Naru Coffee: A Haven for Tokyo's Coffee Lovers

Much like how crafting a well brewed coffee cannot be rushed, enjoying a latte at Naru should not be an express affair, rather it should be savored. Within a city as frenetic as Tokyo, where the only thing that moves faster than the Shinkansen is the morning rush footfall within Shinjuku Station, it is imperative that visitors and residents alike take a moment to slow down and appreciate the finer things. To that end, tucked away down a quiet side street in fashionable Chiyoda-ku lies Naru. Having only opened in July 2025, this compact and chic café epitomizes just what makes Tokyo’s coffee scene so revered. I recently sat down with the owner and manager of Naru, Seigi Yoshida, to discuss his shop’s philosophy and what he hopes to offer the community that he now serves. When descending into the Showa aesthetic of this beautifully designed café, it soon becomes clear that Yoshida is brewing something special.

Table of Contents

Naru’s Ethos
The Coffee Community
Signature and Food
Naru’s Staff
Naru’s Décor

Naru’s Ethos

Located in Kudaminami in Chiyoda-ku, Naru is well located in a center of culture. Close to the bibliophile hub of Jimbocho, and only a brief stroll from landmarks like the Imperial Palace, the National Museum of Modern Art, and the Budokan, Naru fits right into its new surroundings. Being so close to these omnipresent tourist hotspots, however, may evoke a fear that Naru is swept up in the bustle of the area, and yet, it remains a café to be sought after and stumbled upon. Lying within a tranquil narrow street, away from the fervor of Chiyoda-ku, patrons of Naru can enjoy a rare Tokyo stillness, either inside the café or sitting upon the outside bench. This atmosphere is integral to Yoshida’s image of what he wishes Naru to be; a place to truly connect with Tokyo’s cozy coffee culture.

The Coffee Community

Sporting a carefully selected and succinct menu, the ingredients of Naru showcase the café’s sincere connection to Tokyo’s coffee scene. With beans provided by KOFFEE MAMEYA, one of the premier roasters in Japan, this original blend produces a slightly darker roast that is full-bodied and smoky. One of KOFFEE MAMEYA’s head baristas, Miki Takamasa, even assisted Naru during its opening event, ensuring that this new player had a flying start. Though such camaraderie is just another positive externality of Tokyo’s coffee community. This is not a ‘battle royale’ where businesses vie to eliminate their market competition, but rather a new shop is seen as a venture to be fostered and championed. This communal belief links back well to Yoshida’s previous employer, MIA MIA TOKYO in Higashi-Nagasaki. This neighborhood hub of a coffee shop has grown alongside its community, with several successful independent businesses having sprouted beside it. Operating a similar ethos of social kinship, it is no surprise that his years at MIA MIA have spurred him on to foster his own social identity.

Signature and Food

As mentioned, Naru’s menu is concise and crafted. The bespoke range of beverages include drip coffees and even Vietnamese beer 333 (with three being Yoshida’s lucky number), for the café can adopt the feel of a European bistro as dusk descends. However, my personal pick is the café latte, which aside from tasting superb, is topped by Yoshida’s signature latte art. The Modern Art Museum is nearby, where these special designs would not feel out of place. The food offerings are similarly succinct and selected. The Oita-Yoshino chicken rice is a recipe of Yoshida’s grandmother, making it genuine soul food.

Naru’s Staff

From his years as a head barista at MIA MIA, Yoshida has witnessed the perfect way in which to run a warm and inviting shop. These observations have been manifested in the way that Naru’s staff interact with guests. With one member usually accompanying Yoshida, who for now is the only one to brew the coffee though he hopes to impart his knowledge soon, Naru runs both efficiently and affectionately. Patrons are not merely expected to order and depart; they are welcomed to stay and chat. Be it on the topic of the day’s roast, the splendor of the Imperial Gardens, or simply the squeeze of the morning rush, Yoshida and his staff are always open to a bit of babble.

Seigi Yoshida in his Naru Coffee — Naru owner Seigi Yoshida

Naru’s Décor

The design aesthetic of Naru undoubtedly contributes to its warming appeal. With décor that proudly boasts a Showa style, blending western minimalism with traditional Japanese aesthetics, Naru exists as somewhat of a time capsule. A noren (cloth curtain) with Naru’s simple yet striking logo greets you before you descend three small steps into the welcoming store. Tastefully decorated and functional, Yoshida and his staff are adorned in happi (festival coat) that complement the mood that Naru captures.

Opening early, from 8am on weekdays (11am on weekends, closed Thursday), Naru is the ideal spot to wake up and smell the coffee before embarking on a day of culture and sightseeing. With new customers already becoming regulars, Yoshida and his team are brewing a delectable cup of community. Championing communal values, with porcelain sourced from Sonomono, an independent craft store in Higashi-Nagasaki, Naru’s coffee, décor, and overall mission are working in perfect symmetry with Tokyo’s revered caffeine couture. A new entrant to the scene, perhaps, Naru is certain to become a mainstay and is already a must visit. The kanji for Naru translates to fulfillment, and if my personal experience is anything to go by, fulfilled is something of an understatement.