7 Recommended Cafes Around The Commoners Town, Ueno
Ueno is a popular tourist spot with a lot to see. There are cultural facilities like zoos and museums, as well as famous spots like Ueno Park – a great sakura (cherry blossom) viewing spot. There’s also Ameyoko – a shopping district where you can find pretty much anything you could possibly need – and Ueno Sakuragi, which has many temples and shrines. Here are some of the most recommended cafes in Ueno!
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1. Usagi-ya Café [Ueno Hirokoji]
Usagi-ya is a Japanese confectionary shop founded in 1913 that's famous for their delicious dorayaki (red bean pancake). At Usagi-ya Café, you can have their Japanese confectionaries with a nice cup of tea or coffee.
One of the popular meals here is Usa Pancakes. You can only order this meal from 9:00 AM – 9:10 AM! Their "pancakes" are actually the patties used for dorayaki, which is - as earlier mentioned - Usagi-ya's signature sweet. The fresh dorayaki patties are moist on the inside and crispy on the outside, almost like a freshly cooked pancake! It comes with butter and anko (red bean jam). The harmony of the salty melted butter and sweet anko is so delightful. This will make a great breakfast to start off a great day!
[About Usagi-ya Café]
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Closed: Wednesday
Accepted Credit Cards: N/A
Access: Around a 3-minute walk from Exit A4 of Ueno-hirokoji Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Around a 5-minute walk from Exit 4 of Yushima Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
Address: 1-17-5, 1F Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 東京都台東区上野1-17-5 1F (Google Map)
HP: usagiya-cafe.com/ (Japanese Only)
2. Galant [Ueno]
Located close to Ueno Station and Ameyoko, Galant is a perfect cafe to take a break in from shopping. It is a cafe with a sober and nostalgic atmosphere that reminds one of the 1960s and ‘70s in Japan. Their leather chairs and chandeliers are the icing on the cake!
The meals they serve are typical Japanese cafe style. For example, there's Omurice (omelet with fried rice), chocolate parfait with cherries on top, and thick pizza toast - all of which taste great! A vivid green-colored soda, Cream Soda is also a typical beverage to have at a Japanese cafe.
[About Galant]
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Closed: Open all year
Accepted Credit Cards: N/A
Access: Around a 2-minute walk from Hirokoji Exit of Ueno Station on various JR lines
Address: 6-14-4 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 東京都台東区上野6-14-4 (Google Map)
3. Kayaba Coffee [Nezu, Nippori]
When you are visiting Ueno, you should definitely try some great coffee in a traditional Japanese townhouse. Kayaba Coffee is a retro cafe that's located in an old residence built way back in 1916. Since its opening in 1938, it has been a symbol for Yanaka (district that still has an old town ambience), and acted as a place where locals can put their feet up and relax.
They have table seats on the first floor, and rooms with tatami (traditional Japanese flooring) on the second floor. The second floor is recommended, as you can take your shoes off, sit back and relax there. Their Shaved Ice With Ginger is a limited dessert that's served only in the summer. Also, their Egg Sandwich with thick and delicious tamagoyaki (rolled eggs) is highly recommended.
[About Kayaba Coffee]
Opening Hours: (Tuesday - Saturday) 8:00 AM - 10:30 PM
(Monday, Sunday) 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Closed: Open all year
Accepted Credit Cards: N/A
Access: Around a 10-minute walk from Exit 1 of Nezu Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
Around a 10-minute walk from South Exit of Nippori Station on various JR lines, Keisei Main Line, and Nippori-Toneri Liner
Address: 6-1-29 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo 東京都台東区谷中6-1-29 (Google Map)
HP: kayaba-coffee.com/top.html (Japanese Only)
4. Café Lapin [Okachimachi, Ueno Hirokoji]
If you are looking for some authentic coffee in Ueno, Café Lapin is the place to be. You can see the giant coffee roaster through the glass from the outside. Inside, there's some nice jazz music playing, and you can smell the aroma of coffee.
They grind the beans and drip the coffee upon your order, so you can have fresh, rich, and aromatic coffee that has the perfect balance of bitterness and sourness. They have a morning-only meal called Morning Set, which consists of roasted toast and salad. The crispy toast is a great match with their coffee!
[About Café Lapin]
Opening Hours: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Closed: Sunday, Public Holiday (1 week off for New Year's and Obon)
Accepted Credit Cards: N/A
Access: Around a 3-minute walk from South Exit of Okachimachi Station on various JR lines
Around a 3-minute walk from Exit A1 of Ueno-hirokoji Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Address: 3-15-7 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 東京都台東区上野3-15-7 (Google Map)
HP: cafe-lapin.shop-pro.jp/ (Japanese Only)
5. Bonnard [Ueno Hirokoji]
Located just 3 minutes away on foot from Ueno-hirokoji Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Bonnard is a calm and elegant cafe. You can see the inside through the glass facade. One unique feature of this cafe is their various kinds of beautiful decorative coffee cups. Each time you visit, the cup they bring to you is always different. You can spend an elegant time having coffee while looking at their beautiful coffee cups.
The ceiling is pretty high, and the inside is clean and spacious. The store is equipped with dark, minimalist furniture, so you can relax well here. Of course, their deep-roasted coffee is one of the best around!
[About Bonnard]
Opening Hours: (Monday - Saturday) 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
(Sunday, Public Holiday) 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Closed: New Year's Day
Accepted Credit Cards: N/A
Access: Around a 3-minute walk from Exit A4 of Ueno-hirokoji Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Around a 5-minute walk from South Exit of Okachimachi Station on various JR lines
Address: Sanko-do Bldg. 1F, 1-18-11 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 東京都台東区上野1-18-11 山光堂ビル1F (Google Map)
HP: bonnard.ikidane.com/ (Japanese Only)
6. Itonowa [Inaricho Station]
Itokawa is a cafe located in the middle of Ueno Station and Asakusa Station. The facade is glass-sided, but there are no big, eye-catching signs, so be careful not to walk past it! It is a cafe with a calm and simple interior, where you can have healthy meals.
Brown Rice Curry is a curry dish that's mildly spicy. It uses a lot of vegetables, is rich in taste, and goes pretty well with brown rice. They have other delicious and healthy foods, such as brown rice balls and croque-monsieur.
[About Itonowa]
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed: Thursday (open unless otherwise specified)
Accepted Credit Cards: N/A
Access: Around a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Inaricho Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Address: Adachi Bldg. 1F, 1-13-10 Matsugaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo 東京都台東区松が谷1-13-10 安達ビル1F (Google Map)
HP: www.itonowa.com/ (Japanese Only)
7. Azabu Sabo - Atré Ueno Branch [Ueno]
Azabu Sabo (Atré Ueno Branch) is a cafe at a shopping facility - Atré Ueno - which is located right by the central ticket gates of Ueno Station. Here, you can have Japanese sweets and food. The modern Japanese-themed interior is spacious and has a calm vibe to it. It is located in a convenient place, so you can easily drop by while waiting for your shinkansen (bullet train). They have a wide variety of meals, but their signature sweet is Cream Anmitsu.
Cream Sweet Potato is a sweet that uses the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes. It is topped with ice cream and eaten with red bean jam.
[About Azabu Sabo - Atré Ueno Branch]
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM (last order 10:00 PM)
Closed: Open all year
Accepted Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, DC, JCB, UC
Access: 2F of Atré Ueno in Ueno Station, accessible via various JR lines
Address: Atré Ueno 2F, 7-1-1 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 東京都台東区上野7-1-1 アトレ上野2F (Google Map)
HP: www.amaya-company.co.jp/azabusabo/ (Japanese Only)
Ueno is filled with a lot of cafes, each with a unique and different style. When you are touring Ueno, cafe-hopping is one way to enjoy the area. You may be able to find the best cafe for you!
*Thumbnail image retrieved from shizo/Flickr
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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