Studio Cafe MARU in Shin-Okubo is a cute Korean café and self-photo studio

Visit Studio Cafe MARU in Tokyo’s Koreatown for lunchbox cakes, cloud smoothies, colourful Korean desserts and a self-photo studio experience just minutes from Shin-Okubo Station.

Written by Japan Index | Monday 18 May 2026

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Studio Cafe MARU is one of Shin-Okubo’s most photogenic café stops, combining a Korean-style dessert café with a self-photo studio. Located inside SeoulTown, close to Shin-Okubo Station, it is a good choice for anyone exploring Tokyo’s Koreatown and looking for something more interactive than a regular coffee break.

The concept is simple: enjoy cute Korean sweets and drinks, or book time in the self-photo studio and take photos with friends, your partner or family using Korean-style props. SeoulTown describes Studio Cafe MARU as a café attached to a popular Korean-style self-photo studio, where visitors can use stylish props and enjoy private photo time before relaxing with desserts and drinks.

Studio Cafe MARU café review

The signature item at Studio Cafe MARU is the Toshirak Cake, also known as a Korean lunchbox cake. These small pastel-coloured cakes come packed in takeaway-style lunchbox containers and are one of the café’s most popular menu items. SeoulTown notes that they are limited in quantity, so arriving early or booking in advance is recommended.

The drinks are just as photo-friendly. Menu highlights include Kurum Smoothies, which are yogurt-based drinks designed to look like floating clouds, plus colourful fruit ade drinks, coffee and desserts. It is the kind of café that works well for Instagram photos, casual dates, group hangouts or a sweet stop while exploring Shin-Okubo.

Studio Cafe MARU self-photo studio

What makes Studio Cafe MARU stand out is its self-photo studio. Visitors can choose between monochrome and colour photography, with different room options including white background, grey background, pink curtain and event room settings. The studio also provides a dressing area for touch-ups, plus free-to-use Korean-style props such as headbands, sunglasses and flower bouquets.

The standard photo session is listed as 15 minutes, priced at ¥1,500 per person, or ¥1,000 for junior high and high school students. The event room is listed at ¥1,500 per person for one hour.

Studio Cafe MARU details

Café: Studio Cafe MARU

Type: Korean café / dessert café / self-photo studio

Best for: Korean sweets, lunchbox cakes, cute drinks, self-photo sessions, couples, friends and Shin-Okubo café hopping

Address: SeoulTown 3F, 2-2-7 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Nearest station: Shin-Okubo Station

Access: Around one minute on foot from Shin-Okubo Station

Phone: 03-6380-2959

Budget: Around ¥1,000–¥1,999

Reservations: Tabelog lists café reservations as unavailable, while SeoulTown recommends early arrival or advance booking for limited cakes.

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Studio Cafe MARU opening hours

SeoulTown lists Studio Cafe MARU as open from 11am to 10pm on weekdays, weekends and holidays. Tabelog currently lists opening hours as 11am to 9pm and notes that hours may change, so it is best to check the café’s Instagram before visiting.

If you are planning a Shin-Okubo day out, Studio Cafe MARU is an easy place to add to your route. Come for the lunchbox cakes and Korean-style drinks, or make it a full experience by booking a self-photo session before exploring the rest of SeoulTown and the surrounding Koreatown streets.