Yanaka Coffee Shop

Step a short way off Musashi-Koyama's lively shopping arcade into a side alley, and the aroma of roasting coffee beans drifts into the air. Yanaka Coffee Shop is a specialty roastery where you can select from an array of raw green beans and have them roasted right on the spot. Beans can be purchased from 100 g, and the staff are happy to advise on bean selection and roast degree if you share your usual brewing method and flavour preferences. You can also pick up the shop-exclusive Musashi-Koyama Blend—aimed at those who prefer low acidity and deep, full-bodied richness—or ask to have your purchase ground to suit how you brew at home.

While you wait for your batch to roast, or as a pause during a neighbourhood walk, ordering a cup to drink fits the setting well. An accessible coffee of the day, a crisp daily iced coffee, and iced milk coffee offer refreshing options whether you are taking your drink away or pausing in the shop. A small counter with just a few stools sits inside, where you can quietly sip your cup amid the fragrance of fresh roasts whenever a seat happens to be free.

Whether you stroll through the shops with a takeaway cup in hand or head home with a bag of beans tailored to your taste, both are quintessential ways to enjoy this neighbourhood spot.