Tokyo has not always possessed a lively coffee scene. In fact, the shops in this guide are representative of this fact, as all were created in the past six years. The well known owner of Onibus Coffee, Sakao-san, who helped us create this guide, explained to us the many changes he has seen since starting his own coffee business. In the past, at international coffee events, when rubbing shoulders with other coffee vendors or roasters many people would simply dismiss Japan as not having a good coffee scene. But now the prevailing view is that Tokyo is up and coming in the world of coffee roasting and shop presentation.
How did the story suddenly change?
For Sakao-san growing up in Tokyo he always enjoyed drinking quality coffee, but prior to the year 2000 quality stores were few and far between. In 2005 this began to change with the arrival of the coffee shop and bean roaster, Paul Bassett. The store was named after Bassett, who was the winner of the 2003 World Barista Championship. For around six months the Australian-born Bassett came to Tokyo to help curate the store and teach the staff the best techniques for roasting, an unknown trade to many at the time. Sakao-san, and the current owner of All Seasons Coffee, along with members of the well known Fuglen coffee, all began their coffee roasting careers at the shop. Using what they learned at Paul Bassett, and creating their own new flavors, Sakao-san and others went on to start their own shops that are prominent amongst the coffee community of Tokyo.
“When ONIBUS coffee opened their first shop near Okusawa station in 2011, many people did not take the shop seriously, thinking that this was a new concept that would fizzle out soon. But as locals approached the store and began to familiarize themselves more with in-house bean roasting, and as human connections were formed between the staff and community, the tone changed,” said Sakao-san.
Experiencing early success, Onibus would soon enough come to have a second home in Nakameguro, while adding two more locations in the west side of Tokyo called About Life Coffee Brewers and Ratio & C. Each of the locations serve great espresso or caffe lattes, but one of my personal favorite’s is a classic drip coffee from the ever changing set of beans they offer. If the Rwanda or Costa Rica beans are in stock don’t miss your chance to give you taste buds a treat.
Located near the Meguro River and housed in a beautiful two story building, Onibus Nakameguro is a host to commuters, locals, and tourists, making it one of the more popular shops in the area. Often, first time visitors will ask for directions or recommendations for good restaurants or sightseeing spots nearby, and the staff is always welcoming and willing to give travelers a hand. While I chatted with Sakao-san on a Saturday morning in front of the store, you could easily get a sense of the deep connection he has formed with the locals and loyal customers. It seemed he couldn’t go five minutes without seeing an acquaintance stop by the store, and each time he would wave his hand with a genuine smile.
While there is an innumerable amount of interesting nearby shops, the staff at Onibus suggests you check out the nearby Tokyo Bike. Selling their own brand of bike, the concept of the store is to provide a smooth and easy to use ride. With branches in over seven countries including England, the United States and Singapore, they understand what it means to be out of your home country, so to help out tourists they publish a free local map featuring popular destinations of the Nakameguro area.
In terms of filling your appetite one staffer recommended the restaurant Ryo. This store serves up eel, a Japanese classic. While it sounds intimidating, if you can conquer the slightly unique texture, the flavor is rich and will surely win over those who are tentative to give the dish a try. Open only for dinner, the restaurant also features exquisite tempura and smooth Japanese sake.
Whether you're in need of a good recommendation or whether you need a jolt of energy for your day, check out ONIBUS coffee, the flavor of the coffee and the atmosphere will not disappoint.
Name：ONIBUS COFFEE
Address：Tokyo, Meguro-Ku, Kami-Meguro 2-1-14
☎︎ ：03-6412-8683
Hours: 9:00～18:00
Name：tokyobike
Address：Tokyo, Meguro-Ku, Kami-Meguro 2-42-10
☎︎ ： 03-5720-6565
Hours: Monday-Friday (Closed Wed.) 13:00～20:00
Saturday-Sunday 12:00~20:00
Name：Ryo
Address：Tokyo, Meguro-Ku, Higashi-Yama 1-9-11
☎︎ ： 03-3712-1519
Hours: 18:00~0:00