Café & Sweets · Higashiyama (Yasaka)

% Arabica Kyoto Higashiyama % Arabica 京都東山

The minimalist coffee bar that launched a global brand, just below Yasaka Pagoda. Expect a queue, a perfect Kyoto latte and the pagoda framed on every cup photo.

About

% Arabica began in Kyoto in 2014 and its white-and-wood cafes, logo-stamped cups and baristas trained to latte-art competition level quickly turned it into an Instagram phenomenon worldwide. The Higashiyama shop is a small, pared-back space on the slope leading up to the five-storey Yasaka Pagoda, with a few benches and a takeaway window. The signature is the Kyoto Latte, a milky, slightly sweet espresso drink. The Arashiyama branch on the river is its other famous Kyoto location.

Highlights

• Original Kyoto home of the global % Arabica brand
• Kyoto Latte and single-origin espresso
• Takeaway cups with Yasaka Pagoda behind
• Minimal white-and-wood design
• Sister shop on the river in Arashiyama

Tips

• Arrive before 9:00 to avoid the long queue
• Walk 2 minutes uphill for the classic pagoda photo with your cup
• There is little seating; plan to take away
• The beans make a light souvenir

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

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• Yasaka Pagoda from Yasaka-doriPhoto Spot · 100 m away
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