Best Breakfast in Tokyo: 3 Hidden Gems Worth Waking Up For

Tokyo is a city that truly comes alive at night, which makes finding a great breakfast spot more of a challenge than you would expect. Here are three of Tokyo's best breakfast spots to start your day of exploring.

Three Best Breakfast Spots in Tokyo

Sawamura Bakery and Restaurant Shinjuku

Tucked into the NEWoMan complex right next to Shinjuku Station, Sawamura is part upscale bakery, part casual bistro. Originally from Karuizawa, a mountain town known for its Western-style resorts, Sawamura brings a refined yet cozy atmosphere to one of Tokyo’s busiest hubs. The space is warm and stylish, with soft lighting, lots of wood accents, and the inviting aroma of fresh bread wafting through the air.

The entrance of Sawamura Bakery and Restaurant partially covered by green.

What makes it especially appealing in Tokyo’s late-start food scene is that it opens at 7:00 AM, making it one of the rare few places where you can get a proper early sit-down breakfast. Service is friendly and unhurried, which is ideal if you’re easing into the day or need a break from the city's hustle and bustle.

The Menu

Sawamura’s breakfast offerings are a satisfying mix of European classics and elevated comfort food. There is a morning plate that comes with eggs (scrambled or fried), sausage or bacon, salad, and a generous selection of their house-baked bread. The Eggs Benedict is served with a rich hollandaise and thick-cut ham, perfectly paired with their flaky croissants.

If you’re just after something light, there are a variety of pastries at the counter offering treats like buttery pain au chocolats, seasonal fruit tarts, and dense rye loaves you can take to-go or enjoy at their bakery seating area. The coffee is solid, and the juice bar offers fresh-squeezed options that are surprisingly rare in Tokyo mornings. Expect to spend: ¥1,500–¥2,500 per person for a full meal.

My Notes:

I enjoyed the morning plate, which boasted ten dishes to enjoy. The bread came straight from the bakery and still had a fresh-baked smell. The portion was large and filled me up. The coffee was also much larger than expected as most Japanese coffees are about half the size of the one I was served.

The cozy interior at Sawamura Bakery & Cafe is the perfect start to your day in Shinjuku.

The seating was comfortable and could accommodate large groups, an impressive feat for a location barely 30 seconds away from the train station entrance.

Despite the shop being quite busy, I was seated quickly and didn't feel rushed by the staff. I highly recommend Sawamura for those traveling in a group and wanting to explore Tokyo early in the morning with a full stomach!

White Glass Coffee Shibuya

Just a short walk from Shibuya Station, White Glass Coffee feels like a secret garden in the middle of the madness. Hidden behind the Cerulean Tower, the cafe is surrounded by greenery and outdoor seating, making it feel more like a Kyoto hideout than something you’d expect in urban Shibuya.

This is a local favorite for freelancers and creatives, thanks to its relaxing interior and generous power outlet situation. The vibe is minimal and natural, with soft jazz playing in the background and big windows that let the morning sun spill in. It opens at 8:00 AM, again, quite early by Tokyo cafe standards, making it a reliable spot for travelers trying to beat the rush or ease into the day before meetings.

The Menu

White Glass takes its coffee seriously, offering single-origin beans and pour-over options alongside your standard espresso drinks. The baristas are skilled and happy to recommend based on your taste.

Food-wise, their morning sets (available until 11 AM) are the star: think thick-cut toast with seasonal butter or jam, soft-boiled eggs, and small salad pairings.

For something more filling, go for the breakfast plate, which manages to be both comforting and fresh. Pastries are also excellent, especially the cinnamon rolls and banana bread, which pair beautifully with their signature cold brew or flat white. Expect to spend: ¥1,000–¥1,800 depending on how hungry you are.

My Notes

While I arrived early, 8:30 AM on a Wednesday, White Glass Coffee was already bustling with groups of people enjoying their breakfast. After grabbing a number ticket from an iPad set up front, I waited about 15 minutes to be seated. Once you set your things down, go up to the counter to order and receive a number that will be called when your order is ready.

The seating area at White Glass Coffee is modern yet cozy - perfect for working or relaxing.

After just a few minutes, I received my pastries and drinks. The peach herbal tea was smooth and not too sweet with a hint of fruit. The coffee was strong and exactly what I needed to start my day. I also enjoyed a coffee jelly panna cotta with figs and a pear cream cheese pie slice. All the elements were strong with a kick of flavor in each layer.

For my main dish, I ordered both the morning breakfast plate and a salad. Both were perfectly sized and more on the lighter side. I felt full but also ready to take on the day. I found everything I ate to be very Western-Japanese style. Not one or the other but a fusion of both. White Glass Coffee is a great place to experience Japanese-style food with a bit of familiarity.

flour + water Nakameguro

Opened by the same team behind Tokyo’s cult-favorite pizza spot PIZZA SLICE, flour+water in Nakameguro is a newer entry in the city’s breakfast scene, but it’s already gathering a loyal following. This airy corner cafe, just minutes from Nakameguro station, serves up California-style cafe fare with a Japanese twist, in a space that feels like a sun-drenched Venice Beach spot transported to Tokyo.

Open from 8:00 AM on weekdays, it’s one of the few stylish breakfast places in the area that doesn’t require a brunch crowd or weekend wait. It’s also dog-friendly and has sidewalk seating, perfect for people-watching or quiet mornings. The staff is bilingual, the vibe is laid-back, and it’s the kind of place where you can sit for an hour without anyone rushing you out the door.

The cozy interior at flour + water lets you have a relaxing start to your day.

The Menu

The name “flour+water” hints at the homemade quality of the food. Sourdough toasts, homemade granola bowls, and egg-centric plates headline the morning offerings. The breakfast sandwich, served on a chewy English muffin with egg, cheddar, and bacon, is a crowd-pleaser, and the buttermilk pancakes are a hit with both adults and kids alike.

There is a rotating selection of baked goods on display.

They also do excellent filter coffee and have a rotating selection of fresh juices and smoothies. If you’re in the mood for a second breakfast, their early pizza slices start coming out by late morning. Expect to spend: ¥1,200–¥2,000 depending on your order.

My Notes

Not normally a morning person myself, I opted for brunch this time. I ordered the set brunch menu that came with a soup, salad, or dessert, and four pieces of fresh bread.

All the different pastry options at flour + water. You'll want to eat them all!

The staff kindly brings over a platter of bread for you to choose from your seat. With so many tempting options, it was a difficult choice, but I chose the green onion and ham pastry, salt butter roll, black curry bun, and an early grey with white chocolate roll to finish.

I also chose the soup option, which was a potato soup with Hokkaido corn. The portion size was quite large, and I was brought three different teas throughout my meal. Luckily, I was given a small bag to take my leftovers to enjoy later.

Final Thoughts

These three spots are proof that if you dig just a little deeper, you’ll uncover some seriously great morning gems, each with its own vibe, flavors, and charm. Whether you’re craving buttery pastries in Shinjuku, chilled-out coffee culture in Shibuya, or modern-cool vibes in Nakameguro, Tokyo's breakfast scene is absolutely worth waking up for.

If you are looking for more ways to explore Tokyo in the morning, check out our Breakfast Ramen Tour, perfect for early birds.