{"id":183,"date":"2026-09-10T07:53:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T22:53:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/?page_id=183"},"modified":"2026-09-12T19:30:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T10:30:06","slug":"kissaten%e3%80%8e%e5%96%ab%e8%8c%b6%e5%ba%97%e3%80%8f","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/?page_id=183","title":{"rendered":"Kissaten\u300e\u55ab\u8336\u5e97\u300f"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What is a Kissaten?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Traditional Cafes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is a Kissaten?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A kissaten (\u55ab\u8336\u5e97)<\/strong> is a traditional Japanese cafe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kissaten have been part of Japanese cafe culture for many years. They’re often known for their retro atmosphere, classic food, and traditional coffee<\/strong><\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared with modern cafes, many kissaten have a darker and quieter atmosphere, with old-fashioned furniture and a nostalgic feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can enjoy coffee, tea, simple meals, and desserts while taking a break or chatting with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, one of the most interesting things about kissaten is that they feel very different from the modern cafes I usually visit. \u2615\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kissaten vs. Modern Cafes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kissaten and modern cafes can both be places to enjoy coffee, food, and time with friends, but the atmosphere and menus can be quite different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Traditional Kissaten<\/th>Modern Cafes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Retro and nostalgic interiors<\/td>Bright and contemporary interiors<\/td><\/tr>
Traditional coffee brewing methods<\/td>Espresso-based drinks<\/td><\/tr>
Classic Japanese cafe food<\/td>Specialty coffee<\/td><\/tr>
A quieter, old-fashioned atmosphere<\/td>A modern and open atmosphere<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Of course, not every cafe fits perfectly into these categories. Some newer kissaten also combine traditional Japanese cafe culture with modern coffee styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, modern specialty coffee shops are usually my first choice, but I also love visiting kissaten because they offer a completely different experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Classic Kissaten Food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kissaten aren’t only about coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many traditional kissaten serve simple but comforting dishes that have become part of Japanese cafe culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf5d Napolitan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A Japanese-style spaghetti dish made with ketchup, vegetables, and often ham or sausage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf73 Omurice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fried rice wrapped in a soft omelette, usually served with ketchup. It’s a classic Japanese comfort food you may find at traditional kissaten.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf5e Pizza Toast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thick toast topped with pizza sauce, cheese, and other toppings, then toasted until warm and melty. It’s a classic kissaten-style light meal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83e\udd6a Egg Salad Sandwich<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A sandwich filled with boiled eggs mixed with mayonnaise and seasonings. Some kissaten also serve sandwiches filled with a thick Japanese-style omelette.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf5e An-butter Toast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Toast topped with anko<\/strong> (sweet red bean paste) and butter. The combination of sweet and salty flavours is simple but delicious.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf53 Fruit Sandwich<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fresh fruit and whipped cream between slices of soft white bread. It’s sweet, light, and it’s a classic Japanese cafe dessert.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83e\udd5e Hotcake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A thick, fluffy Japanese-style pancake, often served with butter and syrup. It’s a nostalgic favourite at many kissaten.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf6e Purin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Japanese purin is a firm, custard-style pudding usually served with caramel sauce. Many kissaten have their own version.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2615 Coffee Jelly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lightly sweet coffee-flavoured jelly, often served with cream or vanilla ice cream. It’s a classic Japanese coffee dessert.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf68 Purin a la Mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Purin a la Mode is a Japanese cafe dessert made with pudding, ice cream, and fresh fruit. It’s often served with whipped cream and other toppings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

lassic Kissaten Drinks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Coffee is at the heart of many kissaten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional kissaten often focus on drip-style coffee<\/strong><\/mark> rather than the espresso-based drinks commonly found in modern cafes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2615 Blend Coffee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A classic kissaten coffee is often a house blend. The flavour can vary greatly from one shop to another.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83e\udd5b Cafe au Lait<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coffee mixed with warm milk. It’s a classic choice if you want something milder than black coffee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2615 Wiener Coffee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coffee topped with whipped cream. Despite the name, it’s not a coffee from Vienna in the traditional sense.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udf48 Cream Soda<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A sweet, melon-flavoured soda topped with vanilla ice cream. Despite the name, it usually doesn’t contain real melon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2615 Coffee Float<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chilled black coffee topped with vanilla ice cream. Some cafes may also offer a latte-style coffee float.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Traditional Kissaten Coffee Methods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the things I find especially interesting about kissaten is their coffee brewing culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different kissaten use different methods, but you may come across traditional brewing styles such as these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2615 Hand-Drip Coffee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coffee brewed by slowly pouring hot water over freshly ground coffee. Nel drip is one type of hand-drip coffee.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2615 Nel Drip Coffee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A type of hand-drip coffee brewed through a reusable cloth filter called a nel filter<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2615 Siphon Coffee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coffee brewed using a glass siphon brewer. The brewing process itself can be part of the charm of visiting a traditional kissaten.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Coming soon:<\/strong>
I’ll explain each brewing method in more detail in separate guides. \u2615\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Kissaten Morning Set?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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One of the most interesting things about Japanese kissaten is the morning service<\/strong>, often called a morning set<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the morning, some kissaten offer a small meal together with your drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2615\ufe0f Coffee + \ud83c\udf5e Toast + \ud83e\udd5a Boiled Egg<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The exact menu depends on the cafe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is different from the all-day breakfast<\/strong> culture you may see in countries such as New Zealand or Australia. In Japan, a morning set is usually a special breakfast service offered during the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morning service is especially well known in Nagoya, where some cafes are famous for generous morning sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you visit a kissaten in the morning, checking whether they offer a morning set can be a fun part of the experience. \u2615\ufe0f\ud83c\udf5e<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy a traditional Japanese kissaten experience! \u2615\ufe0f<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is a Kissaten? A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Traditional Cafes What is a Kissaten? A kissaten (\u55ab\u8336\u5e97 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":192,"parent":451,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-183","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=183"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/183\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":455,"href":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/183\/revisions\/455"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/451"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanesefoodexperiences.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}