Retro Cafes in the Kawagoe area! 10 popular spots

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This retro cafe is popular as a place where you can relax and enjoy house-roasted coffee and sweets.

It is located very close to Toki no Kane (Bell of Time) and Kawagoe Scalar-za, and the interior is said to be a hideaway space with carefully chosen decor.

Photograph:ししとうごはん

They offer carefully home roasted coffee made from green beans, along with a varied menu.

For the blend coffee, it seems you can choose from several kinds ranging from light roast to dark roast. They also have decaf coffee, so people who want to avoid caffeine can enjoy it too.

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They offer a full lineup of sweets you will want to enjoy with coffee, including cakes and scones.

The “Coffee Jelly” is popular for being large and satisfying. It has a solid bitterness along with depth and smoothness, and it also pairs perfectly with whipped cream.

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This American retro cafe serves pancakes from morning to night. It is a 5-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line.

With both counter and table seating, it looks easy to visit whether you are on your own or with a group. People also say the atmosphere is great and makes you want to stay awhile.

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The main menu item, pancakes, comes in both savory and sweet options. The batter is said to have a lightly sweet taste and a soft, chewy texture.

The "Choco Banana Pancake" is topped with chocolate sauce, banana, and cream, making it an irresistible plate for anyone with a sweet tooth.

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The Breakfast hours also offer a full pancake menu, and many people seem to visit in the morning specifically for pancakes.

The photo shows the "Special Morning Set," available only on weekends and holidays. It also comes with hash browns, eggs, and sausage, making it a meal that seems satisfying even for those who want something filling.

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A 10-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line. This retro cafe makes use of a Western-style building designated as a cultural property by Kawagoe City.

Step inside and you will find a modern kura-zukuri (traditional warehouse-style) space, where you can relax over coffee and sweets.

Photograph:まぁこです。

They offer snacks and light meal options that seem just right for when you feel a little hungry.

A popular item is the “Osushiyasan no Tamago Sando (sushi restaurant egg sandwich),” made with dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet) from the neighboring sister restaurant sandwiched in moist-textured bread. It is said to be a dish where the savory flavor of the dashi and the sweetness of the bread match perfectly.

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It seems many people also enjoy the house-made dolce with their coffee. The most popular item is the “jika-sei satsumaimo purin (house-made sweet potato pudding).”

This pudding is said to have a rich satsumaimo flavor along with the deep taste of eggs. Some say it has an elegant finish that is not too sweet.

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This is a retro cafe on Taisho Roman Yume Dori in Kawagoe City, designed with the image of the Taisho era in mind.

The retro feel extends to the smallest details, creating a space where you can relax and enjoy a lovely time with a sense of nostalgia.

Photograph:ジョン食い道楽

They offer a wide range of coffee drinks made with house-roasted beans, and you can enjoy the aroma and flavor that are unique to siphon brewing.

The lineup is broad, including decaf coffee and variation coffees, so you can enjoy coffee in a style that suits your taste.

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They also have a great selection of desserts, and some say the desserts made with purin (custard pudding), such as the "Purin" and "Purin à la Mode," come especially recommended.

The "Purin Parfait" looks as striking as it sounds, packed with sweets from top to bottom, and the purin is firm and very satisfying to eat, according to reviews.

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At this retro cafe in Kawagoe, set inside a renovated historic kura (traditional storehouse), you can enjoy menu items and a space themed around kingyo (goldfish).

The interior has a Japanese modern feel, and you can even see real kingyo there. In addition to table and counter seating, the cafe also has terrace seats.

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The signature kingyobachi soda (goldfish bowl soda) is a brightly colored drink that will make you want to take a photo.

It comes with lemon and goldfish shaped kanten (agar jelly), giving it the look of goldfish swimming in a bowl. It also comes in many colors, and a version topped with ice cream is available.

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The kingyo-yaki (goldfish-shaped cake) menu, an arranged take on taiyaki (fish-shaped Japanese pastry), a classic Japanese wagashi (traditional sweet), is also popular. It is said to have an irresistible chewy texture, almost like daifuku (soft rice cake filled with sweet bean paste).

One of the many variations, the limited-quantity “Momoiro kingyo-yaki,” is filled with roasted sweet potato from Kawagoe and smooth red bean paste from Hokkaido.

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Located on a street where you can enjoy Kurazukuri (traditional warehouse-style) townscapes, this is the birthplace of Kawagoe’s famous imo somen (sweet potato somen). It is also popular for its wide menu of wagashi (Japanese sweets).

The shop is housed in a renovated warehouse building that is over 120 years old, making it perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy the feel of a retro cafe. It also has zashiki (tatami seating).

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They focus on homemade cooking and original creations, so you can enjoy one of a kind Kawagoe gourmet food here.

The imo-somen (sweet potato somen noodles), made using sweet potato as a binder, has no off notes and is appealing for its chewy texture and smooth finish. There are also set menus that come with rice, Tsukemen, and more.

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They also have a full lineup of traditional Japanese sweets long loved in Japan, such as anmitsu (sweet bean jelly dessert) and zenzai (sweet red bean soup with mochi).

Reviews say the shoyu-yaki dango (grilled rice dumplings with soy sauce) made with 100% joshinko (non-glutinous rice flour) is especially popular. You can taste the sharp flavor of the soy sauce, and the more you chew, the more the natural sweetness of the rice comes through.

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This popular cafe, known for its delicious sweets, is located on a back street behind Kawagoe Ichibangai Shotengai (Kawagoe First Avenue Shopping Street).

The cafe has a calm, retro feel that brings to mind a Western style building from the Meiji era. It also has spacious sofa seating and terrace seating where you can enjoy a sense of the season.

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One of the big draws is that they offer everything from sweets to full meals, so you can use it for different occasions.

The Homemade sweets made by their dedicated pastry chef show great attention to detail even in how they look. You will definitely want to enjoy them with a rich espresso or café latte.

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According to reviews, the "matcha tiramisu" served in a masu (traditional wooden sake cup), a part of Japanese tradition, is well liked.

It is known for its rich matcha flavor, and as you keep eating, you can also enjoy the creamy mascarpone mousse. The sweet and tangy cassis jam seems to add a nice accent.

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A 5-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station. This retro cafe, popular for its homemade sweets, is located inside Koedo Kurari, a cultural facility renovated from a Meiji-era sake brewery.

It is said to be a perfect place to take a break when you get tired from walking around Kawagoe. There is also counter seating, so it is recommended for solo visitors as well.

Photograph:小江戸マナティ

They offer a wide selection of homemade sweets made with seasonal ingredients and carefully crafted recipes. Among them, the "jika-sei satsumaimo purin (homemade sweet potato pudding)" is especially popular.

It is said to capture the gentle sweetness of satsumaimo (sweet potato), a Kawagoe specialty, and pairs perfectly with the bitterness of the caramel. Some say you can also enjoy the rich, sticky texture that is unique to sweet potato.

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Their homemade shiratama (glutinous rice dumplings), carefully hand-kneaded every day, also include a well-liked shiratama sweet made with sweet potato kneaded into the dough. The photo shows the “3-piece oimo shiratama with Kawagoe matcha (matcha green tea from Kawagoe).”

You can choose any 3 shiratama from 5 kinds in your favorite combination. Paired with fragrant, authentic matcha, it lets you fully enjoy the shiratama.

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If you're looking for a retro cafe in the Kawagoe area, this place is also recommended, where you can enjoy jikabaisen (house-roasted) coffee and sweets.

Set in a traditional Japanese house, it offers a slow and relaxing time. The 1st floor has counter seats, and the 2nd floor has table seating where you take off your shoes before going up.

Photograph:Lady hana

The coffee is made to order in small batches using nel drip (cloth filter drip), so you can enjoy the fresh taste of just-roasted beans.

On hot days, the "Iced Milk Coffee Trio" is also recommended. It is a three-layer drink made with milk, black iced coffee, and coffee foam.

Photograph:ジョン食い道楽

They also seem to offer a wide range of homemade sweets and toast menu items that go well with coffee.

If you want to casually enjoy Breakfast, the "Breakfast Set" is a great choice. Centered around two kinds of toast, it is said to be a satisfying set with salad, yogurt, and a drink.

Photograph:宇治綾鷹

Located in the center of Taisho Roman Yume Dori (Taisho Romantic Dream Street), this is a place where you can enjoy Japanese tea and wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets).

The shop is set in a renovated old dozo-zukuri (traditional earthen-walled storehouse-style) building, making it a retro cafe that feels like stepping back in time.

Photograph:宇治綾鷹

All menu items are served as a set with nihoncha (Japanese tea) brewed in a kyusu (Japanese teapot) and sweets.

You pour the tea yourself, and it seems you can fully enjoy it along with elegant wagashi (Japanese sweets). The photo shows the “Seasonal Wagashi 2-Piece Set.” You can choose any 2 kinds you like from today’s wagashi.

Photograph:小江戸マナティ

If you love matcha sweets, the recommended choice is the “Kawagoe Matcha Bavarois Set.”

The bavarois is made with plenty of matcha (powdered green tea) from tea leaves, giving it a rich and creamy texture. It also comes with yude-azuki (boiled red beans), fresh cream, and simmered apricots.