A Tokyo Cafe Catering to Railway Fans
Joyful Minowa is a retro shotengai (shopping street) located next to Minowabashi Station on the Toden Arakawa Line. It's situated near Asakusa, in Tokyo.
As you enter the shopping street, look to your right, and you'll find today's featured location—the Toden Hotel.
The Toden Hotel features a Japanese-style exterior. In addition to the guest rooms, there's also a cafe on the first floor and a cycling gym on the third. This hotel is packed with unique features!
At the building's entrance, there's a detailed railway model and an old railroad map. This display captures the attention of children, who often gather for a closer look.
The cafe is open from 11:00 until 21:00. Stop in anytime for lunch, teatime, or dinner.
A Cafe With a Railroad Motif
The cafe's interior and menu alike feature fun, creative touches. The first thing that catches your eye is the large screen in the back of the room. It displays beautiful landscapes, as seen from trains traveling throughout Europe.
The picturesque images on the screen will have you thinking, "Someday, I'd like to take a trip there, too!" There's also a streetcar model displayed above the bar.
If you're a railway enthusiast, you probably noticed another of the cafe's unique features. The seats inside are actually taken from a railway car!
The red seats in the photo are from the Odakyu Romance Car NSE3100 Series. The gray-colored seats to the right are from the Toden Arakawa Line 7000 Series.
The cafe was able to use these seats since these trains were taken out of service. For railway fans, it feels like being upgraded to a first class seat while they sit and enjoy a coffee!
The cafe walls are decorated with nameplates from trains no longer in service. The signs also indicate station names and destinations. These vintage signs create a nostalgic and exciting atmosphere.
We Recommend the Minowa Burger!
The Minowa Burger has also been coined the special regional burger. It's no surprise this hearty meal is the Toden Hotel cafe's most popular menu item.
Fresh vegetables and a juicy hamburger patty are sandwiched between buns made with whole wheat flour. Its generous size will have diners wondering how to best approach this eating experience! Better yet, the dish is garnished with crispy french fries and is reasonably priced.
The Owner, Mr. Fujita: A Natural-Born Railway Enthusiast!
The owner of the cafe, Takahisa Fujita, is a passionate individual who claims to have been a railway aficionado since birth! He was born in Tokyo and spent his childhood in the present-day Akihabara Station area.
When Mr. Fujita was growing up, freight trains would make stops at Akihabara Station. When passing trains sounded their horns, a young Mr. Fujita would get teary-eyed.
When World War II broke out, he evacuated to Niigata. At the end of the war, he returned to Tokyo and took up residence along the Toden Arakawa Line, where he's lived to this day.
Mr. Fujita formerly worked as a public servant. He decided to open Japan's first railway specialty store and interactive center, and left his position. Unfortunately, his real estate broker went bankrupt, and he was forced to abandon his plan.
On his second attempt to open a shop, the project was again plagued with various issues.
Finally, on his fourth attempt, Mr. Fujita's dream became a reality, and the Toden Hotel opening in April 2019.
Documents Highlighting Japan's Illustrious Railway History
Inside the cafe, bookshelves are lined with many railway-related books and documents.
The booklet ("A Study Group on the Shinkansen Tanna Tunnel") in the photo above was published in 1942. It was a treat to see this beautifully preserved publication.
This book features research that was being conducted on railway projects at the time. It also lists topographical and geological information. It's considered a very precious document, and a key part of Japan's railway history.
Mr. Fujita is a big fan of the Japan National Railways (present-day JR) and train schedules. Along with his friend, he's currently publishing a special guide that will be the first of its kind in Japan. It features research focused exclusively on Japan's railway timetables.
The cafe's bookshelves are lined with many train schedule-related books as well.
Stay in a Traditional Tokyo Neighborhood!
On the second floor of the Toden Hotel is a large room that can accommodate up to six people, as well as three double rooms (two guests each).
The beds are furnished with high-quality mattresses from the luxury brand "France Bed." The rooms have a Japanese-style design and are a hit among international visitors and locals alike.
The room for six guests has two double beds and also features a Japanese-style decor. This happens to be the room where a Japanese railway YouTuber (Suits) interviewed the president of Choshi Electric Railway Co., Ltd. Click here to watch the video (Japanese).
In addition to being reasonably priced, the double rooms are spacious and comfortable. Many guests have left rave reviews on the hotel's reservation site.
Since the hotel is near Minowa Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line), it makes the perfect hub for your Tokyo sightseeing.
Click here for Toden Hotel reservations (Japanese)
Minowa Cycle Gym: Enjoy a Workout on the 3rd Floor!
On the hotel's third floor, there's a cycling gym where you can enjoy a rigorous workout. You can ride a road bike indoors using either bicycle rollers or a trainer (see above).
The facility also comes equipped with an online bicycle racing system. On the display screen, visitors can see actual footage of a competitive cycling route. All in all, this is a highly unique fitness studio.
With showers available on-site, you don't need to worry about breaking a sweat during your workout!
For more details, please check the Minowa Cycle Gym official homepage (Japanese).
Explore a New Side of Tokyo at the Toden Hotel
As a self-professed train fan, our writer was fascinated by the Toden Hotel and Mr. Fujita's array of train-related stories.
Mr. Fujita is an enthusiastic person who lights up when speaking about his favorite topic. He's a genuine railway fan with a sense of humor, and someone everyone can admire.
At Toden Hotel, Mr. Fujita is living out his dream. Please stop in for a visit! You're sure to something new about Japan's illustrious railway history and enjoy the homey atmosphere of this local neighborhood!
