Ogawa Coffee: Fusion of Traditional Style and Modern Ambience!

Kyoto is a renowned tourist destination in Japan, and its elegant atmosphere is popular among foreign tourists. In Kyoto, there are many traditional "kissaten" (coffee shops) that have been in business for a long time.

As the center of Japanese culture with deep-rooted tea traditions, many cafes in Kyoto offer not only coffee but also Japanese tea-flavored drinks.

Kyoto is one of Japan's representative cities, with numerous restaurants. It's also known as a gourmet city within Japan. That's why there are many coffee shops, ranging from traditional Japanese tea houses to retro-style cafes, each with its unique genre and atmosphere.

With its abundance of shrines and temples, Kyoto has a rich history and many traditional architectural styles. You can find cafes built in Kyoto's traditional architectural style or coffee shops renovated from old facilities.

If you are interested in Kyoto's Best Cafes, check the article below! I summarized Kyoto's Best Cafes I recommend and how I felt each Cafes.

Coffee Shops: Traditional Japanese-Style Cafes Offering More Than Just Coffee

In Japan, coffee shops often focus on food as well as coffee. Unlike Western cafes that specialize in coffee, Japanese coffee shops often serve Western-style food, making them Japanese-style cafes. Of course, these shops are also particular about their coffee, and many place importance on pairing coffee with meals and desserts.

Japan's retro-style cafes have long been popular with locals and often serve breakfast in addition to coffee. Japanese coffee shops are designed to allow customers to enjoy meals, especially breakfast.

Among these, Kyoto has three major long-established coffee shops that have been loved by both tourists and locals for many years.

Ogawa Coffee: One of Kyoto's Three Major Long-Established Coffee Shops

Ogawa Coffee, along with Inoda Coffee and Maeda Coffee, is one of Kyoto's three famous long-established coffee shops.

Ogawa Coffee was founded in 1952 when coffee culture was not yet widespread in Japan. Nurtured by Kyoto's aesthetic sense and customers' discerning eyes, the shop has cherished the philosophy of "creating products with genuine value."

The coffee brewed with carefully selected beans and craftsmanship demonstrates that this philosophy is still carried on today. The interior has a Japanese modern atmosphere, creating a space where tradition and modernity blend.

Like Inoda Coffee's breakfast and Maeda Coffee's varied food menu, Ogawa Coffee also offers breakfast and menu items using carefully selected bread.

Three Recommended Points of Ogawa Coffee's Appeal

Supreme Coffee Brewed by Skilled Baristas

source：pen

One of Ogawa Coffee's attractions is the coffee brewed by skilled baristas. While Ogawa Coffee also focuses on selling coffee beans for home use, their baristas use specially selected coffee beans.

The baristas at Ogawa Coffee are also dedicated to pursuing techniques and knowledge to bring out the best characteristics of the carefully selected beans. It's well-known that a Japan Latte Art Championship champion chose Ogawa Coffee for training. Ogawa Coffee is a shop where top-level baristas gather.

Particular about extraction methods, the coffee brewed carefully cup by cup is characterized by its full-bodied taste and rich aroma. The "Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki" shop, which opened in 2022, uses the flannel drip method, offering Ogawa Coffee's characteristic "strong coffee" from a new angle.

Modern Atmosphere and Art-Like Interior

Source：Official website

Ogawa Coffee provides visitors with a special experience in its modern atmosphere and art-like interior. Depending on the shop, the interior design incorporates traditional Kyoto elements while refining them with a contemporary sensibility.

The Japanese-style beautiful interiors are simple yet exude luxury, creating an optimal space for relaxation. Some shops display works by local artists, featuring impressive art pieces using Japanese paper and charcoal, as well as Japanese-style botanical arrangements.

The interior is carefully designed, with the placement of tables and chairs, and the design of counters all created to be in harmony. Visitors may feel as if they're spending time in an art gallery in some of these shops.

The fusion of modern atmosphere and art makes many people feel that Ogawa Coffee is not just a coffee shop, but a new cultural hub in Kyoto.

Dramatically Changing Atmosphere from Day to Night

Source：Official website

Some Ogawa Coffee shops are open until 20:00 or later. In shops particular about their interiors, you can enjoy completely different atmospheres during the day and at night.

During the day, Ogawa Coffee is filled with bright natural light, creating an open and relaxed atmosphere. The light streaming through large windows vividly illuminates the art pieces and modern interiors in the shop, giving visitors a warm feeling. Daytime is perfect for casual lunches with friends or enjoying a book alone.

On the other hand, the atmosphere changes dramatically at night. Soft lighting illuminates the interior, transforming it into a sophisticated adult space. In contrast to the daytime brightness, a chic atmosphere with impressive shadows prevails. It's perfect for dates, and even solo visitors will have a memorable time. Some shops even offer cocktails made with coffee and liqueurs.

Three Must-Try Menu Items at Ogawa Coffee

Organic House Blend

Organic House Blend 010 Medium

source： Official website

Ogawa Coffee's "Organic House Blend 010 Medium" uses carefully selected organic coffee beans.

This blend, which could be called the symbol of the shop, features a balanced flavor and medium roast. It has a smooth, easy-to-drink texture and embodies the shop's wish for it to remain a staple. If you savor it slowly, you'll notice wine-like flavors and a blueberry-like acidity.

Not only delicious but also environmentally conscious, these coffee beans are grown using sustainable farming methods. It's recommended as a morning coffee to start your day or as a companion for a relaxing afternoon.

Organic House Blend 011 Dark

source： Official website

While the "Organic House Blend 010 Medium" is a staple house blend of Ogawa Coffee, this is a dark roast version. It also uses carefully selected organic coffee beans.

The characteristics of this coffee are its full-bodied taste and rich flavor. As you savor it slowly, you'll notice chocolate-like flavors, dried date-like acidity and sweetness, and a caramel-like taste.

It uses organic coffee beans from Guatemala and Ethiopia that have obtained Fair Trade certification. It's a heartwarming blend born from the philosophy that when people and nature connect with care, the taste of coffee deepens.

Original Kyoto Wheat White Bread

source：pen

Ogawa Coffee is particular not only about its coffee but also about the bread it uses. Kyoto people love the combination of "bread and coffee." For such customers, they commissioned a popular bakery to develop "white bread that won't get tiresome even after 100 years, that can be eaten every day."

This resulted in the "Original Kyoto Wheat White Bread." It's a confident creation that allows you to taste the natural sweetness and savory flavor of Kyoto-produced wheat flour.

You can enjoy this white bread in the "Toast Morning Set" at the Ogawa Coffee main shop. You can also choose toast-based menu items for lunch or cafe time. My recommendation is the "French Toast with Koji Butter and Maple Syrup."

Ogawa Coffee Has Expanded to Tokyo and Boston

source： Official website

Ogawa Coffee has expanded its techniques and experiences cultivated in Kyoto to other prefectures and overseas. In Japan, they have opened shops in Tokyo, where you can enjoy their particular coffee in a calm space that evokes the atmosphere of Kyoto.

Overseas, they have also opened a shop in Boston, USA. The Boston store, with its design fusing Japanese tradition and modern elements, is loved by locals. Despite blending in with the streetscape, the interior subtly incorporates Japanese taste. They also have menu items using Japanese tea, spreading Japanese cafe culture to the world.

Two Stores Where You Can Fully Enjoy Ogawa Coffee's Charm

Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki Shop

source：Official website

The Sakaimachi Nishiki Shop was born from the desire to allow customers to experience more deeply the sustainable activities that Ogawa Coffee has been working on for many years. The coffee lineup includes only ethical coffees such as organic blends.

You can enjoy the original flavor of the beans as they serve organic blends carefully brewed one cup at a time using the flannel drip method. Savor the taste of skilled baristas in an interior that fuses traditional Japanese atmosphere with modern design.

The "Original Kyoto Wheat White Bread" introduced earlier is baked at this shop, and food menu items using this bread and local ingredients are also recommended. Don't forget to check out the works by local artists displayed in the store.

Store Information:

• Address: 519-1 Kikuya-cho, Sakaimachi-dori Nishikikoji-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
• Closed: -
• Phone: 075-748-1699
• Hours: 7:00-20:00 (Last order 19:30)
• Store URL

OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY Sakura Shinmachi

source：Official website

OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY Sakura Shinmachi is located in a quiet residential area in Tokyo. As the name "LABORATORY" suggests, it's an experimental cafe that fuses Ogawa Coffee's tradition and innovation.

You can have coffee brewed using your preferred extraction method from more than 21 types of carefully selected coffee beans available at all times. Sometimes rare beans are in the lineup, so if you find limited-time beans, be sure to try them.

The food menu at this shop is so extensive that it includes charcoal grill course menus. There are also lunch courses that allow you to enjoy pairing with coffee.

Although the price setting is higher for a cafe, it's recommended for those who want to enjoy a particular coffee in a stylish space. My personal recommendation is the "American Style Breakfast with Charcoal Grilled Butter Toast."

Store Information:

• Address: 1F Escalier Sakura Shinmachi, 3-23-8 Shinmachi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
• Closed: Open all year round
• Phone: 03-6413-5252
• Hours: 7:00-22:00 (Last order 21:30)
• Store URL

If you are interested in Best Breakfast Restaurants in Kyoto, check the article below! I summarized how and where you can enjoy Best Breakfast Restaurants in Kyoto as much as possible.