Tokyo Travels, Coffee speaks

When traveling, are you a coffee drinker? I was reading an article about coffee this morning. I am not a coffee drinker, rather a tea drinker with sugar and cream (must be my English/Irish side). However, I know tons of coffee enthusiasts and this article brought something to mind. I remember when living in Japan, years ago as part of the military "family" you could buy lots of beer, Sake, and tea, fabulous rice (I love fried rice, a place outside of maingate Iwakuni had some of the best!)...just about anywhere.

Coffee was found mostly on base. Now, it seems, that has changed dramatically. Japan has "coffee houses" and kiosks more than likely. Starbucks is there! But this new round of coffee is spendy! Be prepared to spend approximately up to $10 for a cup of specialty coffee in Tokyo.

Specialty shops, one even owned by a Japanese Seattleite architect named Macchinesti, a one-minute walk from the Hiroo subway station, and others....one in the Roppongi district is a three-minute walk from the Hibiya Line subway stop and has tables in front that create a cozy cafe for people watching, named Bar Del Sole (an Italian place); then find the office workers' dream Zoka, which has three locations, including one 100 yards from the Akasaka-Mitsuke subway stop, an airy cafe filled with office workers who seem drawn to the hum of La Marzocco, the espresso maker.

The Ginza, always popular with locals and tourists, has "atmosphere" named Café de l’Ambre, which opened in 1948, owned and operated by a 95-year-old owner who got his start by using Indonesian beans destined for Germany that were waylaid during World War II. He is an advocate of aged coffee with that made with Cuban beans harvested in 1974, Colombian beans from 1989, etc. However, similar to a fine wine list, prices are not cheap. A cup can cost up to 1,360 yen.

Tokyo, for those who know, can be chaotic, this place, although NOT smoke-free, can be a coffee haven for those seeking a refuge, with low conversations intermingled with the sounds of soft jazz...Tajimaya Kohiten, which opened in 1964 and refurbished in 1987, is equally evocative and marginally cheaper. It is south of the west exit of the Shinjuku Station with 13 types of straight coffee, including Cuban Mountain (750 yen) that was mild and smooth and Grade 1 Sumatra (650 yen).

So, these are only some of the "coffee hangouts" you can find in Tokyo alone. Take a coffee break with some of the world's finest in a place you might not think to look!