Introducing the best “Specialty” places in Japan

 Introducing the best “Specialty” places in Japan

Third wave coffee shops and other specialty coffee places

 Third wave coffee shops and other specialty coffee places

Natural wine bars

Бары с натуральным вином

“Specialty” gastro-pubs

 “Specialty” gastro-pubs

Restaurants with star chefs

 Restaurants with star chefs

Articles

The Japanese maxim 一期一会 (ichigo ichie), which serves as the motto for all tea ceremonies, can be roughly translated into English as 'Every encounter happens only once.' Even if one uses the same tea for brewing, each time the drink will have a slightly different taste, making each tea session a unique experience. Moreover, just one cup of delicious tea can bring incomparable peace and tranquillity, or, conversely, evoke delight and surprise.

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Let’s try to apply the concept of 'specialty' to wine. Just like with coffee, such a 'certification' should include two components: the production technology and the connoisseur's evaluation.

Strictly speaking, the technology of wine production encompasses the entire journey 'from sapling to glass.' The first stage is the birth of 'specialty grapes,' which must be grown using organic or biodynamic methods considering the entire ecosystem surrounding the plant. The role of grapes in wine production is immense: one can make good or bad wines from good grapes, but one can't make good wine from bad grapes.

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For a variety of reasons, the 20th century became the era of mass control through influence on consciousness, and this, of course, goes beyond the role of propaganda in politics. It was in the 20th century that marketing evolved from an art to an almost exact science, and large corporations gained access to a full arsenal of marketing tools that allow them to make almost any product desirable to consumers.

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Despite the existence of several large national specialty coffee associations around the world, and even a recently established global one, universal global standards in this area are still lacking. The consensus is that specialty coffee is 'simply' perfect coffee; beyond that definition, however, a plethora of interpretations still exists.

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Offers

Solkatt Coffee – A Ray of Sunshine on Kyoto’s Coffee Scene

In the southern part of Kyoto, within walking distance of the famous Toji Temple, stands Solkatt Coffee. The café opened on September 6, 2024, in a building that once served as the bicycle repair shop of the owner and head barista’s grandfather — Junpei Yamamoto.

“Solkatt” is a Swedish word that translates as “sunbeam” or “sun catcher” — the warm, playful reflection of light on a surface. This metaphor perfectly captures the café’s atmosphere: light, bright, open to conversation, and full of new experiences.

The owner and head barista, Junpei Yamamoto, brings over 15 years of experience in the specialty coffee world. He started at the legendary Ogawa Coffee — one of the cradles of Japan’s first-generation baristas — and gained extensive experience both in Japan and during several years working in Berlin. He eventually returned to Kyoto to open his own space, filled with personal history and his unique vision of coffee.

The interior is designed with great attention to detail: soft shades of blue dominate, creating a bright and airy feel inspired by Northern European aesthetics. Among the design highlights is a Yanagi zaiku-style lamp made by craftsmen from Hyogo — an object that not only provides light but also emphasizes respect for traditional materials and craftsmanship. This makes the space not only visually appealing but deeply meaningful.

On the menu: espresso, latte, flat white, and filter coffee. Solkatt offers a concentrated yet light profile in its drinks, with complex notes of fruit, sweet spices, and full body — the result of meticulous bean selection.

They roast green beans in-house on a Roring (a manual drum roaster), and on the counter sits the radically advanced Orbit grinder — one of the most interesting and rare grinders available today, chosen by the owner for maximum precision and control over the grind.

One of the distinctive features here is the serving style: flat white is served in unusually shaped glassware, which enhances the visual experience and elevates the entire drinking ritual.

In addition to drinks, Solkatt Coffee sells their own roasted beans — seasonal and single-origin varieties. You can buy them to go or order delivery across Japan (and internationally) through the café’s official website or in person.

The barista lives right above the café, bringing a genuine family spirit to the place and creating the atmosphere of a true home café. He is joined by Haru, a 9-year-old Russian-born cat who has lived with his owner in Germany and now calls Kyoto home. His calm presence adds extra warmth and coziness to the space.