Would you like cinnamon, cocoa or a dusting of nail jewelry with your cappuccino? From innovative fitness classes to crossover art spaces, new Tokyo cafes are expanding the idea of what goes well with a cup of coffee.
Coffee shops with character have long been an institution in Japan, but true cafe culture only started to take off about 10 years ago. While coffee chains are now as common as convenience stores and the designer cafe boom is still going strong, it appears that some café entrepreneurs are looking beyond java, jazz and scones and serving up some personality with a hobby or two on the side. And we're not talking maid cafes and cat cafes.
Blurring the line between cafe and fitness center and between outdoors and in, "Wired Cafe <> FIT" opened this summer near Yoyogi Park. The gym part is an indoor/outdoor fitness center. Classes include jogging or Nordic walking in the park alone or in combination with stationary pursuits like yoga or tai-chi inside the studio. Online, their Twitter account and blog post updates (e.g. "Today's running session is canceled due to bad weather" – bummer). They also have a streaming feed of the park to show the weather. Too hot? Too cold? Too... tired? Stop into the cafe in the same space instead and, you know, think about running. The cafe there offers dishes targeting those who try to stay healthy (dessert is zucchini bread) and, like all Wired Cafes, has wireless Internet access (despite the name).
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