Rokuyosha Coffee Shop

Rokuyosha, located in Kawaramachi Sanjo, is a place of relaxation that you might casually drop into on a whim.

Hello everyone. Today I’ve made my way to Kawaramachi Sanjo and am at Rokuyosha Coffee Shop. Rokuyosha is known as a cozy coffee shop with warm orange lighting illuminating the interior and sofa seating. The business was founded in 1950. The previous owner, who had run a coffee shop in Manchuria, returned to his hometown of Kyoto and started the business. At the time of its founding, the shop was only in the basement, and it is said that in 1965, after starting a bar, they began operating the first floor as a coffee shop.

Currently, they have a basement shop (12:00 – 17:00) and a coffee shop on the first floor (8:30 – 22:30). The sweets menu is the same at both locations, but apparently the coffee has a completely different taste at each. So, let’s go inside and check it out.

As I looked into Rokuyosha, I found it fascinating to learn about its history as local salon that has helped shape the culture of coffee shops. For example, I’ve heard that in the 1970s, it was bustling with students and professors from Kyoto universities such as Kyoto University and Doshisha University. Coffee shops were also places where people engaged in lively debates. Apparently, students would sometimes drink their coffee and then leave their seats to go out for lunch or visit a bookstore.
I hear that many musicians who are friends of the second-generation owner Osamu Okuno, as well as actors from Uzumasa, also came.
Hearing stories like that brings vivid images to mind of scenes that I feel are hard to come by these days, and it fills me with a sense of nostalgia and excitement.

Looking back on the 1970s from the Reiwa ear … that’s nice.
Today, I stopped by the café on the first floor and enjoyed some donuts and coffee – a popular menu item at Rokuyosha.

Blended coffee (650 yen)

Donuts (300 yen) available starting at 12:00 p.m.

These donuts are a specialty of Rokuyosha. A cup of coffee enjoyed with a donut. The rich, medium-dark roast of our house blend has clean bitterness that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the donuts, creating a wonderful flavor. It’s also nice that donuts are 300 yen. It feels like a bargain …

That said, there’s really something special about historic coffee shops. Kyoto City, in particular, has long had a deep-rooted coffee shop culture, and I hear there are many people who help keep it alive. I’ve visited quite a few coffee shops myself, and every single one exudes a sense of history. They have a unique atmosphere that you just don’t find in the Reiwa era, along with a long history of growing alongside the local community. Perhaps that’s exactly why I find them so appealing.

Author

Jubei
Hello everyone. I am Jubei, an earthling whose energy does not stop today. What I like is playing (manga, movies, music (J-Rock, etc.) and visiting cafes). Thank you for your understanding.