Tokyo: Almost too much to Handle
I lived in Tokyo on and off for ten years, and I think it's finally time to share my list of favorite bike shops and coffee spots in the Japanese capital. Coffee hopping, with some healthy bike rides in between, is probably my favorite way to spend the day, and these places might also be an interesting opportunity to meet great people along the way.
Bike Shops
Wbase Garage // Wbase is a healthy mix of fixed gear and BMX parts. They carry Squid Bikes, Brooklyn Machine Works, and Durcus, their own brand.
Path Bakyard // Great little shop where you’ll find Flow Lab and a bunch of NJS stuff. Great if you also need a steel frame repair or alignment.
Blue Lug Yoyogi // One of the absolute reference here in Tokyo, see this article for more.
Blue Lug Hatagaya // Same as above.
Blue Lug Kamiuma //Same as above.
25Las // Always a good bunch NJS frames and interesting parts. A true treasure box.
Geek Garage // Rare frame and a good spot to get new Japanese parts.
Wood Village // Perfect if you’re looking for Vintage MTB parts.
Messcrib Tokyo // Try to go there after 4pm when it’s actually open for public. Plenty of Slow Squad merch if that’s what you’re looking for.
Circles Toranomon // At the 3rd floor of the Toranomon tower, you’ll need to lock your bike downstairs if you want to see all the amazing things they have in stock over there.
Tokyo Hippies Mart // More premium/collector vibe. Perfect if you’re looking for rare Japanese frames.
Specialty Coffee
Sniite // One of my favorite, you can put your bike inside, and they have pop-ups from time to time. Probably the best music as well.
Verve Yoyogi // Good coffee and a nice sitting area outside, perfect before or after your walk through Yoyogi park
Woodberry Coffee // Tiny place between Ebisu, Dankaiyma and Nake-Meguro. Excellent lemonade in the summer, great matcha as well, and the bakery next door does my favorite chiffon cake.
Good People Good Coffee // The go-to coffee for a lot of cyclists and messengers in Tokyo. Very tiny place, so don’t bring a laptop, and try to order more than once if you plan to stay for a long time.
Autumn // Super chill family oriented place, they have tables with Jenga, and the quiche is really good. They also have a table outside.
+Angle Coffee Works // Nice place at the 4th floor, so you’ll need to take the elevator. They also have a bunch of books on display, perfect for a break if you’re in the area.
Tallskogen // It’s also a yoga studio, but it’s one of the very nice specially coffee in this area
iki Roastery & Eatery // A bit more on the expensive side and gets packed on the weekend, but their sandwiches are really next level.
Switch Coffee // Go to the small one in Meguro, the owner is super chill, and rides a very nice Klein.
Little Nap Coffee Stand // Also get packet very fast, so much so that I never went inside, but they’ve been here for well over a decade, and they let cool cars stopping in front of the shop.
Omnibus // Plenty of them around, the one in Naka-Meguro is constantly crowded, but try maybe other ones, coffee and pastries are top level.
Passage Coffee // Only went to the one near Mita station, but I know this area has plenty of cheap AirBNB, so it’s a good morning spot.
Paddlers Coffee // Gets really crowded, and your time is limited to one hour, but they have a bike rack and their hot dog is fantastic!
Massif // Also a very pleasant restaurant and attached to an art gallery called Cekai O!k. They also a hotel upstairs and a sento (traditional Japanese baths) literary on the other side of the street.
Tone // Just under a really nice art gallery, a very good for breakfast.
Pretty Things // Next to Komazawa Park, plenty of Sofas and places to seat. Try their salted lemonade.
School Bus // Good for breakfast with their different bagels (Lox is my favorite), and If you buy their keychain, you get a reduction an all your future drinks.
