Junkissa Zingaro
Takashi Murakami’s Showa Coffee House
A retro kissaten inside Nakano Broadway, designed by artist Takashi Murakami. Showa decor, his artwork, gaming-table seats, and Fuglen-roasted coffee.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Why Japanese People Love It
Junkissa Zingaro sits on the 2nd floor of Nakano Broadway, the legendary 1966 shopping complex that became the global capital of niche otaku retail — vintage manga, sofubi figures, rare watches, and the Mandarake empire. The cafe is one of several Zingaro-branded spaces run by Kaikai Kiki, the art company of Takashi Murakami, Japan's most internationally recognized contemporary artist. He designed the room as a hyper-detailed homage to the Showa-era junkissa (pure coffee house): wood paneling, stained glass, velvet seating, and his own artwork integrated into the decor.
The detail that delights regulars is the gaming tables — some seats are built around classic arcade-style consoles loaded with retro games, a Murakami flourish that turns a coffee stop into a small interactive experience. The coffee itself is sourced from Fuglen (the Norwegian-rooted Tomigaya roaster that's one of Tokyo's third-wave anchors), and the kissaten menu — cream soda, pudding à la mode, thick-cut toast — is executed faithfully rather than ironically.
For visitors, it's the rare art-world destination that's also just a genuinely pleasant cafe. You don't need to know Murakami's work to enjoy the room, but if you do, the density of references rewards a slow visit. It also anchors a Nakano Broadway trip — the complex is overwhelming, and a Zingaro coffee is the natural rest stop in the middle of it.
How to Experience It
Enter Nakano Broadway from JR Nakano Station's north exit (five minutes via the Sun Mall covered arcade), go to the 2nd floor, and follow signs for Zingaro — the Kaikai Kiki spaces cluster together on that floor. The cafe is small; expect a short wait on weekends, especially early afternoon when Broadway foot traffic peaks.
Open 12:00 to 19:00, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays (with occasional irregular closures — the Kaikai Kiki Instagram is the reliable source if you're making a special trip). Weekday afternoons are the calmest window for actually sitting and taking in the room.
Order at the counter, kissaten-style. The menu is short and classic; a picture menu helps with language. If a gaming-console seat is free and you want it, ask — they're first-come and part of the experience.
What to Order
A cream soda (melon-green, with ice cream and a cherry) is the canonical kissaten order and the most photogenic in this particular room. Pair with the pudding à la mode or thick-cut buttered toast for the full Showa-cafe set. The coffee, being Fuglen-sourced, is genuinely good — order it black if you want to taste the bean rather than the nostalgia.
Seasonal and Murakami-themed limited items rotate periodically (his flower motifs show up on latte art and plating). If you're a fan of his work, check what's currently limited; if not, the standard cream soda + coffee is the complete experience.
Plan your visit
| Area | Nakano |
|---|---|
| Category | Café & Coffee |
| Price range | ¥700-1500 |
| Hours | 12:00-19:00 (LO 18:30) |
| Closed | 火曜・水曜（不定休あり） |
| Access | JR中野駅北口から徒歩5分・中野ブロードウェイ2階・中野5-52-15 |
| Reservations | Walk-in only — small room, weekend queues |
| English menu | ⚠ Limited Limited — picture menu; staff help with English |
| English support | Limited English; ordering is straightforward |
| Last verified | 2026-05-16 |
Nearby Experiences
You're inside Nakano Broadway — budget at least an hour for the complex itself (Mandarake's dozens of specialty shops, vintage figure stores, the basement food stalls famous for an enormous soft-serve). The retro coffee scene continues elsewhere in Broadway with smaller Showa kissaten worth comparing.
Nakano Station is five minutes west by the Sun Mall arcade — from there it's a four-minute train ride to Shinjuku, making Zingaro an easy add-on to a Shinjuku day. The contrast between Murakami's polished homage and a genuinely worn old kissaten elsewhere in Tokyo is the most interesting way to think about what the room is doing.