The Best Bakeries in Japan

Hard-crusted loaves

Three bakeries sell hard-crusted breads. Pain des Philosophes, run by chef Tetsuya Enomoto, opened in 2017 on a residential street in Kagurazaka, Tokyo. Its Alpha baguette and ficelle d'aille draw lines that often run down the hill. Pain Stock in Fukuoka makes a mentaiko baguette as its signature item and offers samples before buying. Paris-h, on the ground floor of the Nakanoshima Daibiru building in Osaka, sells hard loaves and Danish pastries, and its mentaiko baguette and Tricolore are chosen at the counter.

Small bakeries in three cities

Koro Bakery is on Hondori shopping street near Onomichi Station and sells about 70 kinds of hard and sweet bread. Its dough ferments for a long time with homemade yeast, and a line often forms early in the morning. Toho Bakery in Mitaka is a short walk from Inokashira Park, and its salt butter roll is the most popular item. Flip up! in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, near Karasuma Oike Station, is open from morning to evening and makes bagels with chocolate and cheese fillings.

Bread shop with a café

Centre The Bakery in Ginza is a bread specialty shop with a cafe. It sells takeout loaves and serves toast sets. Diners toast their own slices at the table on tabletop toasters. The square loaf is the item most often bought.