Visiting “Coffee Rupo” Just Before Its Permanent Closure

As the title suggests, this is a report on my visit to “Coffee Rupo” just before its permanent closure.

I don’t usually write this kind of report, but I wanted to document this visit as a personal record and to preserve the memory.

What Is “Coffee Rupo”?

“Coffee Rupo” is a kissaten (traditional Japanese coffee shop) located in Kiyose City, Tokyo. It was established in 1988, making it a long-running establishment with decades of history.

Looking at the exterior of the shop, some of you might think, “I’ve seen this place somewhere before!”

That’s right — it’s been used as a filming location for dramas and tokusatsu shows, and has also served as a model for anime settings.

“I’ll Go Someday” — 10 Years Later, a Sudden Announcement

This story goes back to my middle school days.

Those of you who are fans of cute, slice-of-life anime might be familiar with “Is the Order a Rabbit?” (Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?) — I was a big fan at the time.

I can’t remember the exact storyline anymore since it’s been over 10 years, but it was a slice-of-life anime set in a coffee shop.

The coffee shop interior in the anime was modeled after Coffee Rupo, and back then I wanted to visit as a sort of anime pilgrimage.

Even after my anime enthusiasm cooled down, I still wanted to visit because of the wonderful atmosphere.

Since I’ve always lived in the Seibu area of Saitama — both my family home and my current place — I figured “I can go anytime,” and before I knew it, 10 years had passed.

One day while taking a break at work, I was casually scrolling through Twitter when I stumbled upon a “closure announcement” and was shocked.

「仮面ライダークウガ」「ごちうさ」「相棒」の聖地として知られる清瀬市の喫茶店「るぽ」が3月末で閉店https://t.co/EU2v3kGlmN

— ガジェット通信（公式） (@getnewsfeed) March 12, 2024

The thought of “I can go anytime” turning into “I won’t be able to go anymore” filled me with urgency. I knew I would regret it forever if I didn’t go now.

I decided to visit on a day off in late March.

Ten years after first wanting to visit, I never imagined it would become both my first and last time.

I apologize for all the personal backstory. Below is the actual report of my visit.

The Early Morning Challenge

Many people were rushing to visit after hearing about the closure, and Twitter reports said the wait could exceed 7 hours if you lined up normally.

As I mentioned, I live within a 30-minute drive, so I left around 4:30 AM and arrived at about 5:00 AM.

Mine was the only car in the parking lot, so I thought for sure I was first in line.

However, I could already see figures at the entrance…

To my surprise, several people were already waiting.

From what they told me, they had started lining up around 5:00 AM — so they must have arrived just minutes before me.

The shop opened at 8:00 AM, so I waited for about 3 hours.

We were past the spring equinox, so it was technically spring, but the low temperature was still in single digits (Celsius). I came prepared with a heated vest and a down jacket.

As opening time approached, more and more people arrived. Some even came by taxi.

By opening time, a massive line had formed, and I wondered, “Can they really serve all these people in one day?”

Finally Inside

At 8:00 AM, the doors opened. A staff member came out, asked about party sizes, and let us in.

We were about the 5th group, so we made it into the first seating and got a table on the second floor.

From the second floor, you could look down at the first floor seating — it was a wonderful spot. That moment made all the pre-dawn waiting worthwhile.

The staff asked everyone to be careful not to photograph other customers, so I couldn’t take many photos, but the atmosphere was truly wonderful.

By the first-floor window, there was a public telephone — something you rarely see these days.

I wasn’t able to photograph it, but the counter seats that frequently appeared in “Is the Order a Rabbit?” were also there.

Coffee and Food

The “Morning Menu” was quintessentially kissaten-style.

I ordered the “Hot Sandwich Set (Egg),” and my companion ordered the “Soup Set (Minestrone with Croissant).”

We also ordered waffles after hearing from people in line that they were delicious.

Everything had a gentle flavor — light enough to enjoy first thing in the morning. It had that classic kissaten taste.

The hot sandwich felt a bit different from modern versions, in a good way.

The waffles were topped with lightly sweetened whipped cream and strawberries.

They were indeed delicious, and splitting one between two people left me wanting more.

Coffee was included with the meal sets, but I also ordered a “Mocha” after eating.

The Mocha had a wonderful aroma with a nice acidity — truly delicious coffee.

I’m personally quite fond of Mocha. At home, I just toss cheap beans into my De’Longhi, though!

Final Thoughts

The food was great, the coffee was excellent, and the atmosphere was perfect — I left feeling completely satisfied.

If it weren’t for the line, I could have happily spent 3 hours there just relaxing.

While it’s truly sad that the shop has closed, I try to look at it positively and feel grateful that I was able to visit before the end.

If the space ever reopens as a coffee shop, I would love to come back.

I know it’s not my call to make, but I sincerely hope the building itself can be preserved.