OGAWA COFFEE Kyoto Station Central Gate Branch is just to the west of Kyoto Station's station-front symbol, Kyoto Tower. Established in 1952, even the directly managed OGAWA COFFEE branches are popular among foreign sightseers.

Refurbished in 2018 for a more stylish feel, it gets more comfortable by the day. With "hospitality" as its theme and with the desire for "foreign visitors to enjoy their trip to Kyoto", their staff is more than happy to talk with customers and even offer travel tips. There is also an English menu available to make ordering a breeze.

We've provided the morning menu served from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Choose from one of these three toast-centered meals: the "Toast Morning Set with Ham" (drink included, 864 yen plus tax), the "Toast Morning Set with Smoked Ham" (drink included, 864 yen plus tax), and the "Toast Morning Set" (drink included, 573 yen plus tax). Four centimeters thick, their toast is sure to fill you up! Since it’s cooked with rice flour, you can really feel its fluffiness.

Complete your set with an "Original Blend", "Original Iced Coffee", "Espresso", "Black tea", “Orange Juice", and more. The "Espresso" and "Cappuccino" are popular among foreign visitors (pictured / additional 92 yen plus tax). Coffee experts are bound to bewitch you with their specialty coffee beans. Their store is frequented daily by people who love it just that much. On top of that, you can also choose to have a latte or Americano (both an additional 92 yen plus tax).

We also recommend the food served starting at 11:30 a.m. The "Roast Beef Sandwich" (pictured / 555 yen plus tax) and the "Smoked Ham and Cream Cheese Sandwich" (555 yen plus tax) are very popular. They also do take-out! Everyone comes for different reasons, be it to stroll about the city, cup in hand, or to sit down and heal themselves with a cup of coffee. For take-out, the "Original Blend" (382 yen plus tax) and the "Original Iced Coffee" (419 yen plus tax) are both discounted to 186 yen (plus tax) so you can enjoy the same taste at your leisure.

Kintetsu Station is used by a large number of tourists on their way to Nara from Kyoto. Located within the ticket gates, CAFFÉ CIAO PRESSO Kyoto Station Branch boasts a genuine Italian café menu.

Many foreign tourists come in the morning to plan out their sightseeing trip for the day. Seats near the entrance of the store offer a view of the trains, feeding your sense of adventure. With an emphasis on making a relaxing, homey atmosphere, this cafe makes you want to visit several times a day.

Amongst the barista-poured drinks, the most popular are the "Maiko Cappuccinos" (330 yen plus tax). The carefully poured whipped milk adds an excellent mouthfeel to a splendidly balanced espresso that is both sour and bitter. However, its biggest selling point is the Maiko art on the top! Many foreign tourists post pictures of them online. This cultural fusion of the foreign cappuccino and the Japanese Maiko are sure to make a wonderful memory of your trip. As pictured, you can choose from two different "Maiko art".

Available mornings from seven to eleven, we recommend the Morning Menu. Their popular hot sandwich sets are "Ham & Cheese, & Egg" (top picture) and their unique "Matcha tea (tuna) & Bamboo Charcoal (egg)" (bottom picture / both sets 280 yen plus tax). There's also "Italian Bread Pudding" (380 yen plus tax), and your choice of toast (120+ yen plus tax).

Plus, they also have the Italian "Panino"! Sandwiched between slices of bread toasted on one side, this sandwich is a simple but vital part of an Italian lunch. "Smoked Salmon", "Bacon & Mushroom", "Ham & Mozarella Cheese", and "Pastrami & Fresh Tomato" sandwiches (all 470 yen plus tax) are great hot! (Ingredients vary by season.) You can enjoy the same menu at their "Kyoto Miyako Michi Branch" in Kyoto Station's Hachijo gate, too.

It's a ten-minute walk from Kyoto Station. Just the right distance for your morning stroll, it's located in a residential area that lets you experience the lifestyle of Kyoto folk. Set in a refurbished old home, one of its main draws is its "Kyoto-esque feel".

Established in Brooklyn, New York by its Japanese owner, this street shop is the first branch to be opened in Japan. With local food as its theme, and "Fish Breakfast Sets", this shop is creating quite a buzz. Following Japan's "waste not" philosophy, the kelp used to make soup broth is afterwards boiled in alcohol, sugar, mirin rice wine, and soy sauce, and then used to make side dishes.

The menu is comprised of "Ichi Ju San Sai" (1,500 yen plus tax) and "Ichi Ju Go Sai" (2,000 yen plus tax), carefully handcrafted meals that come with rice, miso soup, and either three or five side dishes. The main dish for the "Ichi Ju Go Sai" (pictured) at the time of coverage was "Kyoto-style miso-grilled sea bream with curry flavors". In addition, there are also sets such as "Roast potatoes with dressing and flavored with lemon" and "Steamed salted sake beets dressed with sesame sauce". One of the reasons this place is so popular is because it revamps tradition with its ingredients and cooking methods. Depending on which fish is shipped in that day, the flavors and cooking methods will change. Side dishes also change daily. Some people come several days in a row simply to try the ever-changing dishes.

It's also a hot spot for foreigners thanks to its vegetarian menu. At the time of coverage, the main dish of the "Vegetarian Ichi Ju San Sai" (1,500 yen plus tax) had been grilled and fried, but the ingredients and soup broth can be changed per request. The superb "Ichi Ju Go Sai (5 sides with tea pairing)" (reservations allowed, 3,000 yen plus tax) even allows you to compare teas. Seats at the counter are available for those interested in traditional Japanese ingredients and cooking methods. Since it's an open kitchen, it's easy to ask the staff questions.

If you're really looking to experience Japan's culinary culture, why not try Lorimer Kyoto's cooking class? Learn how to work with fish and how to make sashimi. It's a chance to learn even more about Japan's ingredients. The staff can also provide English instructions so you can learn without stress. Impress your family and friends back home with your new skills! Try the fish you prepared with some rice and miso soup! It takes about two hours and is 9,000 yen per person (plus tax). Reservations are required.

So, what do you think about these Kyoto breakfast spots? Take a moment to have bread and coffee or experience a Japanese meal. Both are wonderful choices. Give them a try to start your day off right.

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