Japan has amazing kissaten. I recently discovered many of the ones in Nagoya offer buttered toast with red bean paste (and sometimes the option of jam) when you have a morning coffee.
(Can I consider it nostalgia if this feeling was from just a few months ago?) 😉
Enjoyed the essay and the nostalgia it evoked. I’ve maybe been in a kissaten once or twice in my 48 years in Japan. They’re not really a feature of country life--and I’m not much of a coffee drinker--but I get the appeal. Surprised and much appreciated mention of my novel and memoir, thank you!
On my first visit to Japan, I stumbled upon a kissa on Takeshita Street, of all places. It was raining so I stayed & wrote in my journal for quite some time. I'm so excited to sample more kissa once I get back to Tokyo! Do you have any recommendations around Shinjuku/Shibuya?
I love Tochigi city (and also Kawagoe) the towns are called Little Kyotos and Tochigi-shi is fillwed with Showa cafes... at least it used to be... I really recommend it. When are you moving to Tokyo? Are you excited?
So exciting!!! I think for anyone who loves showa retro, Tochigi-shi is a great place to visit! And then on to Nikko :) You might love Anna Sherman's book.... though Daibo Coffee has closed...https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2013/daibo/
Oh, I have to find a kissa whenI return to Japan! This evokes so much of the experience of Japan as a whole when appreciated for the attention to nuanced detail of experience. Thanks for writing this, Leanne!
During our spring visit to Kyōto, Hiro and I stopped in a kissa for morning sets. Or, I should say, I had the morning set and Hiro had the spaghetti Bolognese, a dish he had hankered after. The interior was so Shōwa, the smell of bad cigarettes almost knocked me over.
Japan has amazing kissaten. I recently discovered many of the ones in Nagoya offer buttered toast with red bean paste (and sometimes the option of jam) when you have a morning coffee.
(Can I consider it nostalgia if this feeling was from just a few months ago?) 😉
ありがとうございます！
Oh that sounds absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much for commenting!!
Enjoyed the essay and the nostalgia it evoked. I’ve maybe been in a kissaten once or twice in my 48 years in Japan. They’re not really a feature of country life--and I’m not much of a coffee drinker--but I get the appeal. Surprised and much appreciated mention of my novel and memoir, thank you!
On my first visit to Japan, I stumbled upon a kissa on Takeshita Street, of all places. It was raining so I stayed & wrote in my journal for quite some time. I'm so excited to sample more kissa once I get back to Tokyo! Do you have any recommendations around Shinjuku/Shibuya?
I love Tochigi city (and also Kawagoe) the towns are called Little Kyotos and Tochigi-shi is fillwed with Showa cafes... at least it used to be... I really recommend it. When are you moving to Tokyo? Are you excited?
Sounds like a great short trip destination! If I get my visa in time I'll be moving end of October. And yes, so excited!
So exciting!!! I think for anyone who loves showa retro, Tochigi-shi is a great place to visit! And then on to Nikko :) You might love Anna Sherman's book.... though Daibo Coffee has closed...https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2013/daibo/
Oh, I have to find a kissa whenI return to Japan! This evokes so much of the experience of Japan as a whole when appreciated for the attention to nuanced detail of experience. Thanks for writing this, Leanne!
You must, you must! Maybe in Yokohama? ir in Tochigi-shi...!!
During our spring visit to Kyōto, Hiro and I stopped in a kissa for morning sets. Or, I should say, I had the morning set and Hiro had the spaghetti Bolognese, a dish he had hankered after. The interior was so Shōwa, the smell of bad cigarettes almost knocked me over.
It is one of the things I miss so much! (not the smell of cigarette smoke so much though) but morning sets!!!
The egg and slice of ham, friend as one! The salad with the same "French" dressing.
Yes and YES!!!! Have you read Anna Sherman's Bells of Tokyo? She does such a great job of describing kissa. This is a bit $$ but would love to bet a copy https://shop.specialprojects.jp/products/kissa-by-kissa-4th-ed
It's at my library and I added it to my list!
would love to know your thoughts about it, when you get to it.