Cafe Sakura

Step into an alley beside the local shops in residential Takinogawa and you will find Cafe Sakura, a welcoming kissaten where time moves at an unhurried pace. Each cup of coffee is prepared to order using a tabletop siphon brewer, arriving steaming hot with rich aromas drifting from the cup. The menu lets visitors match their roast to their mood, from the robust bitterness and depth of the Sakura blend to the concentrated Koi-Zakura—brewed with twice the grounds—or the lightly acidic, sweet Yu blend. Freshly brewed coffee can also be rapidly flash-chilled for iced coffee, locking in clean aromatics and crisp refreshment.

Traditional Japanese Sweets and Toasted Sandwiches

Traditional wagashi sweets are an essential accompaniment to the coffee here. The classic anmitsu lets diners pick between smooth koshian and textured tsubuan red bean paste, with optional toppings like shiratama rice dumplings, gyūhi mochi confection, and preserved apricots to customize the bowl. A cream anmitsu topped with vanilla or matcha ice cream is also on offer, alongside an affordable mini anmitsu set designed to pair with food or drinks for a modest dessert.

For a heartier bite or lunch, the kitchen turns out toasted sandwiches and savoury rice dishes. The clubhouse sandwich—stacked with bacon and egg, chicken, and tomato—and the BLT with lightly seared bacon are both filling choices. Classic kissaten standards such as mixed sandwiches filled with tamagoyaki-style omelet and ham, as well as comforting omurice, round out the menu with familiar Western-influenced flavours.

An Easygoing Everyday Kissaten

Picture books and magazines sit on shelves around the dining room, lending an easygoing backdrop for reading alone over a cup of coffee or taking a breather mid-walk. Families with young children are accommodated with reasonably priced juices, milk, and a diaper-changing station in the restroom. Please note that payments are cash only, but the carefully brewed siphon coffee and traditional sweets make it a soothing place to stop.