Patrons at Tajimaya Coffee House in Tokyo can savor a variety of coffees, including the house’s original blend and rare single-origin offerings featured as monthly specials. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)
Situated on the boundary of Shinjuku’s Memory Lane — a narrow alleyway of shabby but charming food stalls — Tajimaya Coffee House stands as evidence of Tokyo’s enduring kissaten culture.
Kissaten translates to “tea-drinking shop,” but includes coffee, as well.
Established in 1964, this old world cafe offers coffee lovers a nostalgic retreat from the city’s frantic pace, wrapping them in an atmosphere reminiscent of Japan’s Taisho era (1912-26).
Tajimaya spans two floors. Vintage lamps toss soft light over the charming wooden interior, while shelves overflowing with antique cups and brass pots harken back to a time gone by. These details create an ambiance that inspires quiet reflection or a leisurely chat.
Established in 1964, Tajimaya Coffee House offers patrons a nostalgic retreat from Tokyo's relentless pace. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)
Patrons at Tajimaya Coffee House in Tokyo can savor a variety of coffees, including the house’s original blend and rare single-origin offerings featured as monthly specials. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)
Central to Tajimaya’s appeal is its commitment to the art of coffee brewing. The experience begins with the careful selection of green coffee beans, sourced globally and roasted in-house to achieve a deep, smoky flavor.
Each cup is then hand-dripped through a traditional flannel cloth filter, a Japanese method that extracts the coffee’s essence and creates a smooth, distinctive texture.
Customers can choose from more than 16 coffee varieties, including the original house blend — unchanged for more than three decades — and single-origin offerings such as Blue Mountain. The shop also sells its carefully roasted beans for patrons to brew at home.
A selection of classic Japanese cafe fare complements the coffee lineup. The menu includes dorayaki, a Japanese confection consisting of two pancake-like castella patties wrapped around a sweet red bean paste filling.
Shelves overflowing with antique cups and brass pots harken back to a time gone by at Tajimaya Coffee House in Tokyo. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)
Complementing the coffee at Tajimaya Coffee House is a selection of classic Japanese cafe fare. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)
At Tajimaya Coffee House in Tokyo, each cup is hand-dripped through a traditional flannel cloth filter, a Japanese method that extracts the coffee’s essence and creates a smooth, distinctive texture. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)
This delicious treat comes from Tokiya, a nearby sweet shop that’s said to have been a favorite of Fujiko Fujio, creator of the dorayaki-loving cartoon robot cat, Doraemon.
A warning to those sensitive to smoke: Tajimaya permits the use of tobacco products, a nod to traditional kissaten practices that adds to its authentic atmosphere.
Another heads up: Payments are accepted in cash only, reinforcing the nostalgic, analog experience.
Tajimaya Coffee House
Location: 1-2-6 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Last order at 10:30 p.m. Closed on New Year’s Day.
Prices: A cup of coffee ranges from 830 yen (about $5.55) for the house’s original blend to 1,830 yen for Blue Mountain.
Dress: Casual
Directions: A short stroll from Shinjuku Station’s west exit, and just steps away from Omoide Yokocho, also known as Memory Lane.
Information: Phone: 03-3342-0881; Online: tajimaya-coffeeten.com
