Japan has mastered the art of turning everyday moments into something extraordinary, and nowhere is this more evident than in these five remarkable cafes. Step away from the busy streets and visit these five cafes, which occupy historic settings ranging from a relocated 18th-century tea house to a gleaming Art Deco pavilion. Each invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and savor your stay.

 

PC: Hoshito Omija

 

TOHAKU Chakan, Ueno

 

This tea house, originally built in 1742, now sits in the garden beside the Tokyo National Museum after being located there in 1933.Its walls display faithful reproductions of Maruyama Ōkyō’s fusuma paintings. Take a seat on the wooden engawa to enjoy a frothy matcha or a matcha roll cake alongside seasonal wagashi from Kyoto’s top confectioner. A museum ticket grants you access to this peaceful retreat. 

 

📍 13-9 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0007 　TOHAKU Chakan

 

PC: Shogo Oizumi

 

Café TEIEN, Shirokanedai

 

Step into the glass-walled annex of the former Prince Asaka residence, now part of the Teien Art Museum, and enjoy the ambiance shaped by natural light. The space frames views of well-tended gardens as you sample matcha and wasanbon sweets. For a playful twist, pour warm milk over premium green tea ice cream to create the silky “Matcha Ice” that visitors can’t stop talking about.

 

📍 5 Chome−21−9 Shirokanedai, Minato City, Tokyo, 108-0071 　 Café TEIEN

 

 

 

 

Café Dining Safu by Onkochishin, Toranomon

 

With windows overlooking the Taisho-era garden of the Tomo Art Museum, this modern café blends French technique with the finest Japanese ingredients. Sip a lemongrass-green tea infusion or a rich Ishizuchi black tea while tasting seasonal hojicha chiffon topped with kinako cream. Chef-curated plates highlight local produce and artisanal flavors in every bite.

 

📍 4 Chome−1−35 Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo, 105-0001  　Café Dining Safu by Onkochishin

 

 

Tearoom Tōka, Kyoto

 

Housed in a 100-year-old machiya in Kyoto’s Goshotō district, this six-seat salon offers an exclusive tea experience. The owner handpicks single-cultivar, organic leaves from tea farms across Japan. Watch the tea master’s precise brewing ritual as you enjoy two craft teas paired with traditional wagashi. Be sure to check out the rotating gallery upstairs, then return for a deeply personal ceremony.

 

📍 298 Shintomicho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-0875 　Tearoom Tōka

 

 

Café Hakkakutō, Tokyo

 

Step inside Keio University’s 1912 octagonal library tower and let the setting transport you back to the Meiji era. Original parquet floors, crystal chandeliers, and custom octagonal tables set the stage for siphon-brewed coffee crafted from specialty beans and a velvety house-made pudding. It’s a moment of scholarly elegance that feels both grand and welcoming.

 

📍 2 Chome-15-45 Mita, Minato City, Tokyo 108-8345　Café Hakkakutō

 

---

 

Whether you’re in Tokyo or Kyoto, these cafés turn a simple cup of tea or coffee into a scene you’ll want to live in over and over. Pull up a chair, let the setting work its magic, and enjoy a moment made just for you.