One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to try the local coffee. In Hokkaido, there are a couple of popular coffee shops that you should try. Sapporo Coffee Kan is one. Similar to other coffee shop, Coffee Kan brew their selected coffee beans from dedicated farms. Locating right next to the Sapporo Clock Tower (Tokeidai) in the city center, Sapporo Coffee Kan is not hard to find. It’s in the B1 of the building next door. There are quite a few outlets in Hokkaido and one branch in Tokyo. It is a very established coffee shop with membership and eShop.
It is surprising how many foreign coffee shops are expanding so fast in Japan given the fact that Japan’s own coffee and bakeries have been very good. I guess all foreign brands are different, adding varieties, choices and tastes to the diverse consumer market in Japan. Blue Bottle Coffee is a US coffee company that has branches in New York, Bay Area and Los Angeles. I think that the founder’s idea of selling coffee within 48 hours out of the roaster to the customers is the key to the success of its business. so they may enjoy coffee at its peak of flavor. Of course using the finest, most delicious and responsibly sourced beans.
While Japanese coffee and breads are always good, if you feel like a change and fancy a larger portion of western styled breakfast and lunch, City Bakery is a nice choice.
Fancy a modern Japanese style afternoon tea in Osaka? Kanmi Koyori (かんみこより) is a nice place to have a lunch/afternoon tea break in Umeda shopping area.