A note on the words: Jimbocho is Tokyo’s secondhand book district, a few blocks of shops selling nothing but used books, with coffee shops between them. A kissaten is the older, quieter kind of Japanese coffee shop, run by hand and usually with no chain behind it. Prices are as of this writing (August 2026).
Table of Contents hide
Otonari Coffee on Tabelog (English) — opening hours, payment details and the Japanese address are kept up to date there, not here.
Hello, this is Hangover Meshi. I had business in Jimbocho and was wandering about with a friend. She mentioned that there was an unusual kissaten around here, and told me about Otonari Coffee. Apparently the entrance is inside a coin laundry, which catches out everyone who comes for the first time lol I see — that is unusual! So off we went.
And here is where we ended up lol lol
Right, there is no way of knowing lol Though the coin laundry itself has a certain style. The cafe is upstairs on the second floor.
Look carefully and the frosted glass on the second floor does say cafe^^
Up we went, and it was simply quiet enough to sit straight down. Lucky!
You order first and then take a seat. The room has a sweet feel to it as well.
Coffee (hot / iced) — price depends on the day^^
Cafe latte 700 yen
Espresso 600 yen
Macchiato 650 yen
Latte and espresso 980 yen
Custard pudding 550 yen
Espresso cheesecake 600 yen
The coffees change from month to month, it seems.
On this day they had Colombia El Diviso, Bourbon Aji; Costa Rica San Gabriel, natural; and Indonesia Sumatra Porum. This time I ordered the Colombian, and the espresso cheesecake to go with it.
After a while, out came this!
It was hot outside, so I went for iced.
One sip and it is a good coffee!
There is a sheet of paper beside it explaining the coffee, which is a lovely touch^^ I do not know much about it, after all lol
Bring the cup toward your mouth and a bright, sparkling aroma reaches you first. It stays clean while giving up all sorts of fruit at different temperatures. There is a freshness to it almost like vegetables, and it goes down in a way that does not feel like coffee at all. Bourbon Aji is a new variety native to Ethiopia, and aji, apparently, is Spanish for chili. Iced on a hot day sounds good too.
Having this beside you means you can check your own impressions against the answers, which is a pleasure^^
And the cake was the espresso cheesecake.
The scent of coffee rises softly. Restrained in sweetness and delicious! Perfect alongside a coffee. Good!
An unhurried atmosphere, a room with character, plenty of books lying about, and a space where you can talk quietly — extremely comfortable! You do not need to know much about coffee because the explanations are so careful, and the desserts are good too!
If you find yourself nearby, why not step in and take a break^^
Otonari Coffee (cafe / Jimbocho Station, Kudanshita Station, Suidobashi Station)
Tabelog lunch rating ★★★☆☆ 3.5
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
One more for the road?
