Chiyoda Before Nine

Tokyo · 2 hours · morning

Three specialty cafes in the blocks directly west of the Imperial Palace. The district that runs Japan's government has quietly developed a coffee programme to match — weekday mornings only, compact enough to finish before the working day starts.

The route

• 1. Byron Bay Coffee Company
  Kojimachi, Chiyoda

  An Australian roastery that has held this Kojimachi corner since 2014. The coffee is consistent and the matcha latte is the sleeper order — better than the name suggests. Start here before the neighbourhood fills up and the counter gets busy.

  7 min walk to the next stop

• 2. SR HIRAKAWACHO
  Hirakawachō, Chiyoda

  Stockholm Roast in a small, precise room a short walk from the palace moat. Weekdays only from 8:30. The flat white is the order — right texture, right temperature, staff who are friendly without making a performance of it.

  6 min walk to the next stop

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