Souzen

Tucked away in a North-East Kyoto alley, ‘Souzen’ (instagram.com/souzen_kissa_kyoto) is a charming café that opened on May 11, 2024. It is a five-minute walk from Eizan Line’s Ichijoji Station, but can be somewhat challenging to find, hidden behind a house in a narrow alley between two large white houses and across from a large red brick building. The name Souzen is derived from the four-character idiom “Kuiro sozen,” which describes the way the surroundings become dim at dusk. The owner selected this name to evoke a nostalgic and warm atmosphere, reminiscent of the feelings experienced at dusk.

The café occupies a single-story building, boasting a stylish exterior with a mortar façade, complemented by a beautiful antique dark wooden door and window frame. Above the stylish shop’s logo, next to the door, hangs a chic French antique brass light. A small garden with a partial mortar fence is situated in front of the shop. The windows feature partially frosted glass, allowing visitors to see outside while maintaining some privacy within.

Inside, the café exudes a rustic and cozy ambiance, skillfully blending traditional and modern elements. The interior showcases a minimalist style with mortar walls and a concrete floor. To contrast this minimalism, the space features wooden diagonal paneling on one wall, the building’s original wood framework, and antique rustic furniture, all adding warmth and coziness. Additionally, dry plants and flowers are incorporated throughout, bringing a natural element to the space.

The menu offers baked goods made with carefully selected ingredients, light meals, coffee, and some alcoholic drinks as well as selling baked goods online and ship them. For lunch the menu offers a quiche plate, sandwich plate or cake sale (pronounced sah-lay) is savory pastry originating in France. All plates come with salad and soup. For sweets the cafe offers parfaits as well as small sweets like cake (gateau chocolat, cheese cake, carrot cake), tarts, muffin, scones and cookies.

Souzen is a stylish cafe with a comfortable ambiance that sells delicious lunch plates and sweets, great for relaxing time and a visit is highly recommended.

*Please be aware that the café is located in a small residential alley, so kindly keep your voices down when outside.