Hello, this is an overachieving potato from the Okazu Discord, and I’m here to talk about my recent visit to Atelier Lilium, a book cafe in Ikebukuro.
First off, I have a fun anecdote regarding the place. I had a hard time finding the venue at first, but a person wearing a Japan football jersey directed me to the place.
It was nice of them to help out, considering I was entering random open buildings based on the pin in Google Maps. Turns out, it was underground at a hole in the wall.
I went down the steps to the first basement to find the cafe. Inside, the space is surprisingly big and very chill, featuring plenty of open seating with cafe tables and cozy chairs, plus much-needed air conditioning.
I suspect, though, that I caught the cafe at a lull, given it was 2:00 pm when I arrived.
In any case, I had an idea on what to expect beforehand. A reddit thread had explained 
the process, namely that you have to register on their website prior to visiting. This is to generate a QR Code to be scanned upon entry. This generates a QR code that gets scanned upon entry. They do accept walk-ins, but it’s best to keep the registration in mind. Also, it’s worth noting that they are completely cashless.
As for the cafe itself, getting in and understanding the rules were much easier than actually finding the place. There were instructions in English at the front desk, and the staff guided me through the whole process. Their guide neatly details how browsing works: you pick up a bag at the front counter, fill it with the books you want to read, and simply return the bag with the books inside when it’s time to check out.
The cafe featured a small exhibit showcasing the art of Auri Hirao, creator of If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It To The Budokan, I Would Die. The display featured her colored illustrations, alongside some sketches and black-and-white images set up right by the counter seats. The main draw of the cafe, though, is the sheer number of books inside. They have selections from all sorts of publishers, including Ichijinsha, Kodansha, Kadokawa, and more. They even have older books, light novels, and copies of Galette!
As for what I did, I spent about an hour at the cafe relaxing and reading muromaki’s JK-chan and Tomodachi no Okan (JKとともだちのオカン), about a high school girl who falls for her male classmate’s mother, cola float in hand. I took advantage of their amenities, such as the free WiFi and charging stations. If I had to describe the atmosphere, it was incredibly quiet and peaceful. I was able to fully relax before I had to leave for my next stop. I would have loved to stay longer, but I had other things on my itinerary.
I really enjoyed my time at Atelier Lilium. If I were to make any suggestions for them, it would be to include an even larger selection of yuri, perhaps even incorporating yuri from other countries. I remember remarking when I saw their selection that if this wasn’t All The Yuri, it certainly was a massive chunk of it. I highly recommend visiting, even for a short while, just to experience reading yuri while enjoying the other features, like the art exhibits. For anyone planning a visit, it’s worth noting that Atelier Lilium is incredibly close to Otome Road. It makes for a perfect rest stop if you are spending the day shopping at the nearby animate Ikebukuro, azone Ikebukuro, and other surrounding hobby shops. Like ANCHOR rainbow port tokyo in Shinjuku, this is a permanent fixture.
I’m still not used to rating cafes, but here we go:
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Atmosphere: 9 – Very quiet, peaceful, and perfectly air-conditioned. The ideal reading environment.
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Library/Selection: 8 – A massive chunk of yuri from major publishers and even some older titles and Galette.
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Amenities: 9 – Free WiFi, charging stations, and a seamless cashless system. Plus, a lovely Auri Hirao exhibit.
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Service: 9 – English instructions at the front desk and incredibly helpful staff who guided me through the entry process.
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Yuri: 9 – It might not be “All The Yuri,” but it’s pretty darn close.
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Overall: 8.5 – A highly recommended permanent fixture for anyone looking to relax and read a good manga with a cola float.
We spent the last couple of days running from one section of town to another. This was a manhole cover not too far from the Animate main store. I guess Ikebukuro has it’s own mascots now.
It has been nearly 5 years since we’ve been at Tokyo Big Sight. It was a bit moving to be back.
We’ve made it safely back to Tokyo for the first time in 4 years. I’d say about 35-40% of folks are masked and of course we are, but I would feel better if it was more. Folks, please be considerate of yourself, your family and disabled and ill folks – wear a mask around other people. It will save lives.
There is now a Melonbooks in my part of town, so I nabbed inori-sensei’s 
