What is a kissaten in Japan?
A kissaten (喫茶店), literally a tea-drinking shop, is a Japanese-style tearoom that is also a coffee shop. A kissaten (喫茶店), literally a tea-drinking shop, is a Japanese-style tearoom that is also a coffee shop. They developed in the early 20th century as a distinction from a café, as cafés had become places also serving alcohol with noise and celebration.kissaten vs cafes the difference between a kissaten and a cafe is that a cafe, at that time, often sold alcohol as well which meant an increase in noise and rowdiness. The kissaten, the word literally means tea drinking shop, were quieter places for intellectuals and artists to meet and exchange ideas.
Are there different types of kissaten?
We hold hands and kiss in public often in Japan. The only place we don’t kiss is on a train, bus, or subway or at the hot springs. For all couples, same sex or not, it is culturally rude to kiss on the trains or subways or buses.
What kind of food is served in kissaten?
Typically, Japanese-style cafés, kissaten, serve Western-influenced Japanese food such as katsusando (pork cutlet sandwich with a sweet and savory sauce) and spaghetti Neapolitan (spaghetti with ketchup, stir fried onions, ham and puréed tomato) as well as Western-influenced desserts. Traditional Japanese meals, often homemade, focus on fresh, seasonal foods like fish, rice, vegetables, and fermented items. The diet is rich in omega-3 fatty acids from fish, contributing to overall health and weight management while being low in processed foods.