Opened in July 2024, 'Noki Noki' (instagram.com/nokinoki.kyoto/) is an architecturally inspired café addition to Kyoto’s café scene. The cafe is located in the historic Nishijin district, northwest of Kyoto Gyoen National Park and just a five-minute walk from Imadegawa Jofukuji busstop. Designed and run by the architecture firm KINO, the café occupies a newly built machiya, a traditional townhouse, designed to harmonize Kyoto’s preservation aesthetics with modern materials and sensibilities in the front, while the office of KINO is in the back. Inside, soft green accents bring a touch of freshness to the otherwise minimalist interior, where concrete, wood, and clean lines create a calm and modern atmosphere that nods subtly to Kyoto’s traditional aesthetic.

The café’s standout feature is its innovative use of the nokishita (eaves) space, an architectural element that reflects the typical machiya structure with its narrow frontage and deep, corridor-like layout, often referred to as “unagi no nedoko” or “eel’s bed.” This semi-outdoor area doubles as a flexible space for pop-up shops, art exhibitions, and collaborative events with both local and international creators.

Noki Noki offers a focused menu of specialty coffee drinks, including house-roasted blends from Brazil and Guatemala, espresso-based beverages like café lattes, and refreshing options such as espresso tonic and ginger ale. On the sweet side, the café serves a thoughtfully curated selection of treats, including banana cake, cheesecake, affogato, and lovely succulent cupcakes.

Combining thoughtful design, a focus on community, and a carefully curated menu, Noki Noki offers both locals and visitors a memorable space to enjoy coffee, sweets, and creativity beneath the eaves of a modern machiya.

Design: KINO
Logodesign: 8 Branding Design