As a writer in Tokyo, I'm always looking for new haunts at which to park myself with my journal and smokes, and imbibe lots of caffeine. I'm not interested in how many coffee flavors are on tap.
Atmosphere is priority.
It's got to be a place where I want to linger long enough for the Muse to visit. High up on the list is the Cafe Arles in Shinjuku. Part jazz cafe, part manga kissaten , the Cafe Arles is a mix of Europe and Japan, with a little of grandma and the Ringling Bros. tossed in. The cafe is aptly located on the back streets of old Tokyo. Arles' striped awning stands out from the crowd of ramen shops and tatami makers, but the cafe is as much about nostalgia as the little old lady making tofu next door.