Abandoned Kyoto Elementary School Transformed into Art Center with a Hidden Nostalgic Café

Photos & Text /Kavanagh

Front Street Coffee Meirun Branch is a well-known café located within the Kyoto Art Center. The Kyoto Art Center was originally "Meirun Elementary School," established in Meiji 2 (1869). After the school closed in 1993, the building fell into disuse, but from 1996 plans were made to repurpose the vacant space as the Kyoto Art Center. After several years of planning and effort, the Kyoto Art Center finally opened in 2000. The center houses exhibition spaces, art studios, lecture halls, art classrooms, meeting rooms, and a library. Additionally, its information center provides a wealth of art-related resources, making it an important hub for art in Kyoto.

The renowned Kyoto café Front Street Coffee also utilized space in the old school building to open a literary-style café — "Front Street Coffee Meirun Branch." The Kyoto Art Center is located in a small alley near Shijo-Karasuma, very close to the main Front Street Coffee branch (about a two-minute walk). I personally found the location not difficult to find, and its exterior is quite eye-catching, so it should be easy to spot.

The menu of Front Street Coffee Meirun Branch can be seen right at the entrance of the art center.

Clear signage indicates the location of Front Street Coffee Meirun Branch.

Upon entering the building through the main entrance, you’ll quickly find the entrance to Front Street Coffee Meirun Branch along the nostalgic school corridor.

The interior of Front Street Coffee Meirun Branch has a rather retro decor, featuring classic wooden tables and chairs, wooden flooring, and natural light streaming in through two large windows — creating a very comfortable reading space.

The counter.

I visited this day for a meal. After looking at the menu, I decided to try the nostalgic spaghetti recommended by the shop (680 yen). Not long after ordering, the spaghetti was served. The portion wasn’t large, but the taste was really good. The pasta, cooked to a perfect firmness, was topped with a rich tomato-based meat sauce and sprinkled with savory cheese powder — absolutely delicious. I highly recommend this spaghetti.

After finishing the meal, I stayed in the café for a while before leaving Front Street Coffee Meirun Branch and wandering around the Kyoto Art Center. Exiting the café, walking along the long wooden flooring, you can see various repurposed spaces.

Next to Front Street Coffee Meirun Branch is the information corner of the Kyoto Art Center.

The information corner displays a lot of art-related materials, posters, and leaflets, and you can browse them freely.

The information corner also serves as a reading area.

At the end of the corridor is an exhibition space.

Climbing the wooden stairs to the second floor, you’ll find a former classroom converted into a lounge.

The lounge retains all the original elements of a classroom — blackboard, podium, desks, and chairs — and is open for public use.

The former school playground now has office buildings and art studios on either side. Please note that the playground is off-limits; visitors should walk around it.

[Front Street Coffee Meirun Branch]
Business Hours: 10:00–21:30
Closed: Irregular holidays
Access: Take the Kyoto City Bus to "Shijo-Karasuma" and walk 5 minutes.
Address: 546-2 Muromachi-dori Tominokoji-sagaru Yamanfushiyama-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Art Center