Japan’s Coffee Scene, Part 3: Specialty

In previous installments of this series on coffee in Japan, you've heard about Japan's konbini and vending machine coffee and its charming old-school kissaten. But there's a whole other side to coffee in Japan that we’ve yet to touch on: specialty coffee.

Japan's relationship with coffee has evolved markedly over the past century. From the days when a cup of joe was just a caffeine delivery vehicle, we've entered an era where coffee is an art form, a science, and for some in Japan, a near-religious experience.

In this final installment of our Japanese coffee trilogy, let’s take a look at specialty coffee in Japan. We'll explore the best spots to get your third-wave fix, from Tokyo's hidden coffee gems to surprising finds in cities off the beaten path. We'll even talk about how Starbucks, of all places, has some unique branches in Japan that you might want to check out.

The Rise of Specialty Coffee in Japan

Japan's always been serious about its drinks.

That goes for traditional tea ceremonies or the meticulous art of crafting the perfect whisky. So it's no surprise that when the specialty coffee wave hit, Japan rode it like a Boss. (this is a canned coffee dad joke, for those in the know)

The shift started in the early 2000s. As the rest of the world was warming up to the idea that coffee could be more than just a bitter breakfast companion, Japan was already experimenting.

What set Japan apart was its attention to detail. After all, this is a culture that turns preparing a cup of tea into a choreographed production. Apply that level of care to coffee, and you've got something special.

Japanese baristas adopted and refined Western techniques, and then added processes & skills of their own: the precision of Japanese tea ceremony, the artistic presentation of kaiseki cuisine and the technical innovation Japan's known for.

The result? Coffee shops that treat each cup like a work of art. Places where baristas speak with expertise about bean origin, roast profiles and extraction methods. Spots where the pour-over is elevated to performance art.

Beyond fancy techniques, the rise of specialty coffee in Japan has also meant a renewed focus on sustainability and direct trade. Many Japanese roasters have established relationships with coffee farmers, ensuring fair prices and promoting environmentally friendly practices.

This movement isn't just confined to trendy Tokyo neighborhoods either. From Hokkaido to Kansai to Kyushu and Okinawa, all over Japan you'll find passionate coffee enthusiasts pushing the boundaries of what a good cup of coffee can be.

Tokyo: The Epicenter of Japan's Coffee Revolution

Tokyo is a playground for coffee geeks, with new shops popping up in the time it takes to say "single-origin washed Ethiopia Sidamo shade-grown fair-trade organic."

Let's start with an OG Tokyo coffee spot: Bear Pond Espresso in Shimokitazawa. The owner, Katsu Tanaka, is something of a coffee celebrity. His "angel stain" espresso is the stuff of legend. Expect outstanding coffee with a no-nonsense attitude: no photos, no sugar – and yeah maybe don’t ask for a latte after 2pm.

For a more laid-back vibe, hit up Onibus Coffee in Nakameguro. Their flagship store is housed in a converted 1930s home, complete with a sunny terrace. It's the perfect spot to sip a pour-over and pretend you're a local.

Glitch Coffee & Roasters in Jinbocho (and other locations in Tokyo & elsewhere in Japan) is where coffee meets science. These folks are serious about their roasting, with a high-tech Loring roaster taking center stage. Pro tip: their cold brew is a godsend in the hot, humid summers of Tokyo!

For those who like their coffee with a side of design life, About Life Coffee Brewers in Shibuya is a must-visit. It's basically a hole in the wall, but the coffee's top-notch and the people-watching is unbeatable.

These are just a few of so many great places to enjoy coffee in Tokyo. With more and more popping up all the time, you could spend endless amounts of time here and never get bored of the Tokyo coffee scene — though if by chance you did, there’s always Kyoto, Osaka and beyond.

Japan’s Specialty Coffee Beyond Tokyo

Tokyo might be the Big Time of Japanese speciality coffee, but don't sleep on the rest of Japan. The specialty coffee wave has washed over the entire country, leaving a trail of excellent cafes in its wake.

In Kyoto, head to Weekenders Coffee. Hidden away in a parking lot (yes, really), it's got a vibe that's pure Kyoto: traditional yet effortlessly cool. Their single-origin pour-overs are the perfect fuel for temple hopping. The name’s a clue as to their hours, too – yup, you guessed it, Saturday & Sunday only.

Osaka's got (among many other great coffee spots) Brooklyn Roasting Company Japan. Don't let the name fool you; this place is all about showcasing Japanese roasters. It's housed in a renovated warehouse by the river, making it the ideal spot for a lazy Sunday coffee. LiLo Coffee Roasters is another one of our favorites in Osaka, a city known for a love of eating and drinking to enjoy life.

Staying in the Kansai area, nearby Kobe is a city known for sweets and coffee both. Outstanding entries for the latter include Beyond Coffee Roasters, Lima Coffee and Hokodo Kako. The last one is an old-school shop in the Motomachi shopping arcade that does both coffee and tea; the wonderful aroma of roasting coffee and tea permeates the whole block in this well-worth-visiting area of Kobe.

Up in Sapporo, you’ve got choices galore. Check out Baristart Coffee. These folks are known for using Hokkaido milk in their lattes, and yes it sure does make a difference. Or try Yokoi Coffee, a longstanding coffee roaster and shop with a convenient location at Sapporo station. In a Japanese city known for long, cold, snowy winters, coffee is definitely a plus here (along with hearty ramen, of course).

Starbucks in Japan: When the Global Giant Goes Local

Starbucks? In a specialty coffee article? Bear with us here.

While Starbucks is definitely mainstream, they've done some pretty cool things in Japan. Take the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo's Nakameguro district. This four-story coffee wonderland is more theme park than cafe, complete with a cocktail bar and a bean-to-bar chocolate operation.

Then there's the Starbucks in Kyoto's Ninenzaka district. Housed in a 100-year-old traditional Japanese home, it's got tatami rooms and a garden. Perhaps the only Starbucks where you'll need to take off your shoes (I mean, you could try this at another Starbucks, but they probably frown upon that?).

For a futuristic twist, check out the Starbucks in Tokyo's Shibuya neighborhood; ceiling's covered in thousands of wooden blocks, creating an otherworldly vibe that's pure Tokyo. Other unique Starbucks locations in Japan include Nara (with deer roaming right in front); Kawagoe (in a historical building; Uji (an old tea house in Japan’s tea capital, is that blasphemy?!); and Kobe (under the Port Tower in the middle of Meriken Park).

Are these Starbucks locations serving the best coffee in Japan? Perhaps not. But they're worth a visit for the experience alone. Plus, some folks like a familiar face when halfway around the world.

Japanese Coffee Roasters Making Waves

Beyond serving great coffee, Japan is roasting some serious beans, too.

Switch Coffee in Tokyo is leading the charge. Owner Onishi Masahiro is known for his light roasts that bring out the subtle flavors in each bean. His tiny shop in Meguro is a mecca for coffee geeks.

Over in Kyoto, Kurasu is making a name for itself with its subscription service and collaborations with international roasters. They're all about bridging the gap between Japanese and global coffee cultures.

Maruyama Coffee., based in Nagano, they've won multiple national barista championships. Their single-origin roasts are the coffee equivalent of a perfectly tuned symphony.

These roasters are changing the game; working directly with farmers, experimenting with processing methods and pushing the boundaries of what coffee can be.

The Art of Pour-Over: Japan's Contribution to Coffee Culture

If there's one thing Japan is best known for in the coffee world, it's the pour-over. This seemingly simple method of brewing has been elevated to an art form in Japan.

It all started with the Hario V60, a cone-shaped dripper that's become a staple in specialty coffee shops worldwide. But it's not just about the gear! With well-honed technique. Japanese baristas approach pour-over with the same precision and care as a tea ceremony master.

Watch a skilled barista at work, and you'll witness perfect pours, each one designed to extract the maximum flavor from the grounds, yielding a clean, nuanced cup that lets the coffee's true character shine through.

This obsession with pour-over has led to some pretty cool innovations. Take the Origami Dripper, a made-in-Japan brewer that's part functional tool, part work of art. Or the Torch Mountain Dripper, designed to maintain optimal temperature throughout the brew.

Embracing Coffee Travel in Japan

Incorporating coffee stops on your self-guided tour of Japan is about tiny shops hidden down alleyways, about chatting with passionate baristas, about discovering a new favorite roast in an unexpected place.

So here's our advice: when you're in Japan, make coffee part of your itinerary. Seek out the best shops, sure, but don't be afraid to pop into that random cafe you stumble upon. Some of the best coffee experiences I've had in Japan have been on side streets and in smaller towns, where a single passionate roaster is changing the local coffee game.

These are some of the many hidden gems and underrated experiences in Japan that you can enjoy.

Have you enjoyed coffee in Japan? Let us know about your coffee travels in the comments below.