Kuramae, located between historic Asakusa and the Tokyo Skytree, was once the center of the city’s rice trade before becoming known in modern times for artisanal crafts. Young creatives are now making the area their base, and with this has come a wave of hip new cafes. Here are four of the best.
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CAMERA, run by husband-and-wife team Kosuke Tamura and Miwako Yamada, combines a cafe specializing in irresistible baked delicacies with a leather goods shop that draws upon Kuramae’s artisanal history while being totally contemporary.
The signature “MIWAKO BAKE” goods are all freshly prepared on the premises by Yamada herself, with the original recipes including pumpkin and adzuki (a small red bean indigenous to Asia) cake and cookies flavored with the shichimi spice usually sprinkled on udon or soba noodles. Lunch options include the east-meets-west fusion of an onigiri rice ball topped with humble spam.
Tamura’s bags and accessories, which he designs under the numeri label and are domestically hand-crafted, are arrayed on the opposite side of the space to Yamada’s counter. The lineup includes totes, backpacks, wallets, and purses all rendered in a natural leather that is produced in Japan using time-honored techniques.![CAMERA]()
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Leaves Coffee Apartment
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Leaves Coffee Apartment
Here, a stark, concrete cube at ground level (featuring a takeout window) belies the inviting warmth of the cafe space on the second floor. All intentionally mismatched woods and muted tones, the cafe boasts a view out over the Umayabashi bridge, spanning the Sumida River. Its artist’s atelier-like vibe is enhanced by looped short films often projected on one wall.
Leaves’ coffee uses beans from the Tokyo branch of Helsinki’s acclaimed Fuglen, with six varieties offered as espresso, cold brew, and a choice of Chemex or Hario methods for pour-over purists. -
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En Cafe & Things
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En Cafe & Things
En combines a cafe, garden, and lifestyle store in a beautifully-designed, three-story (plus rooftop) premises. On the first floor, a take-out coffee, sandwich, and cake stand is the ideal place to grab something to enjoy by the nearby Sumida River. On the floor above lies En’s highlight: here, a spacious and natural wood-heavy main cafe space incorporates elements of the traditional Japanese tea room into its restrainedly modern design.
For the full experience, we recommend skipping the table seating and, instead, heading to the Japanese-style seating on a stage-like wooden platform: here, you sit on a floor cushion, known as a zabuton. Dishes include french toast and pasta-based lunch plates, alongside a selection of homemade sweets. Also, on the second floor is a food market area offering speciality comestibles sourced from across the country.
En’s third floor meanwhile is home to a zakka-style store that is particularly strong on glamping supplies. Finally, the roof space enables visitors to try out some of the goods from the shop below and engage in covert hipster-watching. -
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Nakamura Tea Life Store
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Nakamura Tea Life Store
This little shop on a narrow backstreet showcases fine teas which have been grown by the Nakamura family out in Shizuoka Prefecture since 1919. For the last couple of decades, their product has been certified organic.
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Nakamura Tea Life Store
A wide range of teas, including Kunicha (a twig tea) and Genmaicha (green tea mixed with roasted rice), can be purchased in Nakamura’s stylish metal canisters or as single-pot servings packaged in paper. Alternatively, you can spend a little longer here and sample your tea of choice on the premises – observe the ritual of it being prepared, and then enjoy it whilst stood at the bare-bones (a wooden plank perched upon tea chests) counter.
FOCUS KURAMAE
4-21-2 Kuramae Tokyo
Tosei Hotel Cocone Asakusa Kuramae
駒形2-3-3 Tokyo
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hojo building
2-5-4 Kuramae, Taito-ku, Tokyo
FOCUS KURAMAE
4-21-2 Kuramae Tokyo
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