When Blue Bottle Coffee chose Kiyosumi-Shirakawa for their first Japan location in 2015, they sparked a coffee revolution. This isn’t just another cafe—it’s a pilgrimage site for third-wave coffee enthusiasts. Housed in a converted warehouse with soaring ceilings, industrial design, and floor-to-ceiling windows, the space embodies minimalist Japanese aesthetics meets Oakland cool.

Why It’s Special

• Historic Significance: Japan’s very first Blue Bottle—the store that changed Tokyo’s coffee culture
• Onsite Roastery: Watch beans being roasted while you sip your pour-over
• Architectural Beauty: Converted warehouse with stunning minimalist design
• Expert Baristas: Watch precise brewing techniques up close
• Signature Drinks: Try the Gibraltar (cortado) or seasonal pour-overs

Menu Highlights

• Pour-Over Coffee: ¥500-600 (single origin, expertly brewed)
• Gibraltar: ¥480 (their signature cortado)
• Iced Coffee: ¥550 (cold brew perfection)
• Pastries: ¥300-500 (liege waffles, cookies, seasonal treats)

Kiyosumi Garden is proof that Tokyo’s best experiences don’t have to be expensive. For just ¥150, you’ll discover a tranquil oasis that feels worlds away from the city—complete with koi-filled ponds, meticulously pruned trees, traditional tea houses, and famous stepping stones across the water. This Meiji-era garden was originally the private estate of a wealthy businessman and showcases classic Japanese landscape design.

Garden Highlights

• Stepping Stones (Iso-watari): Walk across the pond on beautifully arranged stones—the garden’s most iconic photo spot
• Rare Rock Collection: Stones sourced from all over Japan, each with unique characteristics
• Traditional Tea House:涼亭 (Ryotei) perched over the water (tea ceremony experiences available)
• Seasonal Beauty: Cherry blossoms (spring), irises (June), autumn foliage (November)
• Wildlife: Koi fish, turtles, herons, and seasonal birds

Want to time-travel to 1840s Tokyo? Fukagawa Edo Museum recreates an entire Edo-period neighborhood at full scale—complete with wooden houses, shops, a fire watchtower, and even a vegetable boat. Unlike sterile museum displays behind glass, here you can walk through authentic reconstructions, touch artifacts, and experience how ordinary Tokyoites lived 180 years ago.

Museum Highlights

• Life-Size Street: Walk through actual Edo-period buildings and alleyways
• Interactive Elements: Touch household items, open drawers, lift buckets
• Day-Night Simulation: Lighting changes throughout the day to show different atmospheres
• Seasonal Displays: Decorations change to reflect traditional festivals
• Merchant Houses: See how rice dealers, vegetable sellers, and craftsmen lived
• English Audio Guide: Available for foreign visitors

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT) is one of Japan’s largest contemporary art museums, housing over 5,000 works by Japanese and international artists. Reopened in 2019 after extensive renovations, the museum features striking architecture, expansive galleries, and rotating exhibitions that showcase cutting-edge art from the 1940s to present day.

What to See

• Permanent Collection: Japanese postwar art, international contemporary works
• Special Exhibitions: World-class temporary shows (check schedule)
• Architecture: Brutalist-meets-modern design with soaring ceilings and natural light
• Museum Library: Art books and magazines (free to browse)
• Museum Shop: Unique art books, stationery, gifts
• Cafe & Restaurant: Stylish dining with art-inspired menu