小さな街を歩く東京散歩｜招き猫の豪徳寺と地元に愛される素敵なお店めぐり

Overview

Mei takes viewers on a summer Tokyo walking day, starting at Yoyogi and continuing through nearby neighborhoods. The route highlights local food, calm strolls, shopping streets, and a few curated lifestyle stops.

Morning: Yoyogi Park + breakfast

Atmosphere & arrival

• Tokyo is described as extremely hot, with air conditioning running through the night to sleep.
• Mei arrives at Yoyogi-koen Station.

Yoyogi Park highlight

• The park is a “peaceful oasis.”
• It was once a U.S. military housing complex.

Breakfast café experience (key tips/features)

• The café opens at 8:00 a.m.; they arrive around 7:45 a.m.
• Waiting list check-in is handled in advance; they’re #6
• You receive a phone notification when it’s almost your turn (no lining up)
• Cashless only
• The café is small; counter seating lets you watch pancake-making
• Music vibe: relaxing background created by vinyl records

What Mei orders

• Dutch Pancake Prosciutto & Burrata (¥1,960)
  • Crispy outside, soft/moist inside (compared to cream puff pastry)
  • Prosciutto paired with rich burrata
  • Not sweet—works well savory
  • Maple syrup is also added and Mei says it tastes even better than expected
• Drinks
  • Hot Coffee — ¥600
  • Iced Coffee — ¥600 Lightly roasted with a clean finish

Shopping street detour + ceramics shop

• Mei explores a nearby shopping street filled with independently owned shops.
• Kio: handmade Japanese ceramics and antique French kitchenware
  • Opens at noon, so Mei plans to return later.

Late morning: Gotokuji Temple (beckoning cat)

Transit

• From Gotokuji Station (via Odakyu Line) to Gotokuji Temple.

Legend + theme

• Gotokuji is said to be the birthplace of the lucky beckoning cat.
• Story:
  • A cat beckoned a feudal lord inside.
  • A thunderstorm happened outside.
  • Gratitude led to patronage.
• Core belief: cats bring good fortune.

What to look for

• A tall, pine-lined approach and beautifully maintained grounds
• Founded in 1480
• Early timing means fewer visitors; green moss is especially beautiful
• Hidden carved cat decorations around the grounds

Lucky cat customs

• People return lucky cats after wishes come true
• You can also dedicate/keep one at home
• The temple office closes at 3:00 p.m.
• Lucky cats cost ¥500–¥7,000, labeled “Gotokuji”
• You can choose the type of blessing

Nearby shopping street

• Cat-themed goods are everywhere, with playful cat items and accessories.

Lifestyle shopping: washi, ceramics, glass gifts

• A select shop is praised for crafted household goods made by artisans and designers.
• Items Mei mentions/wants:
  • Washi-paper-based products (including incense made from washi paper that attaches to a clip)
  • Cat chopstick rests
  • Washi-fiber socks (light and breathable)
  • Thread-made accessories and gold leaf rings
• Additional browsing includes:
  • A vinyl record-focused shop (even though Mei doesn’t have a record player yet)
  • A furniture/home interior store with pieces made by artisans/emerging designers
  • Candles made with natural ingredients
• Noted for a future visit:
  • A shop with ice cream and natural wine
  • Another café described as cozy with natural wood and a cherry tree outside (Mei notes no photography inside)

Lunch: Yoyogi-Uehara boiled dumplings + café/bakery circuit

Getting there

• Mei takes the Odakyu Line to Yoyogi-Uehara Station
• Then walks about 1 minute to a restaurant famous for boiled dumplings

Meals ordered

• Boiled Dumpling Set (¥1,650)
  • 8 dumplings total (2 each of four kinds)
  • Tender braised pork hidden under the rice
  • Chewy wrappers
• Lagē Rice Set (¥1,650)
  • Lightly seasoned greens
  • Gentle soy-based seasoning with subtle sweetness and a complex flavor profile
  • Includes wood ear mushrooms and other wholesome ingredients

Why Yoyogi-Uehara?

• Known for many celebrities living nearby
• Full of stylish independent shops
• Regarded as one of Tokyo’s best areas for cafés and bakeries

Donuts + naturally leavened bread + a take-home moment

To-go donuts

• Cinnamon Currant
• Cacao Plain
  • Light/fluffy with balanced sweetness

Tastings & bread

• A chocolate shop gateau offers a gateau chocolat tasting flight
• Mei visits Levain, a pioneer of naturally leavened bread in Japan; the “country loaf” is praised
• Another quiet neighborhood bakery:
  • Simple, high-quality everyday bread at reasonable prices
  • Mei takes home Pain Anglais (crisp crust, chewy interior)

Extra stop

• A small lifestyle shop next door sells stationery and retro tableware.

Afternoon: gallery stop + a mosque near the station

• Mei returns toward Yoyogi-Uehara Station.
• A gallery shop features ceramics and glassware, including a solo exhibition by Marie Sugihara (on the day Mei visited).
• She also visits a nearby mosque described as stunning—blue and gold like a kaleidoscope.

Notable locations / products / people mentioned

Stations/areas

• Yoyogi-koen, Harajuku (nearby), Yoyogi Park, Yoyogi-Hachiman
• Gotokuji Station
• Yoyogi-Uehara

Temples/shopping streets

• Gotokuji Temple
• Gotokuji shopping street

Food highlights

• Dutch pancake: Prosciutto & Burrata
• Boiled dumpling set
• Lagē rice set
• Donuts: Cinnamon Currant, Cacao Plain
• Chocolate shop: gateau chocolat tasting flight
• Naturally leavened bread at Levain
• Pain Anglais

Shops/stores

• Kio (ceramics + antique French kitchenware)
• Bullpen (interior/design concept space)
• Ceramic/glass gallery featuring Marie Sugihara

Café items

• Cold Brew
• Carrot Cake (carrots/raisins/walnuts)
• “Today’s Coffee”

Products/topics

• Washi-paper incense
• Cat chopstick rests
• Washi-fiber socks
• Vinyl record shop
• Natural-wine + ice cream shop

Legend/theme figure

• The lucky beckoning cat—Gotokuji’s key cultural motif