When you think of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa the downtown atmosphere of shitamachi probably comes to mind, but in recent years a number of eye-catching shops have made this a cozy corner of town noted for its coffee shops. One such popular place is the World Neighbors Café Kiyosumi-Shirakawa that opened in April 2017 that is a combination coin laundry and café.

Located only a 13-minute walk from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, it is also near Kiba Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. Walking down the street that runs along the park you will easily be able to recognize the stylish exterior of the shop.

First check out the laundry. “Sooo Liquid” is dubbed a social laundry and has an industrial-style interior unlike that of coin laundries until now, giving it a fashionable, original feel.

The “have a nice wait!” written on the wall conveys the tone of this cozy place. While you wait you can take photos to show your friends.

It is equipped with the latest machines including four Electrolux brand washers and driers made in Sweden as well as one fully automatic washer/drier.

These machines can handle loads of up to 9 kg, about two to three days’ worth of clothes for a family of four. Also, they can accommodate items difficult to wash at home such as blankets and rugs.

Inside the shop high-quality laundry goods such as the “THE” brand by the creative director Manabu Mizuno are sold. (Contents vary according to the season.)

Also available is a cute, original laundry bag in bright refreshing colors. This laundromat has all sorts of fashionable goods that take the drudgery out of doing laundry!

The café section is adjacent the laundry and has a nice cozy atmosphere. The earth colors used for the interior evoke the image of an American diner vividly expressed in the counter. Of course you can visit the café even if you aren’t doing laundry.

There is seating for 22 people inside welcoming all sorts of customers, such as those waiting while their laundry is being done and families stopping by while out for a walk. On the day I visited, which was also a weekday, I saw fashionable young women and parents with children. This is also an excellent place to wait for a friend.

Stickers that would look great anywhere! So many items to photograph!

Payment in the café is by cash-on-delivery. I enjoyed chatting with the friendly staff while waiting for my order.

The menu lists a number of original hot sandwiches. The bread used is the original bread made for the shop by the popular bakery in Nishi-Kunitachi “Neighbors Brunch with Bread and Espresso”.

A popular standard is the WNC Sandwich (1,200 yen) that consists of sautéed pork, arugula, two types of cheese, and orange. There are other unique combinations as well.

The bitter sweet fruity orange accentuates the slightly salty pork and tastes so good I could eat it all day!

Set menus including drinks are available during the lunch time (open ~ 3:00 PM) and are a bargain.

The orange sour using the domestically produced Kagetsu strong carbonated drink is very popular. Another popular drink is the Okinawan Hibiscus Sour pictured above (500 yen).

Normally we associate the word “sour” with alcoholic drinks, but in this shop the sours are non-alcoholic. They go perfectly with the hot sandwiches and are certain to quench your thirst.

There are even desserts.

The Grilled Banana Bread Plate (600 yen) is a dessert prepared using a hot sandwich hot press plate. This delicious flavor of the grilled banana topped with ice cream loaded with rum raisins are perfectly matched and is very popular with adults.

All items on the menu are available for take-out. On a nice day, why not order the tuna carrot sandwich (700 yen) and stroll over to the nearby Kiba Park and enjoy lunch under a bright blue sky with a friend?

What’s more, there are baskets, rugs, glasses, mugs, bandanas, cutting boards and other items useful for picnics that can be borrowed at no charge!

This is a great service that enables you to borrow all the things you need for a picnic without having to bring them from home.

If you see any of those rental items you like, you can also purchase them. Find the ones you like from the many original items and be the first to tell your friends about them on SNS!

The World Neighbors social apartment is located on the first floor of this shop. Actually, it is part of an apartment. Of course the laundry and café are open to everyone, but one can’t help but wonder how convenient it would be to live here.

This shop is not only a great place for photos, but also a wonderful place to leisurely relax. Next time you are able to take a break from your busy schedule, why not come and spend some time here?

• Reporter: Reina Higasa