Step inside any shop with me, and watch my inner detective awaken! I can't resist mentally dissecting their business model. Prices become cryptic clues, customer flow a complex equation. My brain's calculating margins while I "browse." (Don't judge, friends!)
Having worked in Japan's food scene, I know the reality: cafes are passion projects fueled by expensive ingredients and relentless labor. That knowledge makes every pastry a testament to dedication, and I happily pay the price (goodbye, internal grumbling!).
But my analysis goes beyond the bottom line. I'm also an undercover design guru. Why that wallpaper? What's the story behind the color scheme? Does the open kitchen create the right vibes? These details are my personal puzzle to solve – even if my friends find it a bit, well, puzzling.
I love chatting with friendly baristas, many of them owners or passionate employees, who unravel the mysteries behind their brews. They share the coffee brand's history and the philosophy behind their bean choices, sparking fascinating conversations.
This insatiable curiosity is what drives me to share some of the coolest design, architecture, and style found in Japanese cafes – welcome to part one of this exciting journey!
1. Dandelion Chocolate
The project involves renovating a 50-year-old warehouse, surrounded by a park and an environmental learning facility, into the first overseas shop of DANDELION CHOCOLATE. Based on the San Francisco "bean to bar" concept, this store will produce chocolate from cocoa beans on-site.
The entrance extends into the park, seamlessly blending with the surrounding architecture, featuring a wide glass opening and eaves to lower its height. The cocoa bean storage and sorting area is visible from the park, sparking customer anticipation and clearly conveying its purpose. The carefully crafted architecture, furniture, planting, sound, and graphics embody DANDELION CHOCOLATE's "bean to bar" concept, where all chocolate production processes are conducted in-house. This creates a unique spatial experience for both customers and producers. The space is dynamic, evolving continuously over time.
Location: 4-14-6 Kuramae, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Architect: Puddle
Reference: TECTURE MAG
2. Idumi
A wooden three-story building sits quietly in a peaceful residential area, just steps away from the bustling Chofu Station. "IDUMI" occupies the first floor, while the owner's family resides on the second and third floors. Yuta Naoi, who trained at a hand-drip coffee shop in Daikanyama, opened IDUMI in 2018.
The shop has a long family history, with previous iterations named "Kitchen Izumi" and "Izumiso." The name "IDUMI," suggested by graphic designer Kazuhisa Yamamoto, signifies "a place where a spring gushes forth," reflected in the store's logo.
The store's concept is "A place that makes your daily life just a little bit richer." A single logo sign on the facade avoids a commercial feel, embodying the store's understated charm. The cafe features brass lighting fixtures that develop character with use, white terrazzo counters, wooden shelves, and handmade ceramic coffee cups crafted from natural materials.
The designed space highlights the artisan's skills and the natural essence of the ingredients. The interior is warmly wrapped in wood, with structural elements like pillars, beams, and diagonal members exposed, and walls made of knot-free Shina plywood for a warm, inviting atmosphere. The lounge area at the back of the store is lowered by about 400 mm, enhancing its coziness and relaxation.
Location: 2-32-32 Nuda, Chofu City, Tokyo
Architect: TENHACHI ARCHITECT & INTERIOR DESIGN
Reference: Japandesign
3. Cafe Nozarashi
"Cafe Nozarashi" is an art project initiated by artist Haruya Nakajima, independent curator Akira Aoki, and author Kengo Sato. They transformed a small two-story wooden building in a back alley in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, and opened the cafe in February 2020 as an artist-run space.
Inspired by Gordon Matta-Clark's 1970s New York "FOOD" project, Cafe Nozarashi aims to create a unique cultural and economic sphere reflective of contemporary Tokyo.
They took a creative framework for incorporating materials from Otama Village into their interior design, resulting in the following features:
Chestnut planks milled at the village's sawmill are used for table and chair tops.
Scrap metal from the village is melted down to cast doorknobs.
Rice husks, abundant after the village's rice harvest, are mixed into plaster and applied to the walls.
Indigo-dyed cloth from the village is embedded in the joints of the plaster walls and used for indoor lighting fixture shades.
Location: Azumabashi2-11-5, Sumida, Tokyo 130-0001
Architect: Korogarou General Incorporated Association / Kengo Sato Architectural Design Office (In-Field Studio)
Reference: Japandesign Magazine and Kissa Nozarashi
4. Espresso D´Works Isahaya store
Kyushu's first Espresso D' Works opens in Isahaya with a spacious, open design. A large, diagonal roof creates high eaves for a welcoming entrance and lower eaves for a serene outdoor terrace. Inside, pendant lights accentuate the open space, and a mix of textures like wood, metal, and concrete offer a diverse experience.
Indoor and outdoor seating with various options allows guests to choose their perfect spot.
Location: Isahaya-shi, Nagasaki, Japan
Architects: Design Associates Nakamura
Design team: So Nakamura, Hiromi Nakamura
Reference: Official Site and TECTURE MAG
