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Six Great Book Cafes in Tokyo to While Away Your Time
Looking for a space to relax in Tokyo? Check out these not-so-crowded cafes that combine good coffee with a book lover’s aesthetic.
By Jay Allen
Finding a spot to lounge around for a while in Tokyo can be a nightmare. Coffee shops and traditional kissa fill up thanks to remote workers. Many free spaces where people used to relax are also disappearing.
In this context, book cafes are an oasis of quiet space. Popular but rarely super-crowded, most cafes let you read and borrow (or buy) books from their extensive collections. (You can also, obviously, bring your own if you can’t read Japanese.) Depending on the cafe, you spend an hour and a half or — in some cases — all day reading, resting, and sipping lattes.
Here’s a quick look at six great book cafes spread around the city. If you’re a tourist, check one of them out on your next weekend in Tokyo. If you’re a resident, see which one of these locations may become your new favorite excuse to leave your house. Also, make sure to bookmark this page, as I plan to add to these listings over the next few months!
