As I put my hand on the heavy doorknob, the door slid open.

"Welcome back, my lady."

An elegant space with sparkling chandeliers in the basement of Ikebukuro

About a 10-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station. In a corner of the business district of Higashi-Ikebukuro, you will find the entrance to a quiet mansion. Swallowtail Butler Cafe is where ladies who are tired from their busy daily lives "come home."

This tea salon, where many servants greet me, was built by the owner of the mansion for me, a busy young lady. The interior, which incorporates the style of the British Victorian era, when afternoon tea culture flourished, gives off an elegant yet glamorous impression.

The two chandeliers, adorned with sparkling Swarovski crystals, were custom-made and imported from overseas. "They were so big that they couldn't fit through the entrance, so we had to take them apart, carry them in, and reassemble them," Iori explained with a smile.

"There are many seats along the walls for the young ladies to spend time by themselves. They spend their time however they like, reading, working on puzzles, or knitting depending on the season." Of course, many of them also bring friends home with them. The tea salon is always filled with classical music and the joyous voices of the young ladies, creating a festive atmosphere.

Enjoy delicious scones that recreate the authentic British taste with tea.

Many young ladies order the three-tiered "Anna Maria" afternoon tea set, which changes slightly each month and includes seasonal scones and jams.

"My recommendation is the combination of scones with jam and clotted cream. It's the classic combination known as 'cream tea.'"

The scones served at the tea salon are an original recipe that reflects the mansion's particular attention to detail. "The head of the family asked me to go and see authentic scones in England, so I spent about a week eating afternoon teas all over the place. I then had the pastry chef recreate the scones that I liked best," says Iori.

The scones are made small so that the ladies can enjoy two different flavors, and they melt in your mouth as you sip your tea. Iori smiles and says, "One time a lady came home from overseas and said, 'This is it!' It made me really happy."

There are always over 40 types of tea available to enjoy with meals. Many of the butlers are certified as tea instructors or tea advisors by the Japan Tea Association. They will listen to the lady's mood and preferences and recommend the perfect tea.

"We also have original black teas blended by qualified people. For example, we have a black tea called 'Audrey'. This black tea is blended to help young ladies maintain their beauty, just like the great actress Audrey Hepburn of the past."

The owner's penchant for authenticity extends to teacups as well. He has a collection of over 50 types of cups from famous brands, including Okura Touen, one of Japan's leading Western-style tableware manufacturers, as well as Meissen, Wedgwood, and Richard Ginori.

Everything is authentic. The pride of the tea salon beloved by the young ladies

There are many butlers working in tea salons, but the path to becoming able to look after a young lady is not an easy one. Starting with learning about dozens of types of tea and teacups, you need to master many things, such as how to brew tea and how to behave.

"I am attracted to the strong attention to detail that goes into this tea salon. Even if you are serving in formal attire, how much attention you can pay to each and every one of your gestures, and how much attention you can pay to the language you use and the content of your conversation. These are the things that I enjoy working here," says Iori.

"The master's desire for authenticity is evident in the food, tea, teacups and every corner of the salon. Everything is authentic - perhaps that's the reason why the salon has been loved by young ladies for so many years since it opened in 2006."

In recent years, the Japanese subculture scene has been increasingly coming and going. Yet perhaps what we continue to crave is a sense of unreality. The dignified manners of the butlers, the glittering interior, the sweets and tea prepared by the chefs -- here, a "real" tea salon was indeed found that fulfilled the unreality that the young lady was looking for.

"My dear, it's almost time for you to go."

Thus ending their brief tea time, the young ladies head out again to their daily lives.

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Butler Cafe Swallowtail
Address: Masakazu Building B1F, 3-12-12 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Access: 8 minutes walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line, 10 minutes walk from JR Ikebukuro Station
Official website: https://www.butlers-cafe.jp/
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/swallowtail_bc/ 
           https://x.com/swallowtail_bc 

*For details on business hours and holidays, please check the link above.
* Reservations must be made via the website above to visit.
*Photographing inside the tea salon and posting it on social media is prohibited, regardless of the purpose or subject. This article was written with permission.