The sign outside the store exclaims, “A new day starts here”, and the line of patrons in the morning indicates that many locals indeed use the store as a springboard to begin their day. Located in the Sendagaya neighborhood you will notice that the surroundings are vastly different than the Shinjuku area. As you pass through the streets you may notice many other small stores with a similar layout to Be A Good Neighbor, shops that can only fit in four to five people.
Opened in 2010 the store has seen the massive change taking place in the Sendagaya neighborhood. Originally, this location was home to many textile designers and wholesalers, with little else in terms of food or drink. Now there is a growing number of restaurants and bars but this new life doesn’t bother Be A Good Neighbor Coffee. “We don’t try to compete, we try to form connections with our community. Honestly we are aiming to be a good friend, and in that we want to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for our customers.”
With two other stores in Roppongi and inside Skytree you can also get your Good Neighbor fix on the other side of the city as well. Rather than concentrating on roasting, this store supplies their roasted beans from a Voila Speciality Coffee in Kagoshima. The owner, originally from Kagoshima still maintains connections with his hometown and uses a trusted supplier and well respected roaster in Voila. The company also owns a design shop down the street in addition to a few other nearby restaurants.
At max you can fit 6 people in the store and even then it is a stretch. Inside there is room for a couple people to set their coffee near the store window, and outside people also hang around on the store’s outside bench, drinking their coffee or simply standing at the street corner. Right in front of the store is also a post box, so other locals stop by on their way to send their mail.
“In Japan, years ago many people would look down on artists, photographers, or small owned speciality stores. But these days, especially in the coffee scene, owners and staff have a newfound sense of responsibility and have taken a craftsman-like attitude towards coffee. They are always trying to make it better and aim to be professional,” said one of the staff.
The baristas suggested the nearby Tas Yard as a good location for a lunch break. Looking right and down along the street you can actually see this store from the outside bench of Be a Good Neighbor. I suggest getting the delicious curry here. Meiji Jingu is also worth a visit as it is nearby. However if you are in a relaxed mood try walking over to Sendagaya station, which is host to many recently opened hip stores. Simply walking around the area and soaking up the atmosphere is sometimes just as good as visiting a “famous” location.
Name：BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR COFFEE KIOSK SENDAGAYA
Address：Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Sendagaya 3-51-6
☎︎ ：03-5770-3195
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00~20:00
Saturday-Sunday 11:30~17:00
Name：Tas Yard
Address：Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Sendagaya 3-3-14
☎︎ ：03-3470-3940
Hours: 11:00~20:00