Eight Japanese Breads to Try in Tokyo

As a French woman, I adore bread. Back in my home country, I eat bread every day and a piece of freshly baked baguette with butter is one of my favorite snacks.

In Japan, however, bread is not a staple but something eaten occasionally, and there are many kinds of breads you can only find in Japan like melon pan, curry bread and chocolate cornet. Here are eight different Japanese breads to try when you are in Tokyo!

A modern Japanese bakery set-up. You can select what you would like yourself and pay at the counter.

History of Bakeries in Japan

Bread was first introduced to Japan in the 16^th century by Portuguese missionaries and traders. However, isolationist policies stopped bread from becoming popular throughout the country until the 19th century, as with many portable foods like onigiri, bread became a popular meal for troops thanks to its practicality and long shelf life.

Thick cut shokupan (Japanese milk bread) at a café in Tokyo.

This lead to Japan's very first bakery, Kimuraya, opening in Ginza in 1874. Kimuraya is famous for creating, anpan, a small bun filled with anko (sweet red bean paste). Anpan is one of the most popular styles of Japanese bread and Kimuraya still operates in Ginza today.

After the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Japan began to embrace bread more and more, and locals were introduced to danishes, pastries, and French-style bread with a harder, crispier crust.

Japanese Bread in Tokyo: Serious Rivals for French Bakers

Japan takes bread seriously. There are 10,000+ bakeries nationwide, and in 2017 baker Mei Narusawa became the first woman and first non-French winner of France’s national “Best Baguette” competition. Japan also won third place at the Bakery World Cup in 2024.

Totoro-shaped cream puff at a bakery in Tokyo.

While you’ll spot big French bakery chains in Tokyo like PAUL, Maison Kayser, and Landemaine, you will also find homegrown chains like Vie de France and plenty of independent shops combining French, Japanese, and even American baking styles, creating a truly unique fusion you can't find anywhere else. Here are the top eight must-try breads in Tokyo:

Kare Pan (Curry Bread)

Curry Bread, or Kare Pan in Japanese, is a classic savory snack that can be found anywhere from convenience stores to supermarkets, and of course, bakeries.

Freshly baked curry bread in Togoshi Ginza.

Curry bread is made by filling fluffy bread with rich and sweet Japanese-style curry, coating it in crispy panko breadcrumbs, and then deep frying the entire creation. A freshly baked curry bread is something you need to try once (or more) on your Tokyo trip.

Mentai Furansu (Spicy cod roe topped baguette)

Despite the French name, this bread is very Japanese: a baguette spread with a savory mix of mentaiko (spicy cod roe), butter, garlic, and a touch of mayo, then baked until fragrant. The result is salty, briny, a little spicy, and all around delicious.

Shio Pan (Salt Bread)

Shio pan, or salt bread, is one of my favorite types of Japanese bread, and can be found at almost every Japanese-style bakery. Shio pan is a small, crescent or circular-shaped roll wrapped around a piece of butter.

As it bakes, the butter melts and creates a lightly crisp, buttery bottom with a soft, chewy interior.

A sprinkle of salt on top keeps it from feeling too heavy.

Edamame Cheese Bread

Edamame are often added to all kinds of savory breads at Japanese bakeries. Edamame Cheese Bread is by far the most popular iteration, with edamame and cheese mixed throughout the dough for pops of freshness and savoriness.

Melon Pan

One of the most well known Japanese breads, the name melon pan doesn't come from the flavor but from the bread's round shape and crackly crust. The inside of melon pan is light and fluffy while the outside is often coated in sweet sugar crystals making it the perfect sweet treat.

I went to Kyuei Melon Pan, in Tokyo's Tsukishima neighborhood to try their specialty melon pan. As soon as I received my freshly baked melon pan, I couldn't resist eating it on the spot!

The exterior was perfectly crunchy and the center was buttery, sweet, and soft. I didn't know melon pan could be this delicious!

Anpan

Anpan is a soft roll filled with sweet red bean paste (anko). It was created in the Meiji era by former samurai Kimura Yasubei at his Ginza bakery, Kimuraya, where it remains their signature item to this day.

Just a glimpse of the anpan selection at Kimuraya.

I visited Kimuraya to try the original anpan, and see if it lived up to its reputation of being one of Tokyo's most iconic breads.

I bought an assortment featuring flavors like cherry blossom and zunda (sweet edamame paste). The cherry blossom version stood out for its gentle saltiness, which set it apart from the others. If you are looking for a taste of history, Kimuraya is the place to go.

Anko Butter Sandwich

In my opinion, the Anko Butter Sandwich is the better, more evolved version of anpan. Red bean paste and a cold piece of butter are tucked into a small baguette or soft milk-bread roll to create an addictively sweet and salty contrast that will keep you coming back for more. If you love bread and butter, you have to give the Anko-Butter Sandwhich a try.

Chocolate Cornet

Chocolate cornets might ring a bell for anime fans or Cooking Mama players. It’s a cone-shaped brioche filled with custard. You’ll see other flavors like custard and strawberry around, but chocolate is by far the most popular.

At THE STANDARD BAKERS by Shibuya's Hachiko Square, their chocolate cornet is nicknamed the “Hachicornet” and comes with a little dog face drawn in chocolate. It’s adorable, so had to try it. I usually prefer the flavor of dark chocolate, but the milk chocolate custard here is nostalgic and comforting - just right for its cute look.

Final Thoughts

It would be easy to skip Tokyo's bakeries, but these Japanese breads were totally unlike anything I've ever eaten in France. If you’re after a quick breakfast or snack, Japanese bakeries are a fantastic alternative to convenience stores especially if you’re exploring Tokyo for the first time.

Looking to Try Japanese Bread for Yourself?

Curious about Japanese bread? Join our Tokyo Street Food Tour in Togoshi Ginza. You’ll sample seven classic Japanese street foods and step inside a real neighborhood bakery, with our guides walking you through how to order and what to look for.