Hyperlocal Tokyo

A Japanese-style cafe that opened in April 2011 near Harajuku Station. This location was previously home to a Western confectionery shop called "Quatres" that was established in 1982. Back then, it was known for selling "Ufu Pudding" in Harajuku. It was quite crowded on the weekend, likely due to the limited seating, and they only accept cash payments. I ordered the matcha set (with the option of dorayaki or castella) for 900 yen.

Harajuku, the area around the station is practically packed with people, and it's impossible to spend a long time in a coffee shop... This place is a real lifesaver. Maybe because it's underground and hard to find? It's not crowded, you can spend a relaxing and quiet time, and it's not noisy, which is great. Of course, as soon as you step out of the shop, you're right on the main street in front of the station, which is packed with people, but the contrast is amazing. It's a spot I don't really want to tell anyone about, but they have a great selection of Japanese-style sweets, and their dorayaki sell out quickly, so you should go early. The castella set was absolutely delicious...!

I stopped by for a quick break. I had some zenzai (sweet red bean soup) and dorayaki (a Japanese pastry). The sweetness was just right and it was delicious.

I had tea with two friends. They offer matcha or sencha, dorayaki or castella. Of course, coffee is also available. They have o-shiruko and anmitsu, too, so it's hard to choose. I had dorayaki and sencha, and they were delicious!

I ordered a cream anmitsu, but it didn't come with the 'an' (sweet bean paste). It took a long time to arrive, and they brought the 'an' separately later. Apparently, it's always empty. The staff's service wasn't great. It might be okay if you need to sit down quickly.