Kiyosumi-shirakawa is a Tokyo neighborhood that built its current reputation almost entirely around one event: the opening of Blue Bottle Coffee’s first location outside the United States, back in 2015. Since then, independent roasters and specialty cafes have steadily moved in, and the area is now known as one of Tokyo’s best coffee destinations — the kind of place where visitors move between multiple small cafes rather than stopping at just one.
The neighborhood’s older identity, as the gateway to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and part of Tokyo’s historic Fukagawa district, hasn’t gone anywhere either. A traditional garden with real history behind it, a large city park, and a riverside walk are all within easy reach, making it possible to spend a full day here beyond just the coffee shops.
For visitors who want to see a very different side of the same neighborhood at night, there’s also a distinctly old-school, unpolished side to Kiyosumi-shirakawa that has nothing to do with its trendy daytime reputation.
Medium:
Want the exact date Blue Bottle changed this neighborhood, the real history behind its traditional garden, and where to find its most local, no-frills izakaya? Read the complete guide on [ Medium →]
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