Hienadz Vardanyan 
There is a special cozy vibe found in kotatsu restaurant Tokyo that is just not to be found anywhere else. To help you navigate this vibrant place, this list will show you some of the best kotatsu restaurants to explore during the winter months.
Kotatsu Restaurants in Tokyo
If you didn’t already know, a kotatsu is a low table with a special futon placed on top and a heater underneath. Being a longstanding tradition in Japanese households, it has moved into public dining experiences. Visiting one of our top 6 warm and cozy Kotatsu Restaurants in Tokyo is a great way to experience the Japanese culture in winter, and this list will show you where.
Café Stay Happy (カフェ ステイハッピー）
If you are looking for a spot to enjoy a relaxing environment with delicious food, Café Stay Happy is the place to be! With diverse menu options that include vegetarian and vegan options, there is something here for everyone.
Café Stay Happy serves food made with fresh,and organic ingredients served in a space that embodies the natural environment. Their popular dish is the Vegan bean croquette sandwich served as a light meal and pesticide-free salads on the side. Café Stay Happy also serves delicious Pasta with seasonal vegetables, Japanese fried chicken, and decadent cakes.
皆既日食を追いかけて世界を3周もしたオーナー夫妻が手がける、下北沢にあるカフェ「cafe stay happy」
— レッツエンジョイ東京 (@enjoy_tokyo) November 27, 2017
オーガニック野菜や無添加の食材を中心とした料理にほっこり♪
ハンモックやこたつもある空間に、自然体になれる場所かも…https://t.co/c53lQHDTjl pic.twitter.com/x7qQmdUvLu
Guests have loved the vegetarian and vegan options, beers selected from around the world, the spacious, and heart-warming vibes. The location of this Tokyo kotatsu cafe restaurant is also convenient and a lot of guests have enjoyed the spacious seating and hammocks.
Run by owners who have travelled the world, speak English, and brought back home many experiences, you are sure to feel comforted by their hospitality. Nothing like an inviting space at this kotatsu restaurant Tokyo to make you feel right at home!
Tips
- The store has counter seats, table seats, tatami mats (kotatsu seats in winter), and hammocks on the second floor.
Detailed Information:
Website: cafestayhappy.com
Phone Number: 03-3410-5959
Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat – 12pm-9pm
Sun – Closed
Every Tuesday and second Wednesday – Closed
Address: 3 minutes walk from Shimokitazawa station
Access: 2 Chome-29-14 Daizawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0032, Japan.
Average cost for food: Lunch 1,000 yen to 2,000 yen.
Dinner: 2,000 yen to 3,000 yen
Google Maps:
Honke Kanoya (本家かのや)
In Japan, the smallest of details matter, and dining at Honke Kanoya is no exception. This kotatsu restaurant Tokyo is where you will find exquisite Southern Japanese food. From tender meats, traditional spirits, and hearty dishes, you will want to come back repeatedly.
Eat your way through local cuisine by enjoying the satsuma-age, black pork, sweet potato, peanuts, amberjack, and shochu.
You can also try more than 100 types of Kagoshima shochu (Japanese spirits). But don’t worry, the staff will guide you through the shochu that pairs with the food. From the menu, guests have loved the chicken Nanban lunch, Kagoshima specialties, the affordable prices and the popular kotatsu seats.
Honke Kenoya offers foods from Kanoya city, Kagoshima prefecture, and it is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The restaurant was born through a joint project with Kanoya City and is one of the best spots where you can enjoy the authentic flavors of Kagoshima Kanoya.
What’s more, the ingredients are carefully selected and sent from Kanoya City, Kagoshima, which is the treasure of the cuisine at Honke Kanoya. With local ingredients in mind, authentic cuisine and kotatsu in winter, what more could you ask for?
Tips
- Since it is on the top floor of the building, there are many terrace seats, and kotatsu is set up on the terrace in winter.
Detailed Information:
Website: honke-kanoya.com
Phone Number: 050-3627-6663
Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri 11.45pm – 10.30 pm (9.30pm last order)
Sat & Holidays – 1-pm-10pm (9pm last order)
Regular Holiday – Sunday
Address: 5-24-3 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building Annex 1, 3F
Access: 4 minutes walk from JR Shinjuku Station New South Exit / 1 minute walk from JR Yoyogi Station East Exit / 5 minutes walk from Toei Oedo Line Yoyogi Station Exit A2
Average cost for food: Lunch: 1,000 yen. Dinner: 4,000 yen to 5,000 yen
Google Maps:
Sanagi Shinjuku (サナギ新宿)
Looking for a convenient Tokyo kotatsu cafe restaurant to meet a friend and enjoy noodles, sushi, or oden all while staying warm under the kotatsu? Sanagi Shinjuku is the place to go! With a colourful ambience, comfort food and the popular kotatsu seating, you will find lots to love here.
With the theme of Asian / Japanese stall villages, this café and food hall has 200 seats to choose from. Take your pick from the Rotisserie and satay stall, Dim Sim and Noodle Bar, Oden and Roll Sushi bar or the Appetizers and vegetables stall.
新宿の高架下にある「サナギ新宿」
— レッツエンジョイ東京 (@enjoy_tokyo) January 25, 2018
異国情緒あふれる雰囲気のカフェ&フードホール♪
こたつ席やランタンが吊り下がる空間など、約200席もの広い空間に、コンセプトの違う6つの空間が個性的！
異国に来た気分が味わえるっていいですよね♪https://t.co/sUIRhB3UDP pic.twitter.com/vWrdCmmr2R
One of the must try’s is the 1-liter tower sour, a fun way to enjoy your dining experiences. With craft beers and lots of lunch options you can enjoy all of this at a comforting kotatsu spot. Guests love this as the go-to spot for enjoying kotatsu seating on the terrace while admiring the exotic atmosphere.
The public community space is what makes the city of Shinjuku a vibrant and exciting place to visit. So, to accompany your dining experience, be sure to visit the galleries’ and art spaces as they are must-see.
Detailed Information:
Website: sanagi.tokyo
Phone number:03-5357-7074
Opening hours:
Lunch 11pm-3pm, Café: 3pm-5pm, Dinner 5pm-11pm, Irregular holidays
Address: 3 Chome-35-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022
Access information: 2 minutes walk from JR Shinjuku Station
Average cost for food: Lunch 1,000 yen, Dinner 3,000 yen.
Google Map:
Shi-no-Café (しのカフェ)
There is nothing like a Tokyo kotatsu cafe restaurant with a little bit of charm. You can find Shi-no-Café in a renovated 50-year-old house overlooking a peaceful garden. Why not enjoy a comforting meal while observing birds play in the birdhouse. Sounds like paradise, right?
With a menu that includes pesticide-free vegetables and seasonal ingredients, you know you will eat well at Shi-no-Café. During the evenings, the café offers an omakase course. But be sure to make a reservation as the kotatsu is immensely popular in winter.
On a rainy day, diners have enjoyed a scrumptious cake with a hojicha latte or a ume honey lemonade with soda while keeping warm and cozy. Some guests also enjoyed a beautiful cocktail-like drink, served in a long glass with two layers of hojicha latte and fresh cream. The perfect little pick-me up.
Most visitors are surprised to find this café amid a residential area. However, this is a huge benefit because with large windows, you can enjoy a view of the spacious garden, birds chirping and three house cats to keep you company. So, if you are looking to escape busy streets, and a spot with kotatsu seating – Shi-no-Café offers a relaxing space.
Detailed Information:
Website: https://www.facebook.com/shinocafe
Phone number: 03-3385-2023
Opening hours:
Thu, Fri, Sat – 12pm-6pm (Last Order 5.30pm), Regular holiday: Mon, Tue, Wed and Sun
Address: 1-8-9 Nogata, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
Access information: 12 minutes walk from Nakano Station
Average cost for food: Lunch 1,000 yen.
Google Map:
GARB Tokyo
Walk along Marunouchi Nakadori and GARB Tokyo is bound to stand out and draw you in. With a stylish interior, a terrace, comforting Italian cuisine, and a lengthy menu, this kotatsu restaurant Tokyo is the spot to enjoy the vibrant scene of Tokyo.
The menu at Garb Tokyo ranges widely from the café and bar to lunch, dinner, and holiday lunch menus. Some of the specialties at this Tokyo kotatsu cafe restaurant are curry with rice, pasta dishes, tender roast pork and even decadent cakes.
Customers have loved the authentic tastes of the dishes, the terrace, stylish atmosphere, dessert cheesecakes and wines. A warm kotatsu is also available and you can even bring a pet.
Located in a busy city district, GARB truly has everything you need in one place. From the bar, cafe and restaurant, this spot can serve you at any time of day. The atmosphere changes for whatever use it requires which means plenty of spots for kotatsu seating during the winter months.
Tips
- There is a bar counter in the store, and you can enjoy alcohol at any time. In addition, Marunouchi Nakadori will be illuminated around October, so you can enjoy the gorgeous night even from inside the store.
Detailed Information:
Website: garb.jp
Phone number: 03-5220-0440
Opening hours:
[Weekday]
Open 11:30pm-11pm
Lunch 11.30pm-2.30pm
Cafe 11.30pm-4.30pm
Close 5pm Dinner / 5.30pm-9pm
Bar 9pm-11.30pm
[Sat]
Open 11.3opm-10pm
Lunch 11.30pm-2.30pm
Café & Bar 11.30pm-9.30pm
Dinner 5pm-8.30pm
[Sun & Holiday]
Open 11.30pm-10.pm
Lunch 11.30pm-2.30pm
Cafe & Bar 11.30pm-9.30pm
Dinner 5pm-8pm
Address: Marunouchi Nakadori Building 1F, 2-2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access information: 3 minutes walk from JR Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Exit
Average cost for food: Lunch 1,000-2,000 yen, Dinner 4,000 yen-5,000 yen.
Google Map:
Yume no mata yume (夢のまた夢)
An easy two-minute walk from the south exit of Asagaya Station is a kotatsu restaurant Tokyo that changes with the seasons. Depending on the time of year, Yume no mata yume adjusts its seating, meaning kotsatsu is set up for those winter months. And the food? Simple dishes are made in the most perfect way.
The menu at Yume no mata yume varies from ordinary izakaya menus to Chinese food and grilled charcoal grills. One of the menu specials at this Tokyo kotatsu cafe restaurant is Tonteki, a Japanese pork loin steak dish served in a savory citrusy sauce.
A few of the favourites for guests are sashimi, fried chicken, spring rolls as well as shochu and sake. Visitors also love the calm, relaxing atmosphere and the cozy kotatsu during the winter months.
Yume no mata yume also offers a private room for 8 people, enough to seat an entire family. However, be sure to make a reservation ahead of time. Winter is one of the best times to visit and experience kotatsu dining.
Tips
- You can order a la carte dishes, but you can also choose from course meals of 5,000 yen, 4,000 yen, and 2,500 yen.
Detailed Information:
Website: yumenomatayume.gorp.jp
Phone number: 050-5484-6073
Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun 5.30pm-12am (Last Order 11.pm), Regular Holiday – Monday
Address: 2F, 3-37-5 Asagayaminami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo
Access information: 2 minutes walk from JR Chuo Line Asagaya Station South Exit
Average cost for food: Dinner: 3,000 yen to 4,000 yen.
Google Map:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you eat on a kotatsu?
The simple answer is, yes! While you are under the kotatsu table, you can eat and do many other activities such as reading or browsing the internet. A kotatsu keeps the lower part of your body warm, while on the surface you can enjoy a meal.
What is under the kotatsu?
Underneath the kotatsu is a heat source, usually electric, built into the table itself. The heat source produces a low, but generous enough heat to keep the lower body warm.
How do you sit at a kotatsu?
The kotatsu is designed to be a low seating table. The idea is that you are seated on the floor with your legs under the table, covered with the blanket that sits atop of the table.
Conclusion
- Café Stay Happy is the spot for a bohemian vibe! With food that is fresh, organic, and pesticide-free salads, there is something healthy for everyone. Their Vegan Bean croquette sandwich could keep you coming back for more.
- Honke Kanoya is the place for authentic Southern Japanese food. From hearty stews to tender meats and traditional spirits, you can get a taste of Japan right here. You will be charmed by the nature and warm climate at Kanoya City in Kagoshima.
- Moving onto something urban, Sanagi Shinjuku has a colorful ambience with many stalls that offer foods for different tastes and plenty of kotsatu seating options in the winter months. With an art gallery nearby, this could be a visit to remember.
- What could be more charming than a 50-year-old house overlooking a peaceful garden? Shi-no-Cafe has a little something for everyone, from pesticide-free vegetables, seasonal ingredients, drinks, and cakes to the cozy kotatsu tables in the winter.
- GARB is the place to enjoy the vibrant scene of Tokyo. Located in a business district. Their lengthy menu offers plenty of options including bar, cafe, restaurant and kotatsu services. Anything you need, you can find at GARB.
- Ever been to a spot that changes with the seasons? Yume no mata yume does just that. During the winter times you can find plenty of comfort foods, including the popular Tonteki (a Japanese pork loin steak). Not to forget kotatsu seating to enjoy your meal in warmth.
Discover More Delights of Japanese Cuisine
After exploring the warm and cozy kotatsu restaurants in Tokyo, why not explore the city’s diverse culinary scene? Here’s another culinary adventure for you:
- Best Indian Buffet in Tokyo: Indian cuisine in Japan is a unique fusion of flavors, combining traditional Indian spices with a Japanese twist. These buffets offer a wide range of dishes from different regions of India, each prepared with meticulous attention to detail that is characteristic of Japanese culinary arts. From spicy curries to flavorful biryanis, these buffets offer an authentic Indian dining experience in the heart of Tokyo, with a touch of Japanese influence that makes it truly special.
