Kyoto’s coffee culture gains richness, depth and manga themes

Eat & Drink

Established coffee houses embrace anime while others introduce specialty roasting

Inoda Coffee’s flagship store is characterized by its traditional machiya townhouse design. (Photo by Kosuke Tsunoda)

KOSUKE TSUNODA

September 13, 2025 07:42 JST

KYOTO, Japan — A distinctive coffee culture has taken root in the ancient capital of Kyoto, one that runs the gamut from a chain of cafes with anime-themed menu items to high-end specialty coffee roasters.