(Illustration: Photo taken at Fuglen Tokyo, Shibuya, Tokyo. Image source: Ernest)
About
This morning’s plan was to get up early for a walk to Yoyogi Park (Yoyogi Park), stopping by the Nordic-inspired Fuglen Tokyo for a warm breakfast along the way. After exploring the park, I planned to visit VERVE COFFEE ROASTERS nearby to compare the taste and atmosphere with the VERVE coffee found in Palo Alto and inside the Meta offices.
Shibuya Walk: A Surprising Discovery of a Small Tree-Lined Street
(The night before, I used IHG points to book a stay at the Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya, which is located next to Shibuya PARCO and had just opened in the second half of 2023. Waking up to good weather made me very happy, perfect for a morning walk!)
(The “Shibrewya” coffee shop downstairs of Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya. It was still early, and the shop hadn’t opened yet.)
(Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya is built on a small hill, allowing you to slowly walk down these stairs to the main street.)
(It was still early, so I wandered and took photos in the alleys, hoping to capture some interesting scenes.)
(Restaurants and shops were restocking their supplies in the morning.)
(Wolt was acquired by DoorDash in 2022, making it the largest in the US, right?! Surprisingly, I also saw it on the streets of Tokyo. But actually, the main subject of this photo is the bicycle :p)
(Originally, the plan for the next day was to go to Meiji Jingu Gaien to photograph the ginkgo-lined streets, but today, on my way to Yoyogi Park, I stumbled upon a small, completely deserted tree-lined street!)
(Completely deserted, hidden within the alleys, I shot a lot of ‘film’—oh no, I mean memory card space :p)
(The early bird truly catches the worm. Although, I still occasionally feel like sleeping in XD)
(After photographing the small tree-lined alley, I continued walking north and saw someone returning photography equipment?)
(It seems like a fairly large photography equipment rental center?!)
(Walking along, I discovered I could delve into the alleys, gradually moving away from the main road, to capture some more everyday life scenes.)
(While wandering through a residential area, I stumbled upon a restaurant that seemed to have a strong emphasis on garlic? Later, when I looked up more information, I discovered it was a second location branching from the original in Ueno, which boasts a high score of 3.5 on Tabelog. For those interested in enjoying a garlic-themed meal, you can check it out 👉 Garlic Bar Nyonyogo - Yoyogi Park/Garlic Cuisine/Online Reservation Available | Tabelog)
(It seemed like the restaurant’s next-door neighbor was tending to a small garden.)
(Continuing my walk north, I came across a high-quality aquarium and aquatic plants shop - SENSUOUS.)
Fuglen Tokyo Outdoors
(Walking through the quiet and comfortable alleys, I soon saw Fuglen Tokyo to my right front. It’s a coffee shop that integrates seamlessly into the local lifestyle, with no sense of distance or pressure, making coffee accessible to everyone.)
(Fuglen Tokyo is located at the corner between alleys, very close to Yoyogi Park, as seen from the sunlight falling on the leaves at the park’s perimeter in the photo. If you want to avoid queues or the coffee crowd, consider coming here for a light breakfast.)
(The coffee shop at the corner has entrances on both sides. There are seats and small tables along the walls, making it easy to have a chat with fellow coffee enthusiasts next to you before moving on to your next destination.)
(Located within a small alley, there isn’t much traffic, and cars move at a slower pace here. It’s a quite pleasant outdoor space to enjoy a coffee.)
(The menu posted in the outdoor lightbox features coffee, cocktails, and information about other branches. The coffee options are quite diverse, even offering Affogato, which is very European. It seems they also cater to market demand by including Americano? :p)
(Before entering, please take a look at these few reminders. They’re presented in a more interesting way with illustrations, reminding everyone. Let’s support our favorite shops with our actions.)
Coffee Bar Interior
(Upon entering the shop, I eagerly ordered a breakfast croissant. While waiting for my coffee to be prepared, I took note of the menu. Hot drinks are on the left, and cold drinks on the right. If the weather is warm, I recommend trying the less commonly seen ice cream coffee, Affogato.)
(The order counter features a cute Norwegian flag, echoing the red of the shop’s logo. There’s also a bright red Santa Claus tucked away in the corner :p)
(The interior space is also great for reading, with seating areas featuring three different types of chairs to choose from. In the photo, the left side in the distance shows a sofa-style seating area. In the morning, there weren’t many people, and I recall each of the three areas was occupied by a customer, quietly reading their book while enjoying the aroma of coffee.)
(Thinking I might pick up a few things along the way, I brought a bag that can expand or contract as needed. Sure enough, at the first stop, I couldn’t resist and ended up buying some coffee beans to take away.)
(At the order counter, Fuglen Tokyo thoughtfully reminds everyone to care for the Earth with an illustrative sign. Unless you’re taking your coffee to another location, if you’re enjoying it inside the coffee shop or in the outdoor area, please don’t use a takeaway paper cup. In recent years, I’ve also developed the habit of carrying a thermal mug for my drinks to minimize the use of takeaway paper cups.)
Dishes
Croissant (Forgot price)
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️ 4/5
After checking the reviews on the map, I noticed everyone mentioned a croissant not listed on the menu, so I didn’t bother asking the price and just told the staff I wanted one. It truly had a unique shape, very memorable. The next day, at the breakfast place Bricolage bread & co. in Roppongi, I encountered it again! It immediately clicked! It turns out the coffee shop and bakery collaborate :) The only downside was that the croissant at the coffee shop wasn’t reheated, it was served as is, but I liked the flavor of the croissant, so it still scored points with me.
(A delicious croissant with a unique shape and memorable design!)
(Added a LEGO Maggie Simpson as a scale reference.)
(Sitting at the bar, it seemed there was a plentiful supply of croissants during the breakfast period. Later, I saw comments mentioning that if you come too late, there might not be any croissants left, so it’s more accurate to say that there appeared to be a plentiful supply of croissants during breakfast hours.)
(With so many croissants available, I almost couldn’t resist ordering another one :p)
Hot Americano (JPY 410 Single | 510 Double, pre-tax)
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️ 4/5
Usually, a hot Americano consists of espresso with added hot water, and you can choose one or two shots of espresso, which is quite common. However, it’s less common to find places where you can decide how much hot water to add yourself. There weren’t many people that day, and sitting at the bar, the fruity aroma of the medium-light roast coffee was still pronounced through the espresso, and being able to decide the strength myself was a bonus! (But I heard that ordering a latte might easily overpower the taste of light roast coffee with the rich flavor of local Japanese milk, so those planning to order a latte might want to consider this.)
(I forgot whether I ordered a single or double shot of espresso. But this is how I make a delicious hot Americano at home too. Don’t forget, when visiting, that Fuglen’s coffee tends to have a more acidic taste.)
Coffee Beans (JPY 2,080, pre-tax)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
After sitting in the shop for a while, I browsed the coffee beans, thinking that since I had bought a bag from Verve Coffee Roasters in Palo Alto a few days ago, I might as well try some beans roasted in Japan. Later, I gave the beans to my family to enjoy. I’ll have to taste them myself next time, but they’re likely to be of a certain standard.
(Next to the sofa area, there is a section selling coffee beans and some merchandise, such as canvas bags.)
(There are also drip coffee bags and self-service ice water available.)
(Each type of bean comes with an information card and a scent bottle. The portions are about half a pound. In addition to in-store sales, they are also available on the official website.)
(I couldn’t resist taking a bag of beans back to try. That said, light roast beans roasted in Taiwan are quite competitive. But when traveling, I always end up making some comparisons and experiments. It’s through comparison and critique that we find improvement.)
Reading
(There are books by the Nordic coffee roaster Tim Wendelboe. Tim has visited Taiwan before.)
(The coffee shop in the morning is filled with a leisurely atmosphere, perfect for casually flipping through books. That day, I wanted to draw inspiration from Product Operations to optimize some workflows for my clients.)
(The FIELD NOTES notebook that I carry with me.)
Outdoor Seating
(It’s quite common to see large dogs with a soothing presence coming to enjoy the aroma of coffee in Tokyo’s cafes.)
(Getting ready to leave the coffee shop for Yoyogi Park. The outdoor seating area is getting more crowded.)
(This side faces the alley leading to the park. The yellow morning lights haven’t turned off yet, and the red and yellow hues spread on the white walls. When adjusting the photo’s colors, I added a bit of blue, yes, it matches the basic color scheme of Tokyo in my imagination.)
Bottom line
Frankly, if there’s a queue due to many customers, and neither the coffee nor croissants are so exceptional as to be a must-visit, I probably wouldn’t include it in my plans just to pass the time. However, if I were up early for a walk in Yoyogi Park and happened to pass by, or to take advantage of the morning before the crowds arrive, I’d still visit and cozy up here next time. Waiting in line is an experience of its own, just not one that suits my age anymore. Next time, I might consider taking a cup to go from VERVE and enjoy it in Yoyogi Park with a book or some sketching.
(The coffee shop before it gets fully crowded.)
(The Fuglen Tokyo order counter and the takeaway paper cups.)
(So then… off to Yoyogi Park!)
Information
- Name = Fuglen Tokyo
- Address = 1 Chome-16-11 Tomigaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0063, Japan
- Google Maps = https://maps.app.goo.gl/x4aga1HWQfRzNuAE9