5 Coffee Shops You Must Visit in Japan

In celebration of AAPI heritage month, we want to highlight one of our favorite countries that we recently visited: Japan.

Japan is a country that has a deep appreciation for coffee, and it shows in the number of coffee shops scattered across its cities. The Japanese take pride in their coffee culture, and as a result, there is no shortage of great coffee shops in the country.

In this article, we'll explore the top 5 coffee shops in Japan that you absolutely must visit. If you are thinking of going to Japan or if you ever have the opportunity to visit this beautiful country, here are our recommended coffee shops in Tokyo and the Kyoto area:

1- Koffee Mameya - Tokyo

Coffee fanatics are still mourning the loss of Omotesando Koffee, the famous one-man operation tucked into a quiet Tokyo backstreet that shuttered in late 2015. Fortunately, a new concept shop was built in the same location by the same owner just two years later. Run by Eiichi Kunitomo with head barista Takamasa Miki, Koffee Mameya brings a whole new experience not just to the Tokyo coffee scene, but to the world at large.

Mameya in Japanese can be translated to ‘bean shop’, which is essentially all it is. There’s no seating, no food, no milk, and no sugar. It’s simply coffee in its purest form. The results is a stunning space that feels more like a shrine dedicated to the art of making coffee than a café.

If this sounds pretentious, nothing could be further from the truth. Mameya’s charming and attentive baristas perform a consultation of sorts with every customer to help them choose a coffee they’ll love. Nearly 20 different beans from the world’s best coffee roasters are on offer, including several from Colombia - Yes, that is how good Colombian coffee is! - mapped in order from lightest to darkest roast, making the selection process a little easier. After savoring your cup, be sure to take home some beans — a hand-written recipe based on your home brewing method is included. It’s easy to go on about how much we love Koffee Mameya, but it is truly an unforgettable experience that must be witnessed firsthand.

2- Mill Pour Coffee - Osaka

Mill Pour Coffee is a darling little coffee shop and a favorite with the locals. They have the cutest coffee art, delicious lattes, and you can sit outside and watch the world go by. The pours and pulls are top notch and the coffee is amazing- smooth and medium-bodied. We tried the sparkling espresso and a flat white, which were both fantastic!

It is located in a nice neighborhood of Osaka, close to the fish market and the famous and the vibrant neighborhood of Dotonbori. We highly recommend stopping by for an afternoon pick-me-up!

3- % Arabica - Kyoto

% Arabica Coffee is a specialty coffee shop chain based in Japan. The company was founded in 2014 by Kenneth Shoji, who was inspired by his travels to coffee-producing countries around the world. The name "% Arabica" comes from the fact that most of the coffee produced in the world is from the Arabica species.

% Arabica Coffee is known for its high-quality coffee beans - this is the type of beans Pure Joy Coffee offers - which are sourced from around the world and roasted in-house. The company also places a strong emphasis on design and aesthetics, with each store featuring a unique and stylish interior.

This coffee shop has several locations around the world, but its Arashiyama location in Kyoto is a cute small shop facing the water. Their brand has a unique design that features a modern, minimalist aesthetic. The shop offers a variety of single-origin beans and blends

Today, % Arabica Coffee has over 100 locations in more than 20 countries, including Japan, the United States, and Europe. In addition to its coffee shops, the company also sells its own line of coffee beans and coffee-making equipment.

4- Go Go Coffee - Kyoto

This is a very cozy and stylish coffee shop right in front of the world heritage site, the Golden Pavilion, which makes it ideal for an outing. It's a perfect place to get a break from the crowds. They offer dorayaki, a traditional Japanese desert that consists of two small pancakes filled with sweet red bean paste. This dessert has been enjoyed in Japan for centuries and is considered a classic Japanese snack. Some of the flavors they have is matcha, coffee cream and strawberry. Their coffee is great. The interior is comforting with soothing beige colors and lively green plants. We definitely recommend taking a break at this lovely café.

5- Lattest - Tokyo

Located in the Omotesando Hills neighborhood of Tokyo, this sister store of the ever-popular Streamer Coffee Company is a relaxed and stylish space that has plenty of seating for a quick coffee or a longer work session. Lattest also features something refreshing in the world of speciality coffee: an all-female team of young and talented baristas with particularly strong skills in latte art.

As the name might imply, espresso is the main focus here, and the milk-based drinks boast a stronger, bolder flavor than those of other common Japanese cafés. Their signature coffee, the eponymous dessert-like ‘Lattest’, is a shot of espresso dashed over cold milk, but everything on the menu is worth a try. Medium and dark roast beans are available, and seasonal drinks are a fun addition to the lineup. All in all, it’s the perfect place to caffeinate before a day of shopping in Harajuku.

With a big community table in the middle and some cozy cart tables at the side for a more intimate experience, Lattest may rank as one of the most famous coffee shops in the whole city — especially after its small feature in the show Terrace House.

In conclusion, Japan is home to some of the best coffee shops in the world, and these five shops are a testament to that. Whether you're looking for high-quality beans, precision-crafted coffee, or Instagram-worthy latte art, these coffee shops have it all. If you're a coffee lover and find yourself in Japan, make sure to check out these top 5 coffee shops.