I have worked with so many international people who arrive in Japan and cannot believe how much yummy bread and pastries there are on offer.
It’s not all just rice, like they originally imagined there would be!
Here are my favourite carb-y caves.
For right after a play or a walk in Shinjuku Chuo Park ( details in my Shinjuku with kids post) , I highly recommend breakfast, a snack or lunch at the ‘More Than’ Bakery. It is a part of ‘The Knot’ Hotel in Nishi-Shinjuku.
It is located literally right on the edge of the park.
MORE THAN, BAKERY
新宿区西新宿4-31-1
4-31-1 NISHI-SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU
OPEN 8AM – 6PM
THE KNOT SHINJUKU WEBSITE
800 DEGREES PIZZERIA, SHINJUKU
If you’re close to Shinjuku station at lunchtime I recommend 800 Degrees Pizzeria. It’s bright and light and casual and easy. I can imagine it is manic on the weekend so it’s probably best to be waiting at the door when it opens at 11am for lunch.
It’s possible to choose your own toppings or one of the combinations listed on the menu.
GROUND FLOOR, NEWOMAN DEPARTMENT STORE
5 -24-55 SENDAGAYA, SHIBUYA
渋谷区千駄ヶ谷5-24-55
OPEN: 11am-11pm
800 DEGREES PIZZERIA
ANDERSEN BAKERY & UENO3153, UENO
Ueno is most well-known for its zoo, but if you’ve been there, you’d definitely know that !
Everywhere is covered with animal pictures and merchandise – even more so this year as a new baby panda was just born at the Ueno Zoo! This is the place to grab a panda shaped cupcake or bakery item – that’s for sure.
To begin your tour of panda and zoo animal-shaped food, I’d start inside Ueno Station.
Inside of the station in the connected department store, Atre West, is Andersen Bakery. Lots of panda shaped goodness here (as well as coffee, sandwiches and juice.) There are lots of tables if you want to eat inside the store.
ANDERSEN BAKERY, UENO
台東区上野7-1-1 アトレ上野
ATRE UENO DEPARTMENT STORE, 7-1-1 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 7:30AM -10PM
WEBSITE
And then, across the road from the station is the Ueno3153 complex. The ground floor has a small food corner with more options for bakery goods, sweets and cupcakes. Everything here is panda and zoo animal themed too!
There is also a cute seating area inside the food court.
UENO3153
台東区上野公園1-57 UENO3153 1F
GROUND FLOOR, UENO3153 COMPLEX, 1-57 UENOKOEN, TAITO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 7AM-11PM
BAKERY & TABLE, HAKONE
Here is my suggested day trip to Hakone and Lake Asai. For lunch, I highly recommend lunch at a restaurant called Bakery & Table. The first floor is a bakery if you prefer a light lunch and the second floor is a coffee shop kind of thing. The place we like to eat at most is the 3rd floor as it is a proper restaurant with a lovely view. They serve club sandwiches, curries, quiches and soups. They also do a lovely kids plate. My favourites here are the sweet potato fries and the quiche is so good. You may also want to just even watch them make their gigantic King Sandwich. Huge!!
We often call ahead when we are a few minutes away if we have a large group. The staff are used to tourists and speak English. This restaurant also has highchairs for children.
This is the view from outside Bakery & Table.
神奈川県足柄下郡箱根町元箱根字御殿9-1
9-1 GOTEN, MOTOHAKONE, ASHIGARASHIMO DISTRICT, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
OPEN: EVERYDAY
BAKERY HOURS: 10AM-5PM
CAFE HOURS: 8:30AM-5PM
3F RESTAURANT HOURS: 11AM-6PM (ALSO OPEN FOR BREAKFAST ON WEEKENDS 9AM-11AM)
WEBSITE
And for more of just a general bakery tip…
This, below is called ” Curry Pan” ( curry bread) and it’s not at all spicy as it is made with Japanese style curry ( which I liken more to a curry casserole.) Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to find curry pan that is vegetarian in Japan ( if you find some, please send me a message and let me know?)
You can find curry pan in most Japanese style bakeries and also the bakery section of most supermarkets.
