Saza Coffee Ibaraki: Taste History with Shogun Coffee 2026

A Must-Visit Cafe in Ibaraki, Near Tokyo!

Saza Coffee Main Branch & Shogun Coffee

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Saza Coffee Main Branch, famous for its unique Shogun Coffee!

Saza Coffee is a really popular chain in Tokyo, so it was quite a surprise to discover that its original flagship store is nestled in Ibaraki, a charming smaller city just outside the capital.

Shogun Coffee, as the name suggests, is a historical brew. It’s a faithful recreation of the coffee once enjoyed by ancient Japanese generals, brought back to life using historical documents from the late Edo period. How cool is that?

While planning my trip to Ibaraki, I struggled to find much information online. Then, a YouTube algorithm magically presented Saza Coffee to me, and I knew instantly I had to check it out!

Location

Saza Coffee has several locations in Ibaraki, but I visited the main branch, which is conveniently located about a 9-minute walk (under half a mile) from Katsuta Station.

You can easily reach it by taking the subway from Mito Station, or if you've rented a car, there's nearby parking available, and the cafe offers a complimentary 2-hour parking voucher!

Essential Information

Saza Coffee is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with the last order taken at 7:00 PM.

If you're only visiting the cafe and not looking to purchase coffee beans, head through the side entrance on the left, not the main front door.

Parking

While there are a few parking spaces right in front of the shop (only enough for about four cars), you'll likely need to use a nearby parking lot.

Thankfully, the utility poles near the supported parking lots are covered with Saza Coffee signs, making it easy to spot where you can park and receive support!

I just pulled into the closest available lot among the options.

Just to be safe, I parked in a spot that clearly had Saza Coffee branding, though I'm not entirely sure if it's strictly necessary to do so.

Even though parking typically costs ~$3 per hour, I didn't have to pay anything! When you check out at Saza Coffee, they provide a complimentary 2-hour parking coupon.

Cafe Atmosphere

Stepping through the left side entrance, you'll find a waiting area. I sat there until a staff member guided me to the waiting list, and after about a 5-minute wait, I was seated.

From the outside, the cafe looks deceptively small, but once you step inside, it's incredibly spacious!

After admiring the unique interior, I was led to a table further inside – a lovely window seat with a view of the outdoors!

Menu Highlights

The menu is entirely in Japanese, of course, but it's pretty easy to spot the Shogun Coffee options! They're prominently featured, often with distinct visuals.

On the right side of the first menu image, you'll see all the Shogun Coffee variations. These include the classic Shogun Coffee (hot), Iced Shogun Coffee, Shogun Coffee Cafe Latte, and the Princess Shogun Coffee.

The Princess version is described as having a softer, more elegant flavor profile.

They also serve meals and a tempting array of desserts, which you can browse in the display case near the entrance. Everything looked incredibly appealing and delicious!

My Shogun Coffee Experience

I ordered the hot Shogun Coffee and the Princess Shogun Coffee. True to its historical inspiration, the coffee cups were lavishly gilded – a truly regal touch!

The Shogun Coffee is served with a side of milk. My husband, who is a regular coffee connoisseur, noted that it had very low acidity and a remarkably heavy body – definitely a robust brew!

Full disclosure: I'm not a regular coffee drinker, so both the Shogun Coffee and the Princess Coffee tasted quite bitter to me at first – almost like a traditional herbal medicine!

However, once I poured in the milk, it became much sweeter and, dare I say, tasted like a really fancy, upscale diner coffee! It was quite delicious.

If you're a coffee lover, unlike me, I highly recommend making a stop here!

Ibaraki itself isn't a heavily touristed area for international visitors, and Saza Coffee was no exception – I only saw local Japanese customers. It truly felt like an authentic local hidden gem!

Near the checkout counter, you can also purchase coffee beans. Saza Coffee is renowned for its high-quality and specialty beans, with customers often lining up in the mornings just to buy them!

They also sell a variety of charming little trinkets and souvenirs, so feel free to take your time browsing.

That concludes my review of Saza Coffee's Main Branch in Ibaraki – a true culinary highlight of my trip!