3 relaxing forest cafés you didn't know exist in Tokyo

This venue, also known as ‘Tokyo Mountain’, sits in an idyllic spot in Hinohara, which is one of just two villages located within Greater Tokyo. With a simple yet contemporary design that’s in harmony with its natural surroundings – fans of glamping will feel at home here – the cafe is perched at one end of a footbridge across the Aki River, a small tributary of the mighty Tama River.

The Aki River, which runs clear year-round, is key to Tokyo Mountain’s appeal. Not only does it lend a superb ambience to time spent out on the cafe’s sofa-equipped riverside terrace, as ayu and yamame salmon swim by, but it also contributes to the venue’s delicious coffee.

Premium raw coffee beans, sourced from all over the world, are washed in clear, soft water taken from the Aki River before they are roasted using Tokyo Mountain’s proprietary method. The specific mineral balance of this water helps achieve a consistent roast and maximises the inherent taste and aroma of the beans. 

Also recommended is the homemade lemonade, which contains raw honey made from the nectar of local flowers, while the food menu includes hot dogs, toast spread with local jam, and various cakes.

This dessert-focused terrace cafe in Akiruno offers spectacular views of the dramatic Iwasekyo Gorge. In fact, it’s an offshoot of revered Japanese restaurant Kurochaya, which shares its location. Just adjacent to the restaurant’s historic three-centuries-old building, Mizunone (meaning ‘sound of water’, fittingly) provides a sense of genuine seclusion amidst unspoilt natural beauty.

The terrace, a low-key wooden construction that has both covered and fully open seating, looks out at a stretch of river that runs almost perfectly straight: something that is rare in valley locations. Sitting out here is akin to enjoying a front-row seat to nature’s theatre, in which things unfold at a refreshingly slow pace, but with the utmost splendour. This is true for each of the four seasons, and the terrace has been designed so that different seats offer varying views.

Popular drinks include a sharply refreshing yuzu cider (¥600) made with domestically grown examples of this Japanese citrus, and retro-style cream soda in a choice of five flavours (¥900). Highlights from the menu of Japanese and Western-style sweets, meanwhile, include warabi mochi with vanilla ice cream (¥800), New York cheesecake with strawberry sauce (¥750), and chocolate brownie with whipped cream (¥750).

Tucked away in a corner of Tokyo’s unassuming Nerima Ward is this garden and café, complete with terrace, that conjures up the atmosphere of a verdant countryside. In lush grounds that have been lovingly cultivated since Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868) flourish flowers including spirea in March, hydrangeas in June, and Japan’s emblematic cherry blossoms in their highly anticipated early spring season.

Sunny mornings see the premises filled with light that is filtered through the trees, making this a relaxing spot to enjoy a breakfast menu (9am–11am) that includes quiche (¥770) made with 100 percent fresh cream, scrambled eggs (¥660), and a BML plate comprising bacon, fried egg, lettuce and bread (¥990). For an additional ¥330, all of these options can be enjoyed as a set that adds coffee or tea (hot or iced), apple juice or orange juice. A private terrace is also available for a charge of ¥500 per hour.