This cafe is located up in the mountains of Hiji in Oita prefecture. It’s easiest to get to by car but if you have time and are willing to walk uphill it’s around a 30 minute walk from the station.
Being up in the mountains, it has a gorgeous view of Beppu Bay you can take in while you enjoy your food. This Cafe does lunch, dessert, drinks and baking. There are also plenty of vegan options. At my time there I even tried an all Vegan veggie based lunch. It looked and tasted amazing and the staff explained all elements on the plate. Even where some ingredients were sourced, with produce from Kumamoto and Miyazaki prefectures.
Their menu changes so you’ll have to visit a few times if you want to try all kinds of food and cake.
The design of this cafe incorporates nature very nicely using lots of natural wood, lighting and stone. Many things are made from bamboo as well, such as chopsticks, straws and light fixtures. They have seating available inside as well as outside.
This cafe also has exhibitions, galleries and events you can see advertised on their website or instagram. It’s a great way that they try to showcase different things from local artisans and products. The staff was super friendly and helpful explaining about the menu and future events.
They are open from Thursday to Sunday from 11:30 to 17:00.
Coffee Stand Stairs is a small stand close to Beppu station. Here you can order your drinks hot or iced. Usually there is outdoors seating available, but since it’s outdoors it really depends on the weather.
Sometimes there are baked goods available too, such as cookies. I love the marshmallow cookies since they are chewy, gooey and sweet. There are also seasonal or limited items not part of the regular menu that are good to try. Though I always stick to the vanilla or chai lattes.
The owner/barista here is super friendly and speaks English so it’s a great place to grab a coffee and chat. Being located so close to the station it’s also a fantastic place to stop by if you’re waiting for a train or have just arrived and are craving some caffeine.
Kotori is a cafe located near Beppu station in Beppu city in Oita prefecture. They have a variety of different desserts as well as drinks. The cafe has multiple rooms each designed to look cute.
During my first visit I tried the banana chocolate parfait with and iced cafe latte. My friend tried one of the fruit tarts. The parfait I ordered was larger than I expected containing three large scoops of vanilla ice cream. So it was very filling, so i wouldn’t recommend having lunch right before your visit . With the drink you have the option of adding some sweetener but since I planned on having a sweet dessert I decided a sweetener wasn’t necessary. On the fruit tart you have the option of topping it with honey, maple syrup or a chocolate syrup. Both the cafe and the desserts are super cute.
The menu is mostly Japanese but the titles or pictures match the items listed on the page. If your Japanese isn’t the best you can use those to figure out what’s on the corresponding page. Also most of the items are written in katakana making easier if you don’t know much kanji.
This cafe was a very cute shop to visit. There were plenty of options for desserts and drinks. It’s also good to note that there is like an entrance room where you take off your shoes before entering more of the building (which was originally a house) that has multiple rooms and places to sit down. The shop sometimes has unusual hours so it is good to check that before going to the cafe. Google maps tends to be accurate and updated regularly. The staff is also very friendly and helpful if you need it.
Cafe 豆 or Cafe Mame is a small cafe near Beppu park. This cafe does both drinks and desserts. The dessert menu changes depending on season but there are usual three different options per day.
My drink of choice at this cafe is the iced black sugar cafe au lait. What’s really nice at this shop is that the iced drinks are large in a tall glass with a paper straw. The desserts are stunning to look at and they actually taste amazing. They makes waffle plates, cheesecakes, and even roll cakes. Plus it’s all really affordable. For the portion sizes and quality I think it’s an amazing deal. The Sakura cheesecake I had one time has to be one of my favourites. Too bad Sakura season is so short.
A rare Sakura cheesecake, iced cafe au lait, iced black coffee, a waffle plate, and a roll cake.
This coffee shop is smaller so you may need to be careful of there being no seats available. The interior uses lots of wood giving off a cottage feel. There are also tall windows around the seating area to view a well kept garden. Sometimes in the garden you can even see several cats hanging around. So it’s fun to look outside during your coffee and seeing what you can find.
The shop is a little difficult to find as it’s almost in the middle of a block surrounded by other buildings. You’ll have to keep an eye open for the sign on the street and then walk up the path to the cafe. There is also some parking spots available if you happen to be driving in and around Beppu.
You can find this cafe near Oita station. It is located on the second floor of a larger building. Taking the first set of stairs right next to the main entrance will lead you right to the shop. This cafe also has a free points card where after so many drinks you can get a one free.
This cafe has a nice open feel and it views the main entrance of the building from above. There are plenty of seats available and it has free wifi. The shop is cozy, kind of giving a homely feel, at least to me anyways. There are menus at the tables but you order at the counter then pick up your order from a counter. When picking up your order you can then grab straws and utensils as you need them.
What’s really nice and unique to this cafe is the drinks. You can order a drink and then add a variety of toppings. I like to get ice cream or Kitkat chocolates on top. Different toppings have different price additions to your base priced drink. Also if you’re lacking inspiration they have an instagram page you can look at. You can even show the barista the post and they can recreate it if ingredients are available. It makes most of the drinks really nice for photos, plus they are actually tasty. Other than drinks they also have desserts displayed next to the register you can choose from.
Since there are so many options to add to your drinks it’s so easy to get creative. You can also have something different every time you visit, changing the toppings up or trying a different kind of drink. Also if you’re a fan of London fogs you’ll be happy to hear that this Japanese shop has you covered with that drink and many others to try with or with out toppings.
Othello is a small coffee shop that makes amazing lattes. The also import coffee beans including decaf options. They have many bean options and even roast and prepare the beans themselves. Sometimes they have different desserts available, you’ll need to see what’s displayed for the day. Though there are some options on the daily menu. My personal favourite is the salted caramel nuts on ice cream. The caramel is pleasantly salty and when you just receive it, it’s still warm and chewy.
The latte sizes are also fantastic you have a regular and large option. For the hot version a regular is just fine. I usually order the honey latte for just the right amount of sweetness. There is also a decent amount of thick foam on the top which I didn’t realize I was missing until I had it again.
While the shop is small, the interior design is modern and comfy with lots of natural light. There’s a counter with seats, as well as a large rustic style wooden table along with some other seating.
When visiting this shop it’s good to keep in mind when the busy hours are. If you time it right you can get a good seat, while at peak times there’s little room for the people lined up to go. You can also grab a drink to go when the happens.
This is one of my favourite places to get a hot latte and it does leave me with caffeine cravings. I especially like to visit on cooler days, though the weather doesn’t stop me from ordering an ice cream too.
This shop uses soy products to replace the dairy in their drinks and food. Making this shop to my understanding a vegan option. You can get drinks, donuts or other treats based on availability. The cafe is in an open area next to the river, where you can actually ride a boat. It’s in a nice quiet area between the hustle and bustle of the city.
They don’t start selling donuts until 11am (I arrived at 10:50 so no donuts for me). I’ve only had an iced caramel latte (650 yen) and the basic frozen chocolates (500 yen). The chocolates were so tasty that I wanted to save some for later but I couldn’t help but eat them all. I’ll likely try the other flavours in the future when I visit again. The drink was nice and if you’re used to soy milk, delicious. If soy milk is new to you it may be more noticeable that there’s a difference in flavour. This is a great option for those who can’t drink milk but like lattes. Even if you can drink dairy it’s still a great option.
The shop is very bright during the day having plenty of windows. The interior uses lots of modern design with concrete and minimalistic furniture made with light wood. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available. So you can sit down and enjoy the view of the river and city all day long.
This is a coffee shop not too far away from Kumamoto castle. You turn off of the covered arcade area to get to this cafe. If you’re aware it’s there it’s not too difficult to find. The pathway leading to the shop has nice stone walls that are cool to see. The shop has both indoor and outdoor seating. The interior is comfortable decorated with darker tones and dim lighting, making it both modern and warm. They also have free wifi if you want to go there to relax.
I went there for lunch and ordered an iced vanilla latte and a butter chicken curry. First of all the butter chicken was so creamy and delicious. It came with rice, salad and chips. My iced latte had foam and a dusting of cocoa powder on top. I thought it was great, it had a nice espresso flavour. The milk and syrup were at a good ratio so the drink wasn’t too milky of sweet. I definitely want to go and try more flavoured lattes in the future.
My friend ordered the basil sandwich, it was a toasted sandwich with basil, tomato, and cheese. Only one slice of tomato though, so if you don’t like tomato (like me) it’s an nice option for you. They also ordered a hot drink that was really nice. The espresso based drinks here are tasty.
The shop also has sweets available. They have a large variety of lattes making it difficult to choose one. If you’re exploring around Kumamoto castle and are looking for a coffee or light lunch this is a place you might want to check out. If you happen to be in Kumamoto for a longer time they have latte art classes you can sign up for.
Most countries have Starbucks but this post will only talk about the version found in Japan. Sometimes you just crave a place with a familiarity to remind you of home….or just lager drink sizes. In Japan most standard coffee sizes are smaller than anything I’d get back at home. I always get the venti (large) sized drinks. Though sometimes a limited edition drink will only be available in certain sizes only. Starbucks is also good for getting a familiar or interesting dessert. I like their new york cheesecake and have seen different pies (banana creme and apple) for limited times only. The limited sweet potato chiffon cake was so delicious and fluffy. While you can get a lot of the same drinks as you can back home in your own country, they may not have the syrups or other ingredients to make some of the other drinks, so be sure to check your options before ordering. The prices are also comparable to what you’d be used to.
A big thing in Japan is limited time only flavours. So in the spring there may be a sakura latte, in spring 2020 their sakura latte was so good I indulged in that drink many times while it was still there. They’ve also had a butterscotch flavour at one point that was so good because you can’t easily find anything that flavour. In December 2020 they had a berry frappuccino that was so good because it was tangy and tart, also unusual for Japan. So they have many drinks and snacks that are released throughout the year. I don’t try them all though, only the ones that interest me. Otherwise I tend to stick to my usuals of vanilla lattes, matcha lattes, chai lattes, white chocolate mochas or iced teas sometimes with cake.
Japanese Starbucks also has nice limited edition travel mugs, tumblers, mugs and bottles for different holidays or seasons. They also have prefecture specific designs. So in Hiroshima they have cups with famous themes like maple leaves, deer and Itsukushima shrine. In Kyoto the design has shrines. So they are nice to collect as a souvenir. They also have a Japan seasonal line where every season they come out with an updated version with iconic images to match. For example, with the summer design, there may be fireworks decorating the mug. I’ve previously purchased two sakura travel mugs, a Halloween travel mug and been tempted by some Christmas designs. I also want to buy a seasonal Japan travel mug but I keep waiting to see the next design. One day I’ll get a autumn or winter design.
As with all Starbucks they tend to have a modern design using wood, black, and nice lighting. You can find a Starbucks just about anywhere and that makes them extremely convenient. If you have time to kill before your train but don’t have time to wander too far you could easily find a Starbucks or other chain to stay in. Maybe your legs are super tired from hiking or exploring and need a place to sit down. You probably don’t have to look too far to find a Starbucks. Time to kill before a restaurant opens in the evening, Starbucks. What’s nice about Starbucks is that they’re usually a larger shop that will have plenty of seating, have power outlets to charge devices and you can buy a drink and sit for hours inside without judgment. Plus if you have the Japanese mobile app set up, you can order your drink ahead of time and pay with your mobile for a quick pick up when you’re on the go.
You may not want to resort to the familiarity of Starbucks and try new places but in Japan it’s worth looking at even if it’s just once.
Hours are dependent on the individual locations themselves.
Little Honey is more of a coffee stand than a coffee shop. The only seating is whatever is available outside of the shop. But location wise it’s in the trendy area of Daimyo giving you a lot to check out while walking or just standing around if you can’t find a seat.
The menu itself is written in Japanese but if you can read katakana it’s not a problem. You could also ask for classic drinks such as a latte, coffee, or chai. Even ask for a recommendation or just point at the menu.
I got the most recommended item on the menu which was a chai latte with chai cream at 650円. It was a great drink and very unique. The cream on top looked like soft serve ice cream and was spiced with chai. It was way denser than any cream i’ve had before with the right level of sweetness making it a great pairing with the hot chai drink. You’re even given a spoon to help eat the cream, it’s kind of like ice cream without actually being ice cream. It’s a great treat if you’d like to treat yourself to something different.
Not Just Coffee 