfectly.I bet the customers who are big fan of this café decide to buy the good souvenirs which are going to match with this store’s atmosphere. For your information, you can decorate your souvenirs inside the cafe even if you are not regular customer.  

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  Today I ordered some of their popular menu: sandwiches, fresh strawberry juice and cream soda (soda float), and the spaghetti Neapolitan from the branch store called “Sabouru 2” located next to each other. The first one which served on my table was “Fresh Strawberry Juice (500yen include tax).” It is not only looking cute, but it is also really juicy and tasty. It taste like smoothie that mixed small blocks of ice and fresh juice. They are also being particular about ice. The owner, Fumio Suzuki told me that the ice he got from an ice shop every morning does’t melt as easy as the regular ice. It surely lasts the rich flavor for long minutes. The food I ate with the juice is “mix sand(600yen include tax).” There are orthodox ham and cucumber sandwich, fresh made tomato sandwich and fluffy egg omelet sandwich. The taste reminds me of the one which my mom made when I was little.     The next one served on my table was spaghetti Neapolitan which specialty food from “Sabouru 2”. It is such a huge portion for only 650yen(include tax)! This spaghetti is regular size, not a large helping, and comes with mini salad. The reason why it is so many is because they cooked it without using measure spoon and it is slowly getting huge. Even though many students or workers can eat it up. It is absolutely tasty as well! It is cooked with many ingredients include mash rooms, onions and bacon. It is quite simple cooked with ketchup. It was really hard to eat the things up since they serve quite large amount of food! I barely finished eating up with three other shooting members. Spaghetti Neapolitan is original menu for “Sabouru 2,” but if you order alcohol at “Saburu” at night they are able to deliver the food menu（Some menus only） from “Sabouru 2.”  

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  Desert for the last is cream soda(580yen include tax). Cream soda is typically green, but you can choose out of four different kinds;red, blue, yellow and green at Sabouru. The cream soda that appeared on my table was shiny and cute. Each of colors has different flavor. Yellow tastes lemon, and blue taste blue Hawaii. You can enjoy sharing and tasting different flavor with your friend.The owner, Fumio, told me that he is going to think of another kind of flavor. I wonder what is going to be the next color. This made me really look forward to visiting Sabouru.   The cafe “Sabouru” has been loved by a lot of people. I took a picture with very sweet owner, Fumio at last. He told me the history of Sabouru, served us their coffee, and he gave us a candy after the interview!   “Although there are many great things about chain stores, the café has their own dream.”   Fumio, the owner who have spent more than sixty years with this café said softly. It made me want to the other menu in this café, and I also really want to see Fumio again. Next time I visit here, I will bring some survivors for him.   Related article：【Tokyo Stroll】Strolling around Asakusa for half of the day finding the stereo typical sightseeing spots and new spots.   Related article：【Tokyo Stroll】Stroll around in Ginza for half a day. Visit the special stationary stores and get a delicious ground meat cutlet hamburger!  

I rode the train on Keio line, Shinjuku station the hustle and bustle high building area on the back. For about 15 minutes, I was staring at the slowing changing view from the train. I got to the restaurant in Chitose-karasuyama that many girls from all over Japan come here to get “drinkable jewelry.”

I looked inside from the laced curtain looked like ribbon on the door. The toys that I used to play with when I was little looked like they were smiling at me as if they are saying “come inside.”

 

When I opened the door, I felt like I leaped back from Heisei era to Showa era. There are photographs of Seiko Matsuda, who is a popular pop idol in Showa era, and her songs were playing. It is such a nostalgic atmosphere. The person who runs this café which is like a full of dreams and admires when she was little is Naomi Kanai. “I opened this café, “Kissa Housekibako” since I love too much about the Japanese pop idols and goods in Showa era. I mainly collect the music and items from 1970 to late 80s. I am very happy when the girls who don't even know about this era visit here and say it is cool or cute about the stuff in this café,” she gently told us.

 

Anyway, the main purpose of this visit is “drinkable jewelry” as known as “cream soba” which was everyone’s favorite food when they are little.

 

The standard color of cream soda is supposed to be green, but the one in “Kissa Housekibako” appeared in a very girly color. They appeared in cute and shiny spring colors.

Peach flavored one named “rose quarts(550yen include tax)” taste sweet and sour. This drink goes with the strong love songs sung by “candies” which was a famous Japanese idol group take light steps.

Strawberry flavored one named “Ruby(550yen include tax)” is like a sweet taste of love. This clear spring color reminds me of Seiko Matsuda’s hit song, “Red sweet pea.”

The grape flavored one named “Amethyst(550yen include tax)” taste of matured love. The sexy form of the cup reminds me of “Pinklady”, the famous Japanese pop idol group who  dances gorgeously.

You may be able to encounter limited flavor and refreshing idol songs in this summer!

You cannot miss the spaghetti Neapolitan(600yen include tax)  if you want to enjoy Showa taste. It has chewy spaghetti noodle and bacon, onions and bell pepper chopped in large sizes. The texture of soft noodles and the sour taste of tomato ketchup took me into the nostalgic world.

It has been 8 years since the opening. “Thanks to social media, people even from other countries visit here to get the colorful cream soda. This café is made of Showa era culture, but Heisei era culture support us as well.” Not only young people but also people from other countries have been attracted by their music and items. “Hosekibako” (Jewelry box) that is made by Naomi-San has full of smiles from all over the world.

 

Ueki　Yuriko（food writer)

 

 

Related article：【Tokyo Stroll】The cafe that you want to visit to see someone #1 The popular cafe in Jinbo-cho called “Sabouru” that has retro interior and nostalgic food.

 

Related article：【Tokyo Cafe】Visit the café which has an original menu that will give you great impact volume 3.　Kinshicho “Kissa Knit”

When I was walking in the town, I heard the conversation that made me a little scared.

“I'm heading to the “Tengoku(heaven)” first.” The guy who looks like about seventy years old said. He was walking really cheerfully. I was curious about him, and decided to chase after him, then he entered the café called “Tengoku(heaven).”

The heaven’s door was a small glassed door. There were lovely retro plastic food figures decorated in the entrance. Asakusa which is considered to be the town that has a lot of good places to eat is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo. This little and warm appearance café is an oasis for many tourists who try to take breaks from walking in this town.

Inside the “Tengoku,” you can smell something sweet. The feast of this paradise is a special pancake which has a burnt in mark of “Tengoku.” (550yen)

 

They start mixing the ingredients after getting an order, and cook on copper sheets. It tastes crunchy on the outside, and fluffy inside. When I put butter and maple syrup, the flavor of the milk gets stronger. The owner, Rumi Ueno was particular about this orthodox pancake. The taste of this pancake really made me relieve and reminds me of my mom who made pancake for snack when I was little.

 

 “Tengoku’s special hotdog” appeared on my table with great impact. The sausage sticking out from the hotdog bun is about 25 centimeters long!

 

when you bite it, the juice spreads in your mouth with the bun. The crunchy texture’s of sausage really goes with moist bread. There are four toppings that you can choose from. This nostalgic and addictive taste plain hotdog made me want to get another one to take for strolling in this town.

You can have good luck if you drink up the coffee which comes with the set menu.

 

There are two characters saying good fortune in the bottom of coffee cup. If you get disappointed by drawing bad luck on your oracle at Sensouji temple, you will be saved by this good surprise. This very detailed hospitality is exactly like you are in heaven.

 

 

 

If you are in trouble not knowing what to get for souvenir, you should get the original merchandise that you only can get in here!

 

“I’ve been to heaven five times this month.” “What about you? How many times you’ve been to heaven?” People were talking something like that with Edo dialect. The café where people having this funny conversations is like a “gourmet’s nirvana” which is totally different world from the hustle and bustle sightseeing place.

 

■Coffee Tengoku

Address: 1-41-9 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo

https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1311/A131102/13025425/

 

Yuriko Ueki（Writer）

 

■Related article：【TokyoCafe】Visit the café which has an original menu that will give you great impact volume 3.

 

■Related article：【TokyoCafe】Visit the café which has original menu that give you great impact 2