While Kichijōji is in Tokyo, it still has its own vibe! Hidden in the urban jungle are many unique cafés and dessert places that we highly recommend! Stop by any of the spots below and take a rest from your exploration of the area. We are sure you will be pleasantly surprised by the food and dining experience that any one of them provides!
The Must-Visit Cafés in Kichijōji
- Woodberrys (ウッドベリーズ)
- Coffee Hall Kugutsusō (COFFEE HALL くぐつ草)
- Kichijōji Petit Mura (吉祥寺プティット村)
- Gclef (TEA MARKET Gclef 吉祥寺本店)
- Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji (白髭のシュークリーム工房 吉祥寺店)
- Hattifnatt
- Other Recommended Dessert and Pastries Spots in Kichijōji
Woodberrys (ウッドベリーズ)
Woodberrys is the most famous home-fermented frozen yogurt shop in Kichijōji.
Contracting with various orchards in Japan, the shop is where you can get healthy ice cream when you crave it. The frozen yogurt is made on the spot with seasonal fruit. Yes, there will be real fruit pieces!
It was founded more than 20 years ago and now has two shops in the area.
- The main store is close to the station’s south exit, mainly for takeaway orders.
- The other one, close to the SUNROAD shopping district, has a small dine-in area for customers to enjoy natural light on a leisurely afternoon.
- The shops also sells incredibly tasty and presented fruit parfaits.
Some odd flavors, such as avocado and ginger, are also offered for those who feel adventurous. Although they don’t sound intuitive, they are still fairly popular!
Besides frozen yogurt, yogurt drinks are also on the menu. Once you have tried the rich and flavorful yogurt that is easy to drink, you will want to drink it every day! In winter, a hot yogurt drink is served to keep you warm. And don’t be deterred by the sound of it – the hot frozen yogurt drink tastes amazingly good!
Woodberrys’ Business Hours and Access Information
- Woodberrys Main Store (ウッドベリーズ本店) is open from 12 pm to 9 pm daily except from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- It is a 2-minute walk from Kichijoji Station’s south exit.
- Woodberrys Marche Store (ウッドベリーズ マルシェ) is open from 11 am to 8 pm.
- It is a 5-minute walk from Kichijoji Station’s north exit.
Coffee Hall Kugutsusō (COFFEE HALL くぐつ草)
For those who love special-themed cafes, don’t miss out on Coffee Hall Kugutsusō in Kichijōji! The cave vibe there is just fascinating! The underground cafe in Kichijōji’s Daiyagai District has been around since 1979 and is one of the most popular hidden spots in the area. Plus, their cheesecake and coffee are incredible!
For more information, refer to our article on Coffee Hall Kugutsusō!
Kichijōji Petit Mura (吉祥寺プティット村)
If you like the world painted in a picture book, you will love everything about Kichijōji Petit Mura. Visiting Kichijōji Petit Mura is like walking into a magical world! It is a small fairytale-like village with a cat theme. The village has a couple of facilities, including a themed restaurant, a cat cafe, and boutique shops. Not only is the fountain on the wall cat-shaped, but cat paw marks can also be found imprinted on the ground!
For more information, refer to our article on Kichijōji Petit Mura.
Gclef (TEA MARKET Gclef 吉祥寺本店)
Apart from Mlesna Tea Tokyo (ムレスナティー東京) close to the Inokashira Park, Gclef is another famous black tea specialist in Kichijōji. The cafe’s bright red exterior will catch your attention and make you wonder what they are selling when you walk past.
The wide variety of tea on the shelf is sourced from various countries, including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and China. Before purchasing, you can sample the tea you are interested in at the sampling corner. We are sure you will have fun comparing the wide range of tea leaves on the shelf. If your Japanese is up to a conversational level, the staff will share more information about the tea leaves and their characteristics, brewing techniques, and anything else you are curious about tea!
Besides tea, Gclef is also renown for the deliciousness of the homemade jams. Using the traditional English-style jam-making method, plenty of fruits are used to make the jams that are used in the cafe and sold at the shop. Different from the regular jams sold in supermarkets, you will enjoy the true taste of the ingredients!
Gclef’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Gclef is open from:
- 11 am to 7 pm on weekdays
- 11 am to 8 pm on weekends and public holidays
- It closes from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- The cafe is a 7-minute walk from Kichijoji Station.
Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji (白髭のシュークリーム工房 吉祥寺店)
If you are a Ghibli fan, stop by Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji for the Totoro Cream Puff (トトロのシュークリーム). It doesn’t just have a cute appearance, but their puff tastes amazing! The shop is decorated with many Ghibli decor. It is a space dedicated to all the Ghibli fans. It is also the only shop in the world that has signed a contract with Ghibli to use the characters to create its desserts!
For more information, refer to our article on Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji!
Hattifnatt
The east side of Kichijoji Station is a quieter part of Kichijōji. But there is a reason for many people to visit the area: a cafe named Hattifnatt. The cafe’s 130cm tall gate is the entrance to a children’s picture book. Climbing up the Ghibli-style stairs is the first thing you will experience at Hattifnatt. When you reach the top of the stairs, it will feel like you have walked into a wonderland. The entire space is decorated with numerous cute images and characters.
For more information, refer to our article on Hattifnatt!
Other Recommended Dessert and Pastries Spots in Kichijōji
- HARBS Atre Kichijōji (HARBS アトレ吉祥寺店)
- L’EPICURIEN (レピキュリアン)
- L’EPICURIEN is a famous pastry shop in Kichijōji that only opens on weekends from 12 pm to 6 pm. Thus, whenever it is open, there is usually a queue.
- Cakes are available from 1 pm.
- The cakes there are all artistically made.
- The mille-feuille is really popular. The first batch of mille-feuille is usually available between 2 pm and 3 pm.
- As packaging takes time, the queue usually moves rather slowly.
- L’EPICURIEN is a famous pastry shop in Kichijōji that only opens on weekends from 12 pm to 6 pm. Thus, whenever it is open, there is usually a queue.
- Kooriya Peace (氷屋ぴぃす)
- It is a Japanese-style shaved ice shop with eight counter seats located between Kichijoji Station and Inokashira Park. It is located inside the Kichijōji Goen Jizō (吉祥寺御縁地蔵) building.
- The fluffy and light shaved ice here has been described as a ‘frozen cloud’. The ice instantly melts in your mouth!
- In summer, expect a queue when you visit. Jot your name down on the waiting list next to the time slot you want to reserve and come back later. Or you can take away the shaved ice and enjoy it in Inokashira Park.
- As there is around 10 flavors to choose from, the flavor you like should be on the menu.
- Seasonal flavors are also available. For example, there is pumpkin-flavored shaved ice during the Halloween season. While the idea sounds quirky and weird, it tastes nice!
-
- A popular flavor throughout the year is Strawberry Almond (いちごあんにん). Rich strawberry sauce made from fruit and almond milk go great together! Inside the round-shape ice are seasonal fruits and almond tofu.
- If you are not fast enough to finish the shaved ice before it melts, that is okay! Straws are there for you to drink or slurp up the liquid. It is another way to enjoy Kooriya Peace’s amazing summer treat!
- As a service to its customers, a cup of hot tea comes with your shaved ice. It will warm you up when you start feeling a bit chill. If you need more, get it from the hot drink dispenser.
- FLIPPER’S Kichijōji (FLIPPER’S 吉祥寺店)
- A popular souffle pancake chain. The staffs there are patient and attentive.
- Their pancake is called Kiseki Pancake (奇跡のパンケーキ), which means Miracle Pancake. It is used to describe the melt-in-your-mouth pancake’s perfect combination of eggs, milk, and butter, and the cooking time and iron plate’s temperature.
- The wobbliness is created by using twice the usual amount of eggs.
- Savory pancakes are available, but there is no vegetarian option.
- Refer to HERE for the English menu.
- Ryumon Coffee Stand (リュモンコーヒースタンド)
- Ryumon’s coffee is carefully brewed from single-origin coffee beans. This is why it receives so many praises from customers.
- The staffs there are friendly and polite.
- If you visit the cafe for breakfast, enjoy their toast. Served with butter and syrup, the sweet and salty taste is exquisite!
- The tiramisu is delicious!
- It has a cozy and calming ambience. The tables seats are on the first floor. Sofa seats are on the second floor, and offers a great view of the bustling street below.
- Aoyama Flower Market Tea House Kichijōji (青山フラワーマーケットティーハウス アトレ吉祥寺店)
- A cafe in a flower shop on B1 of the department store, atre (アトレ). It is a wonderful space surrounded by flowers and greenery inspired by a greenhouse.
- The service is good and the staffs there are friendly.
- The tea house has plenty of herbal and fruit tea choices. As a cafe operated by a flower shop, many dishes served there have edible flowers as decoration.
- Try their rose jelly!
- If you order a hot drink, an hourglass will come with your order. The tea is ready to drink when all the sand has fallen.
- If you understand Japanese, refer to the cafe’s menu HERE.
- Bubby’s Kichijōji (バビーズ 吉祥寺)
- It is Bubby’s Kichijōji branch. The North American restaurant is best known for its homemade Mile High Apple Pie. Large apple slices filled the pie, and their fruity aroma matched the cinnamon’s fragrance nicely.
- The variety of apples used changes depending on the season.
- The pie isn’t overly sweet.
- Remember to have the pie hot!
- Limited edition and seasonal pies might also be available when you visit Bubby’s.
- Burgers are also on the menu, but there are no vegetarian options.
- Sofa seats and boxed seats are available, perfect for family and friends gatherings.
- It is Bubby’s Kichijōji branch. The North American restaurant is best known for its homemade Mile High Apple Pie. Large apple slices filled the pie, and their fruity aroma matched the cinnamon’s fragrance nicely.
Discover the Attractions in Kichijōji
Kichijōji isn’t just about the cafes that we have introduced above. The neighborhood that was rated “The Most Desirable Area to Live” is great for almost everything. It is also where the famous Ghibli Museum is located!
For more ideas of what to do in the area, refer to our Kichijōji article!
