Cafeography
Kyoto · Karasuma

Cafés in Karasuma

The downtown grid around Karasuma-Oike and Shijō: early espresso, Inoda's main shop and the Gion Matsuri floats.

Photo: Guohua Song, Pexels License

Karasuma takes its name from Karasuma-dōri, the avenue at the center of downtown, where the streets of Nakagyō and Shimogyō wards still keep the old grid.1 The Karasuma subway line meets the Tōzai line at Karasuma Oike Station, the stop for the Manga Museum and the Museum of Kyoto.24

Most Karasuma cafés close by 18:00; among them are a roaster in a former sweet shop and Inoda Coffee's main shop on the district's eastern edge.

Local tip: Caffetteria Imaya opens at 06:00 from Monday to Saturday, the earliest in Karasuma; on Sunday it opens at the same hour but closes at 13:00.

At a glance

159Cafés listed
16With opening hours
06:00Earliest opening
22:30Latest closing
  • Opens earliest: Caffetteria Imaya, from 06:00 (Mon–Sat 06:00–20:00 · Sun 06:00–13:00).
  • Closes latest: Cafe Jinta, until 22:30 (Daily 11:30–22:30).
  • Most listed streets: Fudocho (2), Masuyacho (2).
  • Most common features: indoor seating (3%), takeaway (3%), specialty (3%).

COFFEE BOOKS さんさか

  • 中京区間之町通り御池上ル高田町500 ポポラーレ御池
  • Mon–Wed 09:00–18:00 · Thu Closed · Fri–Sun 09:00–18:00
  • +81752412710
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Iolite

Iolite Coffee Roasters

  • 422 Ikesucho
  • Mon 11:30–18:00 · Thu–Fri 11:30–18:00 · Sat–Sun 09:00–18:00
  • +81752318989
  • Takeaway
  • Indoor seating
  • Specialty
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Nothing matches those filters here. See all cafés in Kyoto.

Coffee chains in Karasuma

Getting around Karasuma

The Karasuma subway line runs north from Kyoto Station, where four rail operators meet, under the avenue to Karasuma Oike.82 At Shijō, Hankyū's Karasuma Station links underground with Kyoto-kawaramachi and with department stores such as Takashimaya.3

Addresses here read as directions. Inoda's main shop is at Sakaimachi-dōri Sanjō-sagaru: on Sakaimachi, south of the Sanjō crossing.5

Museums on the old downtown grid

The Museum of Kyoto's annex was the Bank of Japan's Kyoto branch, designed by Tatsuno Kingo and Nagano Uheiji; it became an Important Cultural Property in 1969, and the museum opened on 1 October 1988, near Karasuma Oike Station.4

The Kyoto International Manga Museum opened in November 2006 in the former Tatsuike Primary School, founded in 1869, whose buildings date from 1928–1937. About 50,000 of its roughly 300,000 items are manga that visitors can read.2

Inoda's main shop and the Karasuma roasters

Inoda Coffee's main shop is on Sakaimachi-dōri south of Sanjō, in a machiya-style (townhouse-style) building with 211 seats over two floors. It opens every day, 07:00–18:00. The building is non-smoking apart from a booth inside, and smoking is allowed at the garden seats.5

Iolite Coffee Roasters works out of the former wagashiya (sweets shop) of owner Daisuke Yoshida's grandfather in Ikesu-chō, refitted with cedar beams. Espresso comes off a La Marzocco Linea, and the menu runs from hot dogs to a coffee-and-liqueur matcha roll.6 It opens Monday, Thursday and Friday 11:30–18:00, and from 09:00 at weekends.

Early coffee in the side streets

Caffetteria Imaya opens at 06:00 from Monday to Saturday and closes at 13:00 on Sundays. Astarte, with outdoor seats, and astrea coffee, with Wi-Fi, open at 07:30, With at 08:00 and Moment Coffee at 08:30. The City Bakery, by Nishikikōji, bakes and serves coffee from 08:00 every day.

Later in the day, Cafe Jinta stays open until 22:30 daily, and Atelier Cafe Malni, on Gojō-dōri west of Shinmachi, until 21:00. COFFEE BOOKS Sansaka closes on Thursdays, Okaffe Kyoto on Tuesdays and Fune Ethical Lifestyle, with vegetarian dishes, on Wednesdays.

Karasuma in Gion Matsuri month

The Gion Matsuri fills July. Its 34 yamaboko floats, ten hoko and 24 yama, were added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2009 and process through the city on 17 and 24 July.7 On the three evenings before each procession, yoiyama and the two nights before it, downtown streets are given over to pedestrians, so walk to a café rather than take a taxi.7

Sources

  1. Kyoto, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  2. Kyoto International Manga Museum, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  3. Kyōto-kawaramachi Station, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  4. Museum of Kyoto, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  5. 本店, Inoda Coffee, accessed October 2026
  6. The Sprudge Guide To Coffee In Kyoto For 2024, Sprudge (December 2, 2024), accessed October 2026
  7. Gion Matsuri, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  8. Kyoto Station, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
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In Karasuma, also browse: Wi-Fi Vegetarian options Bakery cafés Outdoor seating Open late

FAQ

Karasuma cafés: questions

What time do cafés open in Karasuma, Kyoto?

Caffetteria Imaya opens at 06:00 Monday to Saturday, the earliest in Karasuma. Inoda Coffee's main shop on Sakaimachi-dōri, south of Sanjō, opens at 07:00 every day, and Astarte and astrea coffee open at 07:30. With follows at 08:00 and Moment Coffee at 08:30.

Where is Iolite Coffee Roasters in Kyoto's Karasuma district?

Iolite Coffee Roasters is in Ikesu-chō, Nakagyō Ward, in the former wagashi (sweets) shop of owner Daisuke Yoshida's grandfather, refitted with cedar beams. It pulls espresso on a La Marzocco Linea and opens Monday, Thursday and Friday from 11:30 to 18:00, and from 09:00 at weekends.

Can you smoke at Inoda Coffee's main shop in Kyoto?

Only in set places. Inoda Coffee's main shop on Sakaimachi-dōri, south of Sanjō, is non-smoking throughout the building apart from a smoking booth, and smoking is allowed at the garden seats. It has 211 seats on two floors and opens every day from 07:00 to 18:00.

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