The Café That Bans Phone Conversations
In Tokyo, Japan, Lion Cafe has been discouraging customers from talking and banning phone use for nearly 100 years.
Upon entering Lion Cafe, located in the bustling Shibuya district of Tokyo, the first thing that catches your eye is the seating arrangement. All chairs face one direction—toward two enormous speakers mounted on the wall—creating an experience akin to attending a concert. The custom-built sound system is mounted on the two-story high front wall of the café, with records neatly arranged on shelves and stands beneath the speakers. Customers can request specific classical pieces from the café’s collection.
At 98 years old, Lion Cafe is one of the few remaining meikyoku kissa, or classical music cafés, in the city. Naoya Yamadara, the 62-year-old manager, says it is a place where patrons can listen to music, enjoy a drink, and relax, but conversing is not encouraged, especially phone conversations, which are strictly prohibited.
Naoya’s father, Yanosuke, founded the café in 1926. During World War II, the café was destroyed but was rebuilt and expanded in the 1950s. The décor is inspired by European Baroque style. With stone walls on the exterior and dim lighting that highlights the dark wood and intricately carved reliefs inside, the café provided a unique form of entertainment when musical equipment was very expensive in Japan.
“I spent much of my childhood in the café,” Naoya recalls. His first job there was washing cups and plates while he was in junior high school.
Naoya notes that many of the café’s patrons first visited as students in Tokyo and continue to return decades later. Regulars say the café has remained unchanged for a long time, which adds to its comforting ambiance. The oldest regular is over 70 years old and has been visiting the café for more than 60 years.
Recently, Lion Cafe has gained popularity and attracted international attention. More visitors are coming from distant places like the U.S. and Europe. Naoya says that international travelers, having read about the café in travel guides, consider it a must-visit destination and thus make the effort to stop by.
