Super popular in Tokyo!“Moomin”-themed cute drink bar

Photos & Text /Hanako Wajapan, excerpted from “Holiday in Tokyo for Adults,” published by Popular Wind Publishing

Bubble Tea & Drinks – Moomin Stand

The last time I was wandering around the area near JR Kichijoji Station, I happened to pass by the Coppice building. As someone who’s visually inclined, I was first drawn in by the adorable store design and illustrations on the first floor. When I got closer, I realized it was a cute Moomin (moomin)-themed drink bar similar to Taiwan’s bubble tea shops — “Moomin Stand.”

Moomin is super popular in Japan. Aside from numerous specialty stores, there are also themed bread cafés and restaurants. This drink bar, which mainly sells flavored drinks, opened its first location in Kichijoji. Due to its immense popularity, it has since expanded to seven branches across Japan, including Hakata in Kyushu, Osaka, Yokohama, and Ikebukuro.

The standout feature of this shop is that every drink comes with little round boba-like toppings called “nyoronyoro no tane” (slippery seeds). They have a soft, chewy, and elastic texture, somewhere between tapioca pearls and... well, something else. These colorful little balls, paired with vibrant juices or flavored teas, make for an incredibly pretty drink.

Aside from drinks, the small shop also sells various donut sticks and Moomin-related merchandise. Every drink purchase comes with a “slippery straw” that has a slippery doll sleeve — you can even wear it on your finger as an accessory. That day, I bought an oblong donut stick and the No. 1 bestseller, the “Mixed Berry Milk Flavor” drink. I walked around sipping and snacking, feeling just like I was strolling through a night market in Taiwan. The drinks are a bit pricier than in Taiwan, but the taste is really good — guaranteed to put you in a great mood. (P.S. There’s also a “Moomin HOUSE CAFÉ” in the SOLAMACHI mall at Tokyo Skytree, where they sell Moomin-head-shaped fruit pancakes — so adorable!)

Moomin Stand Coppice Kichijoji Store
Address: 1-11-5 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino, Tokyo (1F, Coppice Kichijoji Building A)
Phone: 04-2223-2615
Access: 0 minutes from Kichijoji Station on the JR Chuo Line, or a short walk from the Kichijoji Station on the Keio Inokashira Line
Hours: 10:00–21:00 / Irregular holidays
Official Website:http://www.benelic.com/moomin_cafe/moominstand/ 

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