The Renaissance gave the world three great inventions: gunpowder, the compass, and letterpress printing. In the 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg’s innovation broke the monopoly on information and helped shape human knowledge for nearly 500 years.
With the rise of digital technology, this once-great craft has stepped off the main stage of printing. Yet in today’s world, where efficiency and speed are prized, the tactile pleasure of arranging type letter by letter and pressing it deeply into paper shines with a fresh, unexpected appeal. At Tomigaya Letterpress Café, this historic craft meets everyday life, inviting visitors to experience its warmth and weight firsthand.
A Cozy Space Brimming with Handmade Charm
Opening the door, you’re greeted by the sweet aroma of baked goods. The warm, intimate space has about four tables, and with the ceiling opening up to the second floor, it never feels cramped. The first floor serves as the café, while the second floor is a shop for original goods.
In the display case, homemade baked treats are lined up. When we visited, brownies were being baked, and the rich scent of chocolate kept teasing our appetites. Classics like carrot cake and seasonal tarts are also available, each generously portioned, which is a welcome bonus.
First Floor – Café:
Brownies made with generous amounts of Valrhona chocolate (second photo)
Gift boxes for sweets, also printed in-house at the studio (third photo)
Second Floor – Shop:
In addition to letterpress-printed paper products like postcards and notebooks, the shop also sells original tote bags and printer’s coats (the workwear of printing artisans).
Subtle letterpress posters and products are thoughtfully placed throughout the café, adding charm to every corner. While locals mostly come for the coffee and sweets, many have discovered a fascination with letterpress printing, and over time, these casual visits have turned into regular participation in the workshops.
Experience Letterpress Printing Between Tea Breaks
Visitors can choose from two types of letterpress experiences: a 30-minute Mini Card Workshop or the more in-depth Letterpress Poster Workshop held in a separate studio. On our visit, we took part in the Mini Card Workshop, set in a cozy corner of the third-floor eat-in area.
Third Floor: Café Seating and Workshop Area
First, you choose six cards and six envelopes from a selection of six card designs and three envelope types. Then, you pick the font you want to use from four options: Gill Sans, Cheltenham, Venus, or Times New Roman, and note down the text you would like to print.
Each letter is carefully set by hand into a lead frame. To center the text on the card, blank spacers are added evenly on both sides. Once the type is fully arranged, it is placed into the composing frame and the spacing is adjusted on all sides. Only then is the printing plate ready for use.
Small adjustments are made using a jack to perfect the spacing.
The completed plate is placed onto the press, with the card positioned opposite it. Slowly pulling down the lever on the left coats the plate with ink and presses the paper firmly against it, creating the print.
The final cards are presented in an original box stamped with I LOVE LETTERPRESS.
Where Letterpress Becomes a Hub for Connection
Tomigaya Letterpress Café is operated by Hosoyamada Design Office, a company with over 30 years of experience in editorial design for magazines and publications. The founder, Mr. Hosoyamada, became captivated by letterpress and its culture during a visit to New York. In the West, people of all ages, from children to the elderly, gather in studios to enjoy creative activities as part of their daily lives. Inspired by this, he decided to recreate the same atmosphere in Tokyo, opening a letterpress studio using printing presses and wooden type from his own collection. To make letterpress more accessible in Japan, where it is still relatively unknown, he introduced a café as the entry point.
The studio for letterpress poster workshops, located in a separate building.
In the separate studio, visitors can take part in the full-scale Letterpress Poster Workshop. This six-hour course, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is popular with design students from Japan and abroad, and groups often book sessions together.
Letterpress, unlike digital printing, comes with its own set of constraints. Working within a limited range of fonts and sizes encourages creativity, giving professional designers fresh perspectives and offering beginners the pure joy of piecing together a puzzle. Getting layout advice from experienced designers is also a unique benefit of a studio run by a design office.
Once you have completed the course, you are able to rent the machines, allowing you to continue creating your own projects at your own pace.
Here, a craft that has continued since the 15th century, becomes a playful experience anyone can enjoy. After printing a single card, the scent of ink lingers on your hands and the paper’s textured surface is pressed into your fingertips. Each card is a one-of-a-kind creation that would not exist without you. And with that said, what words would you choose to bring to life on your plate?
Tomigaya Letterpress Café
Address : 2-20-2 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0063
Open : Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Closed : Sunday and Monday
Website : https://www.tomigayaletterpress.com/
Instagram : @tomigayaletterpress_cafe
