Horiguchi Coffee

Dark polished woods, nooks and crannies are the order of the day at the large Horiguchi shop directly opposite Chitose Funabashi station (the small chain also boasts outlets in Komae, Setagaya and Uehara). Not nearly as anal as some of the other coffee specialists we've uncovered recently, Horiguchi specializes in a few select blends, some rather special cakes (try the peach sponge) and the kind of atmosphere that, coupled with a good book and a few spare hours, feels like a well-deserved treat. We'll be going again and again.