Tokyo Chic Neighbourhoods | Jiyugaoka, Setagaya, Meguro | spa days, little Europe, ochaya & jazz bar

Tokyo Chic Neighbourhoods | Jiyugaoka, Setagaya, Meguro | spa days, little Europe, ochaya & jazz bar

Hello everyone, I’m back in Tokyo 🙂 Today we will be exploring 2 of my favourite areas – Meguro and Setagaya Within Meguro, there’s a little neighbourhood called Jiyugaoka It’s known as the ‘Little Europe’ of Tokyo, so let’s check it out too! It’s going to be a relaxed itinerary, away from the hustle and bustle of central Tokyo I love the sounds of Japan It’s surprisingly quiet in places that are usually loud Let’s start the day with a good cup of coffee This is one of the rare coffee shops that opens early in the morning (7:30am) There’s an upstairs section too The space is full of light and so beautiful Love the cupholder engraved into the stone They sell the ceramics they use in the store too I’d love to take them home with me but I’m travelling light They specialise in hand-drip coffees & have small bakery items to go with your coffee It’s a beautiful sunny day today The area around Setagaya station is really peaceful to walk around You’ll come across this small courtyard of shops called Bonus Track Most of the shops aren’t open yet But I think it’s worthwhile checking them out when they are There’s a little coffee shop that’s open I think I’ll try this place next time There’s also a peaceful walking path called the Kitazawa River Greenway The city diverted its underground water to create this stream The water has to undergo a cleaning process before it’s allowed to flow into this creek No wonder it’s looking so clear A little green oasis in the middle of the city, perfect for a morning stroll One thing about Japan that doesn’t get mentioned enough though… is the number and size of their spiders during the warmer season I’ve always wanted to try this massage place They do a day trip plan with the hotel next door which means you can finish off your massage with an onsen bath I love that they ask how much you want to talk during your session There are five tailored essential oil blends you can choose from You’re given comfy linen to change into The massage is done clothed, which I actually prefer That was such a good massage, I highly recommend this spa Now let’s use the onsen day pass that’s included with the massage It’s located inside this beautiful hotel It’s one of the best day onsen I’ve been to I won’t be able to film inside But this is the lounge area after your bath There’s free ice-cream Let’s head to Jiyugaoka It’s a little hidden teahouse with a beautiful Japanese garden view Ordered their anmitsu – a traditional Japanese dessert It’s cubed agar-agar jelly topped with anko, fruits and a sweet syrup called mitsu It’s peaceful and relaxing here I didn’t realize their anmitsu came with hot tea so I got a cafe au lait as well It’s just okay, I would probably get coffee elsewhere but the cake is nice This shrine is over 800 years old & it’s a shrine to visit to for love and match making There’s a smaller shrine to its left & just behind the side shrine there is a ‘couple pines’ symbolizing eternal love The couple tree connected by a shimenawa Let’s explore the neighbourhood Jiyugaoka is known as the ‘little Europe’ of Tokyo It’s paved streets are lined with European-style cafes and shop Look at their gorgeous street lamps It’s a charming neighbourhood that feels chic and stylish This shop has a giant cow in it This store sells souvenirs sourced from places in Europe These soaps are from Italy Ceramics from Poland So colourful and vibrant Decoratives from Germany This store sells antiques from France The owners travel all over France to source their items So you’ll find really unique trinkets here Great place to browse if you like the French countryside aesthetic There’s a plant shop next door too A coffee shop on the ground level by day A wine bar on the second floor by night Looks cozy, I might have to try this out next time Rue Marie Claire is a tree-lined promenade It’s a charming street for a stroll, in line with the European vibes Let’s get a late lunch at one of the cute cafes The Peter Rabbit Garden Cafe caught my eye You get to dine semi-outdoors & every table has a cute plushie Everything on the menu looks so pretty, I’m having a hard time choosing… I got a hamburg omurice in the end Too pretty to eat! It tasted delicious too I really enjoyed Jiyugaoka and I’ll definitely come back to check out more of their cafes Let’s head back to Setagaya-Daita as there’s a jazz kissa I want to check out The Daita Fuji 356 Plaza in front of the station has a good sunset viewpoint On clear days, you can see Mount Fuji from here Can you see the faint outline of Mount Fuji? This jazz kissa has been in business since 1973 Opened by a mother-daughter duo It’s an intimate space But has a good sound system Bill Evans is playing this evening This is mama There’s no cover charge, just order a drink It’s a cozy little hideaway where you can wind down and enjoy the music Another day, another coffee shop It’s a little coffee shop next to the Meguro river They roast their own coffee here It’s a bit of a soft, cloudy day today I think it’s a perfect day to surround ourselves in a little bit of nature There aren’t many old traditional buildings in central Tokyo due to the bombings in WWII Kyu Asakura is one of the only remaining traditional Japanese wooden houses in Tokyo It used to be the private residence of an assembly chairman They’ve preserved it as part of an important cultural property I personally really enjoy walking around its garden right now its the colour of summer You can also check out the inside of the house This shop has the charm of a Ghibli movie There’s a cozy café on the second floor The interior looks like a café you’d find in the French countryside I think they describe this as ‘shabby-chic’ I got a pumpkin soup and bread set as they have a bakery downstairs The food and drinks weren’t particularly special You come here more for the ambiance One of my favourite stationery stores! I journal all the time so I thought I should treat myself to a ‘grown-up’ diary & here you can customise your notebook however you want First, choose the size & colour of your leather notebook cover I’m going with this beautiful ‘olive’ colour It’s the type of leather that gets more beautiful as you use it They even sell a special cream to keep it soft and shiny Next, choose the type of inserts you want There’s a calender type insert Watercolour paper… and many more I’m just going to go with plain pages & they have all sorts of cute accessories to customise your notebook Love these charms Tiny tiny colour pencils One to prove that you’ve bought this in Japan After you buy your notebook, you can use their stamp station I’ve been seeing these journals all over Instagram I’m excited to start filling mine with memories This is an art gallery with different exhibitions every month But it’s also a beautiful cafe Just look at the furniture Their food and drinks are served on Royal Copenhagen tableware Got a carrot cake and it looks so pretty & a comforting hot apple cinammon tea Just checking out my new journal The leather is still matte but will get shinier and more beautiful with time I love the olive colour I’ve chosen This is one of the most beautiful stores I’ve been to It’s a French fragrance and cosmetic house The perfume bottles are so gorgeous Customizable lip oil cases & handmade combs Each item feels like a little piece of art I feel like they are perfect for gifting I’m just going to chill at my favourite bookstore before dinner It’s Tsutaya Books but the Daikanyama branch They have so many books, there’s something for everyone here I’ve watched ‘Perfect Days’ recently and really love the film It follows the life of a Tokyo toilet cleaner It has a beautiful message of embracing life as it comes while also promoting the Tokyo Toilet Project My favourite part of the bookstore is this lounge on the second floor It’s a cozy place to read Ending the night with shio (salt) ramen Got a bowl of shio creamy ramen for 790 yen (~5.20 USD) It looks pretty good! Thanks for joining me on my first 2 days in Tokyo See you in the next one 🙂

We’re back exploring some of Tokyo’s chic and cozy neighbourhoods. Join me for a slow day wandering through Jiyugaoka, Setagaya, and Meguro, areas known for their elegant charm and local gems.

Morning spa and onsen sessions, coffee houses, a traditional ochaya (teahouse), evening jazz kissas, some of my favourite shops in the area and more 💫

Captions (auto-translate) available

Travel date: 16 October 2025

Equipment
– Filmed with iPhone 16 Pro
– Edited with capcut
– Kraftgeek Tripod https://tinyurl.com/mr7kjdp7 (affliate link)
15% Discount Code: RIRITRAVELS

Places mentioned
Et -THE CULTURAL COFFEEHOUSE https://maps.app.goo.gl/nQ96ZtmLUdtPQEXPA
SORYU spa https://maps.app.goo.gl/t2yJRWUYkjt5SPb76
Kosoan teahouse https://maps.app.goo.gl/wxqTWguFryevDoSq5
欧州航路 自由が丘店 https://maps.app.goo.gl/H1JE5QDtARW2p15XA
Brocante https://maps.app.goo.gl/YUDCLBfbtpyB2CFn9
Peter Rabbit Garden Cafe https://maps.app.goo.gl/yJxhe9RhNLUNJgai8
Daita Fuji 356 Plaza https://maps.app.goo.gl/zK92TUWudwSoGvgA6
JazzHaus POSY https://maps.app.goo.gl/MXxLGME9ZD7ypAjk8
Sidewalk Stand https://maps.app.goo.gl/7xc3hLPxTa6AUpFr8
La Vie a la Campagne https://maps.app.goo.gl/mi7DtdwoSK5fUNWt8
Traveler’s Factory Nakameguro https://maps.app.goo.gl/2WqjkYL9e8G5iTgc8
OFFICINE UNIVERSELLE BULY DAIKANYAMA SARUGAKUCHO https://share.google/dwD8JZxhgZGJEKaBb
Oreryū Shio Ramen https://maps.app.goo.gl/husCYWaRrqsAmgsp7

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