DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
2025.10.03
A Craft Chocolate Experience from Tokyo
Nearest Station
Minimal Tomigaya is a craft chocolate specialty store from Tokyo. It offers chocolate bars and sweets in a "bean to bar" style, in which everything from the procurement of cacao beans to the manufacturing process is done in an integrated manner. It is also famous as a triumphant pioneer of the Japanese bean-to-bar scene. Inside the store, maps showing cacao production areas and colorful packages line the walls, making it a popular place not only to "eat" chocolate but also to "learn" and "experience" it.
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Minimal" is a store specializing in bean-to-bar chocolates made from cacao beans to chocolate bars. Inside the store, a wall resembling a chocolate bar and a map showing the cacao producing regions are displayed, and the entire space tells the story of the world of chocolate.
A 6-minute walk from Yoyogi-Koen Station, the Tomigaya Main Store stands out in the Okushibu area with its exposed concrete exterior.
A wall design inspired by chocolate bars.
A counter lined with jars of cacao beans offers visitors a casual, hands-on chocolate experience. Café service is also available.
The shop uses cacao beans as interior décor, reminding guests of chocolate’s origin.
The chocolate-making process is on display. These are raw cacao beans before roasting—their aroma and flavor vary by origin and harvest season.
Roasted cacao is ground into a paste. “Minimal” uses its own techniques to draw out aroma while minimizing bitterness.
The final stage is handcrafted by skilled artisans. This is the essence of Minimal's "Bean to Bar".
A design mock-up of a chocolate bar that symbolizes "Minimal". The detailed pattern is both easy to break and playful.
The appeal of "Minimal Tomigaya" is that customers can compare chocolates and experience the differences in taste of each cacao producing region. Cacao beans are purchased directly from more than 30 countries, including Peruvian beans with a distinctive acidity, Ugandan beans with a fruity aroma, and Ghanaian beans with a nutty richness, and are improved from the fermentation and drying stages in collaboration with the producers, and roasted in a way that suits each of them. At the store, the "Minimal Experience Set" (1,600 yen / limited to 15 servings per day) allows customers to enjoy a comparison of multiple single-origin chocolates. The staff will carefully explain the process, so there is no need to worry even if you do not have any expertise. Just like wine tasting, you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.
Sample over 50 types of chocolate at the counter, with staff providing in-depth explanations on origin and production methods.
A wall-mounted world map of cacao regions creates the feeling of a global chocolate journey.
The "FINE Series" includes flavors that have won awards at international competitions. These chocolate boards allow you to enjoy the flavor of cacao from each region, and are popular as gifts. Prices start at 1,690 yen.
Minimal Experience Set" 1,600 yen. You can experience the individuality of cacao, which differs from region to region, with a paired drink. Limited to 15 servings per day.
Flavors are broadly categorized as “Nutty,” “Fruity,” or “Savory,” and further divided into 14 nuanced flavor profiles.
“Minimal Tomigaya Main Store” also offers exclusive desserts that can only be enjoyed on-site. The summer-only “Peach Chocolate Shaved Ice” (1,750 yen / limited to 15 servings per day) combines rich cacao with the fresh juiciness of seasonal peaches. The “Bean to Bar Chocolate Parfait -CACAO JOURNEY-” (1,800 yen / limited to 10 servings per day) features multiple layers, each offering a distinct texture and flavor, showcasing cacao’s depth. The “Chocolatl” (740 yen) is a thick chocolate smoothie inspired by the traditional cacao drink of ancient Central America—reimagined in a modern form only “Minimal” could offer.
Chocolate Shaved Ice - Peach -" (1,750 yen) is a luxurious use of seasonal peaches. This summer-only menu item blends the richness of cacao with the freshness of the fruit. Limited to 15 servings per day.
Bean to Bar Chocolate Parfait -CACAO JOURNEY- (1,800 yen) is a condensed version of the charm of cacao. Enjoy the different tastes and textures in each layer. Limited to 10 servings per day.
Chocolatole, a rich iced chocolate smoothie (740 yen). This traditional drink spreads the aroma of cacao.
The information contained this article was correct as of October 03, 2025 (the time of publication)
