
Can’t decide what to get? Then leave it all up to gacha.
For our Japanese-language reporter Mr. Sato, nothing beats sipping a perfectly brewed cup of coffee to kickstart the day. And while Starbucks is currently offering exciting Halloween flavors like Masquerade Raspberry Mocha, Mr. Sato much prefers simple flavors in the morning.
His instincts for the odd and strange, however, delivered him to a cafe in Roppongi Hills called Gacha Gacha Coffee. Its location within the 250-meter (820 feet) high Tokyo City View Observation Deck meant that entry required a fee of 1,800 yen (US$16).
▼ Might as well enjoy the scenery while you are there, Mr. Sato.
If your main purpose is to only drink coffee, then 1,800 yen might be too dear a price to pay. Good thing our adventurous reporter was here for the spectacular view, too. Right, Mr. Sato?
▼ “A crystal-clear view of the city and Tokyo Tower is good and all,
but where’s my coffee?” he muttered grumpily.
▼ Making his way over to Sky Gallery 3, Mr. Sato found what he had been looking for.
▼ The place certainly felt like a cozy cafe, but with no staff around to help and
odd contraptions all over, he was at a loss as to what to do.
▼ “I am in the right place, right?”
▼ Peering at instructions imprinted on the wall,
Mr. Sato realized that everything here was self-service.
Like its namesake, the place had capsule vending machines numbered from one to five, each corresponding to different coffee beans within. What’s more, a special dispenser with a question mark supposedly contained mystery coffee beans as well.
▼ One turn of the crank cost 500 yen.
▼ Out popped his morning pick-me-up.
▼ Cracking it open with glee, Mr. Sato found a pack of Nyeri Hill roast nestled inside.
▼ Never having tried Kenyan coffee in his life before,
our now excited reporter impatiently tore open the packaging and fed it into the mill…
▼ …then gave the switch a flick.
▼ An unseen grinder whirred to life, depositing aromatic ground coffee into the dripper below.
▼ Next was placing it on top of a paper cup…
▼ …and choosing his options.
“Express” offered a 90-second drip that produced a light and smooth finish, whereas the three-minute “rich” option resulted in a deeper and bolder flavor.
▼ “I want to be rich!” exclaimed Mr. Sato as steaming hot water dribbled down.
▼ Gacha coffee all ready to go! The smell was incredible.
▼ “Sipping coffee while appreciating gorgeous scenery… what a classy way to start the day.
Mr. Sato found the entire process of brewing his own cup of random coffee really exciting, not to mention having a stunning Tokyo landscape at his disposal. Sure, he would have spent a lot less and gotten a lot more at other coffee stores, but Gacha Gacha Coffee will forever be ingrained into his mind as one of most stylish places to have a cup of joe.
Images: ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]


















We splurge at the new Blue Bottle Coffee vending machines in Tokyo
Will we win a 75,000-yen tub of caviar from this Japanese vending machine?
We spent over US$400 at a Tokyo premium capsule machine, and we’re not sure how we feel about it
We buy random-destination airplane ticket discounts from a Japanese gacha capsule vending machine
Taking a trip using Japan’s random gacha capsule airplane ticket discount【Photos】
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Japanese government says country needs more women’s room toilets to meet modern society’s needs
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
McDonald’s Japan celebrates spring with… a Strawberry Shortcake Pie?!?
Are Japanese convenience store sandwiches scamming us with their fillings?
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
All-you-can-eat Häagen Dazs among 200 other frozen foods at Osaka’s Chin! Suru Restaurant【Pics】
Japanese teen offers to catch purse snatcher for elderly woman, but is actually helping rob her
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
A visit to Tokyo’s fanciest coffeehouse for a 16,200 yen (US$143) bottle of coffee【Pics】
Shinkansen coffee and ice cream vending machines make train travel in Japan magical
Mr. Sato’s day made from this gacha capsule toy with a special surprise【Pics】
Mr. Sato visits Gacha Gacha no Mori: The capsule toy store for adult women
Blue Bottle Coffee opens in Japan to two-hour lines; Mr. Sato gets impatient, goes somewhere else
Mr. Sato takes on the “Trap or Treasure” capsule machine for 500 yen
Mr Sato shows us how to buy bubble wrap from one of the most unusual vending machines in Japan
New vending machines in Shibuya set to dispense Blue Bottle Coffee blends, beans, and more
Mr. Sato decides to go out for a cup of coffee…with a giant 20-pound Starbucks mug!
Steampunk vending machines appear in Japan, and here’s how to find them
Mr. Sato orders a box of hot coffee from Starbucks Japan to our office
How to use Japan’s revolving sushi capsule toy for a literal revolving sushi meal at home
7-Eleven releases a secret Cafe Latte Smoothie at select stores in Japan
We try insect snacks from this vending machine in Tokyo, and get a bonus surprise in the capsule
Photos of Complete Strangers: Japan’s new strange, and strangely compelling, capsule toys【Pics】
What’s it like to eat eel from a Japanese vending machine?