While Japanese cuisine is both delicious and one of the healthiest diets in the world, sometimes you just crave that crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside texture of freshly baked bread. Tokyo has no shortage of bakeries, but not all of them offer Western-style baked goods (in Japan, bread tends to be of the soft and white variety). If you are looking for more variety like authentic French baguettes and croissants or truly German rye bread and pretzels, look no further.
Frau Krumm
If you are looking for delicious baked goods with a story behind them, visit Frau Krumm in Ebisu. The owner Kimiko Date is a retired professional tennis player, who at her prime placed fourth best in the world! Formerly married to a German race driver, she fell in love with German bread during her time touring Europe. Two of her most authentic bestsellers are bretzeln (pretzels) and laugencroissants (pretzel croissants). She also has loaves made from organic flour, delicious coffee, and pastries on offer.
Website: http://www.fraukrumm.com/
Hours: 07:30–18:00
Address: 1-16-20 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5-minute walk from Ebisu Station
La Boutique de Joël Robuchon
If patisserie is more your thing, head to the other side of Ebisu Station to this bakery owned by Michelin-star chef Joël Robuchon. The pastries and cakes are a feast for the eyes and the prices are, despite his claim to fame, still reasonable with most items falling in the JPY 200–1,000 range. The bakery is conveniently located in Ebisu Garden Place complex, which is connected to Ebisu Station.
Website: https://www.joel-robuchon.com/en/caves-boutiques-tokyo.php
Hours: 09:30-20:00
Address: 1-13-1 Mita, Meguro, Tokyo
Access: 5 minutes walk from Ebisu Station
Levain Bakery
If you are looking for rustic and healthy bread, head over to Yoyogi Koen Station. The Japanese baker couple that runs Levain has been specialising in artisanal breads since the 1980s. They are inspired by the baking traditions of Switzerland and alpine France. All their baked goods are made with organic flour, high in wholegrains, and leavened with wild yeast. Besides amazing bread, their croissants alone are already worth the trip.
Website: http://levain317.jugem.jp/ (Japanese-only blog)
Hours: 08:00–19:30 (Closed Mondays)
Address: 2-43-13 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5-minutes from Yoyogi-Koen Station
Bricolage
Conveniently located close to Roppongi Hills, this bakery immediately convinces with its sourdough. No flutes or baguettes, but properly sized loaves of bread that will satisfy you with their crunchy crust enveloping a fluffy inside. Besides incredibly wholesome and satisfying bread, customer favourites include the pain au chocolat and rolls, which come in ever-changing varieties and flavours.
Website: https://bricolagebread.com/
Hours: 08:00–21:00 (Closed Mondays)
Address: Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Terrace, Roppongi 6-15-1, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5-minute walk from Roppongi Station
Tokyo Freundlieb
The Tokyo branch of the famous Kobe-based bakery is definitely worth a visit just as much as the original. Specialising in German bread, cakes and cookies, Freundlieb prides itself in delivering authentic German baked goods. Popular with locals and expats alike, their cookie sets make great gifts and is the place to go if you want to by stollen (a fruit cake–esque Christmas bread) for the holidays.
Website: http://freundlieb.web.fc2.com/
Hours: 10:00–19:00 | Sundays and holidays 10:00-18:00
Address: 5-1-23 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access: 3-minute walk from Hiroo Station
By Mareike Dornhege
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