A History Spanning More Than 70 Years
Mikado Coffee was founded by Keisuke Kanasaka in Nihombashi Muromachi, Tokyo. In 1952, the company opened its first Karuizawa coffee shop along Old Karuizawa Ginza. In its early years, the shop operated only during the summer season, when Karuizawa was bustling with summer visitors.
In 1963, coffee jelly, cheesecake, and cheese toast were added to the menu. In 1969, the shop introduced what would become one of its most famous specialties: Mocha Soft.
The shop moved to its present location in 1981 and began operating throughout the year in 1995. This made it possible for visitors to enjoy Mikado Coffee’s coffee and sweets even during the quiet winter months in Karuizawa.
Famous Menu Items
Mocha Soft
Mikado Coffee Mocha Soft is a coffee-flavored soft-serve ice cream and one of the quintessential treats of summer in Karuizawa.
For takeout, it is served in a cone, while the café version comes in a glass topped with a dried plum. It is also used as an ingredient in the shop’s coffee float.
During the summer, long lines often form outside the Karuizawa Kyudo Branch as visitors wait for the popular dessert. At peak times, as many as 3,000 servings can be sold in a single day.
Coffee Jelly
Introduced in 1963, Mikado Coffee’s coffee jelly is said to have been the first dessert of its kind developed in Japan.
The idea came from the founder’s desire to let customers “eat coffee as well as drink it.” The dessert remains a longtime favorite among generations of customers.
Cheese Toast
Mikado’s cheese toast is made with thick-sliced bread from Yamaya Bakery on Old Karuizawa Ginza. The bread is topped with cheese blended with butter and fresh cream, then finished with paprika, lemon, and parsley.
The recipe once used pimento cheese and has become a distinctive example of the café culture that developed in Karuizawa during the resort’s golden age.
Signature Blend Coffee
Mikado Coffee’s Continental Blend is based on a blend of beans originally supplied for Emperor Emeritus Akihito when he was Crown Prince. The blend includes Blue Mountain coffee and is known for its rich aroma and refined flavor.
The beans are roasted at Mikado Coffee’s own facility in Misato, Saitama Prefecture. At the Karuizawa shop, coffee is carefully brewed using a special piece of equipment known as a “Hota.”
Connections with Famous Figures
During the late 1970s, John Lennon and Yoko Ono frequently visited the Karuizawa Kyudo Branch. The couple regularly stayed at Mampei Hotel, while Yoko Ono’s family also had a villa in Karuizawa. Lennon was known to enjoy the shop’s French-roast coffee beans.
Other notable visitors have included novelist Ren Saburo Shibata, former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, and singer Masako Togawa.
Mikado Coffee also has connections with the Imperial Household. During the early years of Emperor Akihito’s marriage, Mikado’s blend coffee beans were supplied to a hotel reserved for the Imperial Family. Coffee beans were even sent to Showa Station in Antarctica, adding another unusual chapter to the company’s history.
Mikado Coffee and Karuizawa Sightseeing
The Karuizawa Kyudo Branch stands in one of the busiest sections of Old Karuizawa Ginza, making it an easy stop during a day of sightseeing.
In summer, visitors line up for the famous Mocha Soft, while in winter, the warm atmosphere of the café and a cup of freshly brewed coffee provide a welcome break from the cold.
With its long history, connection to famous figures, and distinctive menu, Mikado Coffee offers more than a simple café stop. It is a place where visitors can experience a small but memorable part of Karuizawa’s resort culture.
Getting to Mikado Coffee Karuizawa Kyudo Branch
The shop is approximately 25 minutes on foot or about 5 minutes by car from Karuizawa Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and Shinano Railway.
Several bicycle rental shops can be found around the station and Old Karuizawa Ginza, making cycling another convenient way to explore the area.
Traffic and congestion can be particularly heavy during the summer season, so walking or using public transportation is recommended when visiting during busy periods.
A Taste of Karuizawa’s Café Culture
Mikado Coffee Karuizawa Kyudo Branch is a beloved part of Old Karuizawa, where more than 70 years of coffee culture meet the elegant atmosphere of a historic mountain resort.
Whether you stop for the famous Mocha Soft, try the distinctive coffee jelly, or simply enjoy a carefully brewed cup of coffee, a visit to Mikado Coffee offers a chance to experience the flavors and stories that have made Karuizawa special for generations.