The Koenji district of Tokyo is the perfect place to get some peace and quiet away from the city.  Koenji is known for its used clothing stores and quaint cafes.  If you're looking to explore Koenji, visit Hattifnat.  It's an adorable cafe that I fell in love with when I took my first step through the door. The cafe is located within a few minutes walk of Koenji station. I thought the name sounded like it could be Finnish and did some Googling. It turns out that Hattifnattar, in Swedish, is the word for a creature in the Finnish Moomin comic series, which the white creatures on the sign above the door resemble.

The best way to describe this cafe is that it feels like a cross between some restaurant out of a Ghibli movie and a tree house... if it weren't actually inside a tree.  Upon entering, you can see the food being prepared behind the counter and it feels like being in someone's home kitchen.  On the right side is a counter with cute packaged cookies and desserts for sale.

The seating area is on the second floor so you have to go up some tiny steps to get there.   All of the walls are painted with colorful murals and there is a lofted seating area that you can access by climbing a ladder.  The cafe also plays a soundtrack of lullaby versions of famous songs.

Though orders are usually placed in Japanese over an intercom system, I have found that the staff are accommodating of English speakers.  There is an English menu available and the servers will come take your order at the table instead of putting you through the embarrassment that comes with using the intercom.

Hattifnatt serves up all kinds of comfort foods that are just as cute as the rest of the cafe!

The lattes with smiling faces are sure you make your face light up too.

Hattifnatt is located at 2-18-10 Koenji-kita, Suginami-ku, in Tokyo.  It's accessible from the north exit of Koenji Station on the Chuo Line.

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Written by Carly Susman (www.carly-rose.com)
All photos are property of Carly Susman.
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