COFFEE CORAL (Update: 7/29)

A Koenji Coffee House Where Time Has Stopped
[updated July 2025]

Coffee Coral is the ultimate “nostalgic” trip to a Japanese style coffee shop, or “kissaten.” If you are looking for a place that looks like it has stopped in time to enjoy a skillfully-made coffee, head to Coffee Coral in Koenji. Just a short 5-minute walk from JR Koenji Station up Koshin-dori Street, you’ll find the outside of the shop to be a quaint wooden structure, looking like it would be more fitting on the edge of a forest rather than in a bustling city. When you open the doors of this coffee house originally opened in 1978, you will walk into a comforting “Showa Era” atmosphere. Run by a very kind lady who knows how to keep her faithful customers satisfied, she serves delicious coffee among other Japanese “kissaten” staples such as their popular egg sandwich, or “tamago sand.” The coffee is brewed in a glass siphon coffee maker, and ice coffee is also available.

Though the cozy coffee shop has limited seating along its counter, it is still a place you can relax and pass the time as you forget which era it is. Just be aware that Coffee Coral is a classic-style Japanese “kissaten” coffee shop, so smoking is allowed here. If smoke doesn’t bother you or if you are a smoker, it’s absolutely worth visiting this unique and nostalgic coffee shop.

ACCESS

Writer: Greg
Photographer: Diego, Kasamine