I came here looking for coffee to bring on the train! Is this a bookstore? I'll have a large cafe au lait, please. I hesitated about adding syrup, but decided to try it without. Thanks to the milk, I didn't miss the syrup at all. The ice didn't melt easily and it was delicious until the end.

Inside Tokyo Station, near the entrance to the Tohoku and Hokuriku Shinkansen, there is a coffee stand where you can buy Sarutahiko Coffee. It used to be paired with a miscellaneous goods store, but now it's combined with a bookstore. In the morning, they used to have granola as well. I always find myself stopping by to buy Sarutahiko Coffee before boarding the Shinkansen, but sometimes I struggle to locate it in Tokyo Station and end up giving up when it's time to board. It's a small shop that can be hard to find if you're not familiar with Tokyo Station. This time, I managed to find it and tried the summer limited edition coffee jelly. You can enjoy the coffee jelly on its own or add milk to make it a drink, so this time I had it with milk! It's a great shop to have as a travel companion.

Inside Tokyo Station at the first floor near the Shinkansen south transfer gate, the unexpectedly hidden gem cafe Standby Tokyo has transformed into an Ekimae bookstore called BOOK COMPASS. They sell Sarutahiko Coffee, Muchachaen Mikan Juice, sandwiches, and more. They also serve the same Sarutahiko Coffee that Standby Coffee used to offer. The drink menu is reasonably priced for Tokyo Station. I tried the Original Blend for 300 yen. It was a refreshing and smooth coffee without any bitterness. It was the Sarutahiko Coffee Original Blend enjoyed in front of the Shinkansen entrance. There is also a BOOK COMPASS Cafe Ekimae Tokyo store inside Marunouchi.

Near the platform of the Chuo Line at Tokyo Station, I found a coffee mark on a paper cup, and when I entered, I discovered a coffee with a familiar name. Since I had some time for a transfer, I bought a hot coffee and an iced cafe au lait. They also had coffee beans available, so I purchased the STANDBY TOKYO ORIGINAL BLEND beans 200g that they use in the shop. The iced cafe au lait had milk in it, making it mild and easy to drink. My parents' hot coffee, on the other hand, remained black as we forgot to ask for milk and sugar. I tried the hot coffee as well, and it was undeniably delicious. Even though my father doesn't like black coffee, he said, "This is a tasty coffee. It would be even better with milk and sugar." I brewed the coffee beans I bought, and it had a delicious taste with richness and a hint of bitterness. Whether black or with milk, both were enjoyable. It was a good decision to buy the beans. After googling later, I found out that there is a shop near Sarusawa Pond in Nara, so I plan to visit there.

Before transferring to the local line, I decided to buy a drink. I remembered seeing a sign for Sarutahiko Coffee, so I headed to BOOK COMPASS located in front of the Shinkansen ticket gates (inside the station). It seems to be a bookstore operated by TUTAYA and JR East Japan (presumably). They also sell sandwiches, but this time I only got a drink - the original blend (hot) from the options of Americano and Cafe au Lait. I chose the original blend in a well-insulated paper cup. It had a strong bitterness and a clear richness to the blend. Convenient and satisfying, I think BOOK COMPASS is a good choice.

Before getting on the Shinkansen, I thought it was a bookstore, but then I noticed a shop that specializes in takeout and also sells coffee called "BOOK COMPASS Tokyo Chuo store." They serve Sarutahiko Coffee. I don't really know much about the difference in coffee, but I ended up ordering a hot short for 300 yen. I kind of wanted to glance at the bookstore, but somehow ended up in front of the register checking the menu and placed my order. I thought maybe getting a sandwich set would have been better... While holding my coffee and pulling my luggage, I realized I didn't have enough hands... I couldn't even take the time to browse through the new books and paperbacks on the bookshelves. I moved to a nearby waiting room and sat down. The coffee was quite hot, but the aroma was nice. I'm not a coffee expert, but I think it has a balanced flavor without being too bitter or acidic. It doesn't cool down easily... I might not be able to finish it all... It's already time for the train I'm supposed to board to arrive... In less than 5 minutes, I headed to the platform with my coffee... The Shinkansen departed at exactly 9:00. I enjoyed the ride until we passed Odawara. It felt more relaxed than usual at the beginning of the journey. Oh, I just remembered that you can't buy anything onboard until after passing Shin-Yokohama... This pattern might be nice... I usually just bring my own drinks. I might stop by a bookstore again on the way back... Oh, but I'll probably have to transfer at Shinagawa on the way back... I'll have another chance at the next departure...