Kiyosumi Shirakawa: A Coffee & Hidden Gem Tokyo Itinerary
If youโre looking for good coffee and hidden gems in Tokyo, this itinerary is for you! It has a little bit of everythingโcoffee, a beautiful Japanese garden, hole-in-the-wall shops, and a unique museum that transports you to Edo-Period Japan.
The last time I was in Japan, I met up with a friend I met through a work trip here. I asked if she had any recommendations for lesser-known areas in Tokyo, and she suggested we go to Kiyosumi Shirakawa, an area known for its coffee culture.
My favorite part about this itinerary is that we made it completely on the fly! Our only plan was to get some good coffee and visit the park to catch the last of the fall foliage.
The best way to experience Japan is to leave a lot of room toโฆwander.
Pick one or two main things you want to cover in an area and then leave the rest up to โwhatever happens, happens.โ
Japan has changed the way I travel because some of my favorite experiences and food places Iโve tried have been from randomly walking around and stumbling into hidden gems.
I hope you enjoy this Tokyo travel itinerary and find some new places to add to your Japan bucket list!
Hidden Gems Tokyo Japan Day Itinerary
Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station
This Japan itinerary starts at Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station. Kiyosumi Shirakawa is a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo with many independent coffee roasters, art and cultural museums, and a beautiful Japanese strolling garden.ย Many locations in this Tokyo itinerary are near this station.
Allpress Espresso Tokyo Roastery & Cafe
Our first coffee stop of the day was Allpress Espresso Roastery and Cafe. Allpress started as a coffee cart in New Zealand, and the brand now operates over 1,200 cafes and restaurants worldwide.
The cafe itself wasย onย the smaller side but was perfect for a quick coffee break to catch up with a friend or read a book.
Location details
Kiyosumi Garden
Gardens served various purposes during each period in Japanese history. During the Edo Period, luxurious strolling gardens became popular with the ruling class as they moved away from minimalism and turned towards extravagance.
As a result, strolling gardens with artificial hills, ponds, and islands that could be enjoyed along a circular path began to appear.
Regional feudal lords in Edo were required to maintain these gardens in their hometowns, which is why youโll still find many of them around Tokyo, especially in former castle towns.
Kiyosumi Garden is a short walk from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station.
This garden is great to visit year-round, as itโs filled with seasonal flowers and many bird species.
A special feature in the Kiyosumi Garden is the many stepping stone paths. Landscape stones are highly sought after and valuable garden details. Some stones are famous and were obtained from all over Japan.
Location details
TOKAKU Coffee +
After the garden, we didnโt need to go far to find our next cup of coffee. In Kiyosumi Shirakawa, coffee shops are everywhere.
Location details
Fukagawa Edo Museum
The next place we visited was not on our original agenda. But we saw so many advertisements in the area for the museum that we decided to pop in for a bit.
The Fukagawa Edo Museum is a local museum promoting Edo Period culture by showcasing preserved materials and collections related to the period.
Itโs also a place for community residents to gather with its small theater and recreational hall.
The main floor has a life-size reproduction of the Fukagawa Sagacho townscape at the end of the Edo Period. You can actually walk through the different shops and houses to see what daily life was like back then.
Well-informed museum docentsย are available toย give a tour, answer any questions, and point outย specialย museum highlights. For example, hidden animal figuresย are locatedย throughout the life-size exhibit.
We were so impressed by how detailed and realistic the exhibit was. I highly recommend visiting this museum if you want to step back into Old Japan.
This is yet another example of how beneficial it can be to go with the flow in Japan because you never know what youโll stumble across.
Yokozuna Taiho Corner
Before you exit the museum, check out the corner dedicated to local yokozuna, Taiho.
Yokozuna is the highest rank in sumoโa grand champion. Taiho won 32 times, the second most in history.
Taihoโs achievements and items related to him and his championship journey are displayed.
Location details
Le Bois Kiyosumi Shirakawa Cafe & Miscellaneous Goods
Last on our itinerary was a stop at one final coffee shop. This quaint little shop had a cute seating area tucked away in the back of the restaurant. You could get sandwiches, pastries, and a variety of coffee drinks.
Location details
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Hi, where did you get the notebook for collecting station stamps?
hi! the notebook I used is one that I made and it’s available on my website here: https://lifestylebyremi.com/staging/2326/shop/
*please make sure to read the note about delivery times. since i’m a small buiness, the books are print on demand and may take longer than big retailers to deliver.