Tokyo Sweets Guide is an article that focuses on shops in Tokyo that are perfect to spend time writing your techo while eating something sweet. Since they are only available in Japanese on the Hobonichi Techo Online Magazine page, here is a summarized English version.

This time, it features a cafe close by to wester sweets shop Omiya Yogashiten that was featured last time, named Cafe Chopin.



Tokyo Sweets Guide: CAFE CHOPIN



A cafe located in Kanda Suda-cho, an area with places loved by locals for a long time, such as soba noodle restaurants and sushi restaurants.

Founded in 1933, it will mark its 88th year this year. Around the time when this cafe opened, this area was popular amongst the younger generation as there was Jimbocho’s famous book district and Ochanomizu’s student town close by. “Chopin” was popular as a classical music cafe to listen to classical music with vinyl.

Actually, the founder didn’t know much about Chopin or classical music in general. The reason why it was named “Chopin,” however, was because a salesperson of a vinyl shop thought their vinyl albums will sell well if this cafe played lots of classical music, so they insisted it should be named “Chopin.”

Yukiko Okamoto, the wife of the 3rd generation shopkeeper and current owner of the shop also told us how the stained glass inside the shop says “Shopin” instead of “Chopin” as the founder misspelled it. (Laughs)

Chief Nobuhiro Sasaki, who makes coffees and light meals, has worked here for 49 years.

“So many things have changed over the past 49 years. After the bubble economy popped, it isn’t as crowded anymore. The vinyl we played has changed from SP records to LP records and has then switched to reel-to-reel audio tape recording, CDs, auto-changer, and now we use the Walkman (digital audio player) to play music.”

The way the younger generation listens to music has changed over the years, but the taste of Chopin’s coffee, using lots of beans that are lightly roasted, hasn’t changed from the beginning.











The misspelled stained glass






The toast’s thickness is 2cm. Anko (red bean paste) is heaped on.


It’s then sandwiched and smothered with butter.




Layered with even more butter!






And another smothering of butter!




The final addition of butter


The toasty color, the smell . . . How yummy does this look?






Has a deep taste made with lots of beans that are lightly roasted.




















Today’s Sweets



An Press 500 yen

Uses shoku pan (white loaf) from Suzuki Bakery, who they have known each other for over 50 years. It’s sandwiched with anko (red bean curd) and toasted gradually by adding lots of salted butter. Chief Sasaki came up with this idea.

“I started making these when a customer who came to our cafe every day told us they were getting bored and wanted to try out something new.”

The saltiness coming from the butter soaked in the fluffy bread combined with the sweetness of the red bean curd makes this dish a delicious one. Because they are created one by one using a single sandwich press, only one An Press or other hot sandwiches can be ordered per group. Please order food menus with a drink. Blend coffee is available at 550 yen.



Lemon Juice 650 yen

This sherbety drink is made by blending lemon, ice and sugar in the mixer. Start of by using scooping it with a spoon, and drink it using a straw once it’s metled. In the lineup of fresh juices, there are bananas and strawberries. (Strawberries are available for a limited period of time: from Mid December to April)

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Shop Details
1-19-9 Suda-cho, Kanda, Tokyo
Hours: 8AM to 8PM (Saturday 11AM to 8PM)
Closed days: Sunday, Holidays
Telephone: 03-3251-8033
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Today’s Techo


*See the original article here.
*Tokyo Sweets Guide main page

Photography: Nobuki Kawaharazaki

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