Would you not visit a bakery even if you come to Japan for tourism?
There are so many things I’d love for you to try if you come to Japan. As a Japanese person, I take great pride in our food culture, so it makes me very happy to see tourists from overseas enjoying Japanese cuisine with smiles on their faces, whether it’s sushi, tempura, okonomiyaki, or other dishes.
The other day, I visited the Shinjuku branch of a famous bakery in Japan. It’s a bakery well-known among the Japanese, and there was a long queue at the bakery’s adjoining restaurant.
However, to my surprise, despite being located near Shinjuku Station, Japan’s busiest terminal, I didn’t see a single foreigner among the customers.
Lately, Japan has seen a significant influx of tourists from overseas, and walking around the major stations in Tokyo, you often hear more foreign languages than Japanese, indicating the presence of many visitors from abroad. Yet, it seems few make their way to highly-regarded bakeries in Japan.
In this article, I want to share with you the allure of Japanese bakeries ☺️
I went to the restaurant of a bakery I highly recommend visiting, Bakery Sawamura(ベーカリー沢村).
Bakery Sawamura is a healthy and delicious bakery known for its bread making with natural ingredients, with its main store located in Karuizawa, Japan.
This time I visited their store adjacent to Shinjuku Station. Across from where the bread is sold, there is a restaurant where you can enjoy Bakery Sawamura’s bread all-you-can-eat. (The all-you-can-eat is available only for lunch. During dinner time, you can enjoy bread and alcohol.)
Despite it being a weekday, there was a long line for lunch. On weekends and holidays, it’s normal to wait for more than an hour.
I tried the all-you-can-eat bread lunch at Bakery Sawamura.
I visited Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura located in Shinjuku. It was around lunchtime, but since it was a weekday, I was able to be seated after waiting for about 30 minutes!
The restaurant also has counter seats, and there were many women enjoying lunch by themselves besides me. It seems you can even order wine during the day. How wonderful!
It appears that the all-you-can-eat bread is only available when you order certain dishes. I ordered the “Crab and Green Leaf Cannelloni,” a dish not commonly heard of in Japan, which was exciting. The price was 1,800 yen, including a salad and unlimited bread.
Shortly after ordering, a basket filled with a salad and three types of warm bread arrived. Olive oil, salt, and butter were placed on the table, allowing you to season them to your liking. Each bread was moist, fluffy, and the brown bread was particularly hearty and delicious!
The main dish, “Crab and Greens Cannelloni,” also arrived. Pairing the cannelloni’s cheese with the bread made for a truly blissful experience.
As I was indulging in all the delicious bread and dishes, the basket of bread became empty. At that moment, the waitress approached and asked if I would like a refill of bread. It seems you can’t choose the type of bread for refills, but it’s delightful that they bring a different kind of bread each time you ask for more.
I wish I had a bigger stomach! I was able to enjoy an incredible amount of delicious bread to my heart’s content!
The characteristics of Japanese bread
Japanese bread is globally recognized for its unique development, diversity, and high quality. Here are some aspects that highlight the excellence of Japanese bread compared to the rest of the world:
Meticulous Technique and Quality Pursuit
– Japanese bakers are known for their exceptional skills and attention to detail, resulting in high-quality bread with characteristics like a crispy exterior and fluffy interior, and dough with uniform, fine bubbles.
Unique Evolution and Diversity
– In Japan, while traditional Western bread recipes are adopted, they are also uniquely modified to create original Japanese bread such as curry bread, melon bread, and anpan. There are also seasonal and regional specialities.
Incorporation of Japanese Ingredients
– Breads utilizing Japanese ingredients like matcha, azuki beans, and black sesame are uniquely Japanese. These breads merge the traditional flavors of Japan with the appealing qualities of bread.
Integration with Cafe Culture
– The popularity of cafes and bakery cafes that serve bread in Japan has established a culture of enjoying bread in stylish settings. There is also a developed culture of pairing bread with coffee or tea.
High Hygiene Standards
– Japan’s strict food hygiene standards ensure the production of safe bread in clean environments. This reliability contributes to its high domestic and international reputation.
Innovation and Experimental Spirit
– Japanese bakeries are proactive in experimenting with new ingredients and baking techniques, continuously introducing new flavors and styles to the market. This approach satisfies the diverse needs of consumers with an extensive product lineup.
These characteristics elevate Japanese bread beyond mere food, valuing it as part of culture and art. The excellence of Japanese bread, recognized globally, stems from a dedication to quality, originality, and a deep respect for culinary arts.
Japanese Bakerys You Must Visit
Here are some must-visit bakeries in Japan, each with its unique approach to incorporating Japanese culinary culture into their bread-making.
1. Bakery Sawamura
– Location:Mainly in Tokyo and Kanagawa, with the main store in Karuizawa.
– Features: Known for its commitment to natural ingredients, Bakery Sawamura offers healthy and delicious breads in a European style. Some locations also feature a restaurant where unlimited bread can be enjoyed (lunchtime only), and bread and alcohol during dinner time.
2. CENTRE THE BAKERY
– Location: Ginza, Tokyo.
– Features: Famous for its “once in a lifetime bread,” this bakery focuses on craftsmanship and ingredients to produce popular loaves that are moist and delicious, whether eaten as is or toasted.
3. Kimuraya Sohonten
– Location: Ginza, Tokyo
– Features: Established during the Ansei era (1854–1860), Kimuraya Sohonten is considered Japan’s first bakery. It’s particularly famous for “anpan,” a bread filled with sweet red bean paste, symbolizing a unique aspect of Japanese bread culture.
4. Ginza Nishikawa
– Location:Ginza, Tokyo
– Features: Ginza Nishikawa is known for its focus on water quality and traditional Japanese bread-making techniques to create bread that’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Their bread is equally delightful plain or toasted.
5. Bread, Espresso &
– Location: Omotesando, Tokyo, and others
– Features: Offers original breads and sweets using Japanese ingredients. For example, breads and sweets made with matcha, black beans, and other traditional Japanese ingredients represent a delicious fusion of Japanese culture and modern baking.
6. Harvest no Oka
– Location:Hyogo Prefecture
– Features:Utilizes local agricultural products for baking, expressing the flavors of Japan’s seasons through bread. Popular items include bread made with Japanese ingredients and jams made from local fresh fruits.
7. Kaze to Tsuchi
– Location: Kyoto
– Features: Offers bread that incorporates traditional Kyoto ingredients and flavors. Breads made with matcha, black beans, chestnuts, and other Kyoto-specific ingredients allow visitors to experience Japan’s seasons and regional culture.
These bakeries showcase the uniqueness of Japanese bread-making, combining traditional flavors and regional characteristics into their offerings. They’re well worth a visit for anyone wanting to explore the depth of Japan’s food culture through bread.
Closing message
When you visit Japan, there are many bakeries that continue to experiment and create wonderful breads incorporating Japanese food culture and techniques. Be sure to stop by any bakery you come across during your stay!
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