Nestled in the bustling alleyways of Tokyo’s Shibuya district, this café is a serene musical retreat surrounded by lively bars and ramen shops. Walking beneath the arched entrance, with its facade of faux stone and plaster, visitors enter the storied halls of Meikyoku Kissa Lion, a century-old two-story café.
The term “meikyoku kissa” combines “meikyoku” (masterpiece) and “kissaten” (café), encapsulating the café’s essence. Meikyoku Kissa Lion is one of the few remaining masterpiece cafes in Japan. Originally built in 1926, it burned down during WWII but was reconstructed in the original design and expanded in the 1950s, according to KEYT-TV. The cozy interior of the popular coffee shop is typically marked by hushed whispers, antiquated European decor, and streams of classical music playing in a sound-proof setting.
Music is a defining characteristic of this renowned café. The place is a haven for audiophiles and music enthusiasts. Within this brick-built oasis lies a state-of-the-art audio system. A bank of gigantic wooden speakers is mounted on the wall, and in front of it is a huge collection of over 5000 vinyl records and music CDs arranged in alphabetical order.
Plush wooden seats, upholstered in red velvet-like fabric, face the wall-mounted music system. While the cafeteria pulsates with a sweet cacophony of classical music, the space remains dimly lit with crystalline yellow-light electric chandeliers, soothing warm-toned lamps, and soft-glow candelabras. Clusters of ornate picture frames and golden Greek-style columns adorn the other walls.
Upholding a meditative ambiance, the café bans talking, chatting, photography, and mobile phone use. The simple menu, which has remained unchanged since 1926, comes with a list of old-school beverages like lemon soda, milkshakes, juices, milk teas, and coffees.
Above all, this musical den is devoted to the art of listening. New records are added to the collection every month, and some of the most popular records nestling behind its glass cabinets include the ones by Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Brahms, and Rachmaninoff.
“Meikyoku kissa is a place that plays classical music, where customers can listen to music, have a drink, and relax,” says Naoya Yamadera, the current manager of the Lion Café, per CNN. Naoya’s father, Yanosuke Yamadera, designed the original cafe. Naoya says that this distraction-free listening makes people feel like they’re attending “an actual orchestra.” He adds, “The customers leave with a good feeling and that is what’s good about this cafe.”
He says some of their oldest customers have been visiting the cafe for more than six decades. “One of our customers is about 70 years old now, they started coming as a third-year high school student… Some of our customers come from as far away as America and Europe. Some also come from all over Japan.” Although it forbids socializing, the welcoming cafe is a world of wonder for people who love coffee and classical music.
