Best Bakeries in Tokyo: 10 Famous Pastries in Tokyo

Bread may have arrived in Japan with Portuguese traders in 1543, but Tokyo has taken baking to a whole new level. Known locally as pan, Japanese bread has evolved to reflect local tastes, resulting in beloved treats like sweet red bean–filled anpan, savory yakisoba pan, and the irresistible Japanese curry pan.

Today, Tokyo is a paradise for pastry lovers. From historic bakeries that invented iconic Japanese breads to trendy dessert shops serving Instagram-worthy sweets, the city offers an incredible variety of baked goods inspired by both Japanese traditions and European techniques.

If you're looking for the most delicious pastries, breads, and sweet treats in the city, these must-visit bakeries in Tokyo deserve a spot on your food itinerary.

Before diving into the best bakeries in Tokyo, it helps to know a few of the iconic breads you’ll see in bakeries across the city. Japanese bakeries are famous for blending European baking techniques with local flavors, resulting in sweet and savory breads that have become staples of everyday life in Japan.

One of Japan’s most iconic breads, anpan is a soft bun filled with sweet red bean paste (anko). It was first created in the 19th century by Kimuraya in Ginza, making the bakery a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of Japanese bread. Today, anpan can be found in bakeries across Japan, often topped with sesame seeds or even salt-pickled cherry blossoms.

A favorite savory snack in Japanese bakeries, curry pan is a deep-fried bread filled with rich Japanese curry. Crispy on the outside and warm and flavorful on the inside, it’s the perfect grab-and-go treat when exploring the city.

If you’re curious about the flavors inside this popular bread, check out our guide on how to make Japanese curry.

Shokupan is Japan’s famous ultra-soft white bread known for its fluffy texture and slightly sweet flavor. Often served as thick slices of toast or used for sandwiches, shokupan has become a beloved breakfast staple throughout Japan.

At Centre The Bakery in Ginza, you can experience this bread at its finest, where freshly baked loaves are served as thick toast with butter or turned into indulgent French toast.

Despite its name, melon pan doesn’t usually contain melon. Instead, it’s a fluffy bread topped with a crisp cookie-like crust that resembles the pattern of a melon. Its sweet flavor and crunchy texture make it one of the most popular treats in Japanese bakeries.

Here are some great bakeries in Tokyo to visit for all your carb cravings.

1. 1. Kimuraya

   2. Pain des Philosophes

   3. Pablo

   4. Shiro-Hige's Cream Puff Factory

   5. Maruichi

   6. Pelican

   7. 465 Days

   8. The Centre Bakery

   9.  Bricolage Bread & Co.

   10. Omiya Yogashi Kanda

Google Review Rating: 4.3 stars

Address: 4 Chome-5-7 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061

Anpan is the classic Japanese bread, so iconic that there's even a superhero character called "Anpanman," with an anime series that has evolved into a mega-franchise challenging even Hello Kitty. And it all began at Kimuraya, reportedly the first and oldest Western-style Japanese bakery. Yasubei Kimura, a former samurai who wanted to make a bread that was suited to Japanese taste buds, decided to use a type of liquid yeast derived from sake and fill the bread with anko (sweet red bean paste) to appeal to the Japanese market. The resulting creation became famous nationwide, and even got the attention of Emperor Meiji who is said to have been so fond of anpan that he asked Kimura to bake some for him every day.

Anpan is now available at every Japanese bakery, as well as supermarkets and convenience stores, but if you want to try the original, head over to Ginza, home of Kimura's first store, Kimuraya. There, you can try all kinds of sake anpan, like their cherry blossom anpan, which features salt-pickled sakura, the very same type that was offered to Emperor Meiji in 1868.

Google Rating: 4.4 stars

Address: 1-8 Higashigokencho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-0813

Located in the charming Kagurazaka district of Shinjuku, Pain des Philosophes is widely regarded as one of Tokyo’s best artisan bakeries. Despite its modest storefront, the bakery regularly draws long lines of locals eager to pick up its freshly baked breads and pastries.

Founded by baker Masanori Hamada, who trained extensively in France, the bakery combines traditional French baking techniques with carefully selected Japanese ingredients. The result is a menu filled with beautifully crafted baguettes, flaky croissants, and rustic country loaves that rival those found in Paris.

One of the bakery’s standout items is its signature baguette, prized for its crisp crust and airy interior. Their buttery croissants and rich chocolate pastries are equally popular and often sell out early in the day. If you're exploring the nearby streets of Kagurazaka, this beloved bakery is well worth a stop for a classic European-style pastry break.

Google Review Rating: 3.9 stars

Address: 21-9 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

PABLO is one of the best bakeries in Tokyo as well as the premier place to get a taste of Japan's signature cheese tarts. Though cheese tarts are probably the last thing on your mind when you think of Japanese desserts, these scrumptious tarts have reached soaring popularity, having been adapted for the Japanese palate. While they're often sold all over the nation, some of the best cheese tarts in Tokyo are made at PABLO, but be prepared to line up for upwards of twenty minutes, as these tarts are in high demand.

PABLO's cheese tarts are well known for their buttery and creamy center that oozes out when you take a bite. Their signature cheese tart is the perfect size for two people to share and can be ordered either "rare" with an ooey-gooey center or "medium" with a slightly firmer filling. 

Google Rating: 4.4 stars 

Address: 155-0033 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Daita, 5 Chome−3−1 1F

If you're a fan of Studio Ghibli films, you'll definitely want to check out Shiro-Hige's Cream Puff Factory in a quiet residential area of Setagaya, Tokyo. This whimsical and charming little pastry shop, run by Hayao Miyazaki's sister-in-law, is like a place straight out of one of Miyazaki's films. A two-story cafe and bakery, Shiro Hige's Cream Puff Factory's appeal comes not only from its cozy and homey appearance, featuring rustic homemade signs outside and framed original sketches drawn by Miyazaki himself inside, but also from its delightful treats.

Famous for their iconic kawaii Totoro cream puffs, this little Tokyo bakery also makes Totoro-shaped cookies, as well as fruit tarts and shortcakes topped with their cute Totoro shu kurimu ("choux cream"). The chocolate cream and custard-flavored Totoro cream puffs are available year-round, but they also break out seasonal flavors such as strawberry, peach, caramel banana, and mango. This is one bakery in Tokyo that Ghibli fans can't miss.

Google Rating: 4.4 stars 

Address: 8-3, Ginza, Chuo 104-0061 Tokyo

If you're looking for some good old American bagels right here in Tokyo, then check out Maruichi. You'll be surprised to find this little piece of New York 6,000 miles away in Shirokane. Maruichi's owner and head baker was trained at the famous Ess-A-Bagel, considered the best bagel shop in New York, and makes the most authentic bagels in Tokyo. While this bakery is usually packed with travelers and locals, you won't have to wait long. As Maruichi only does take-out, the line moves along speedily.

Their menu includes 13 different types of bagels, including sesame, poppyseed, seven-grain honey fig, rye carraway, and even a rice bagel! Made without sugar and with only the finest ingredients, like salt from Sicily and flour from Hokkaido, you can be sure that Maruichi's American-style bagels are the most delicious and high-quality in Tokyo.

Google Rating: 4.2 stars 

Address: 11-0042 Tokyo, Taito City, Kotobuki, 3 Chome−9−11 1

If there's one thing Japan does well, it's a simple and delicious slice of toast. While it doesn't sound as fancy as some of the offerings from other Tokyo bakeries on this list, Pelican Bakery in Asakusa (now with a second cafe location in Azabudai Hills) serves up the perfect loaf. Pelican has been open for over 75 years now and only has three products available: bread loaves, dinner rolls, and buns. 

Though it may not sound like anything special, the bread here is so popular that it usually sells out within a couple of hours of opening. If you want to ensure that you'll get to try some of Pelican's delicious bread, then make sure to get there bright and early, since there will assuredly be a line of people waiting to get a loaf at this special Tokyo bakery.

Check out our article about the Moomin Bakery and Cafe or learn about killer coffee spots in Tokyo!

Google Review Rating: 4.1 Stars 

Address: 1-6-12 Tomigaya, Shibuya, Tokyo

Tucked away near Yoyogi-Hachiman Station, 365 Days is an artisan bakery loved by Tokyoites. Since opening in 2013, it has attracted a loyal following of locals and visiting food lovers who line up for its beautifully crafted breads and pastries.

Owner-chef Akimasa Sugikubo trained in French pastry kitchens before opening the bakery, and his influence shows in the shop’s refined creations and careful attention to ingredients. The bakery sources high-quality ingredients from across Japan and focuses on breads designed for everyday enjoyment (just as the name “365 Days” suggests). 

Popular menu items include their rich brioche, seasonal fruit breads, and their famous curry bread. If you’re visiting nearby Yoyogi Park, grabbing a few pastries here for a picnic is a perfect Tokyo morning ritual.

Google Review Rating: 4.3 stars 

Address: 1-2-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 

If you want to experience Japan’s famous milk bread, follow the signs to Centre The Bakery in Ginza. The bakery specializes in shokupan, Japan’s ultra-soft and fluffy white bread that has become a beloved staple in cafes and homes across the country.

Visitors can choose from different types of milk bread and even enjoy thick slices toasted in special imported toasters inside the café. One of the most popular menu items is their luxurious French toast made from shokupan, which has gained a reputation among Tokyo brunch lovers.

For bread enthusiasts, this bakery offers a uniquely Japanese take on the humble loaf.

Google Review Rating: 4.3 stars

Address: 6-15-1 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo

Located near Roppongi Hills, Bricolage Bread & Co. is a stylish bakery and café known for its high-quality croissants and sourdough breads. The bakery focuses on using Japanese-grown grains and seasonal ingredients sourced directly from farmers across the country.

The bakery shares its space with a coffee counter and wine bar, creating a relaxed environment where visitors can enjoy freshly baked pastries alongside expertly brewed coffee.

Their flaky croissants and rustic sourdough loaves make this a must-visit stop for travelers who take their breakfast and brunch very seriously! 

This bakery has been selling Western-style pastries and cakes for over 100 years. After renovations in 2017, the shop was refreshed with a new face that paid homage to its legacy of serving fruity sweets, cakes, and ice creams. Omiya might be the closest you can get to an old-fashioned soda fountain in Tokyo. 

The pastries served at Omiya represent Western pastries in Japan from the time they were first popularized – meaning the flavors are both nostalgic and wholesome. Sit in the cafe and try their light-as-air cream puffs or sink your teeth into the soft sponge of Japan’s iconic strawberry shortcake. 

Whole cakes are available to go, but at the cafe you’ll be able to enjoy some coffee and a retro atmosphere before going to explore Kanda and Jimbocho, nearby neighborhoods with their own delicious nostalgia. 

Tokyo’s bakery scene is only the beginning of the city’s incredible food culture. From historic bakeries serving traditional Japanese breads to modern pastry shops experimenting with new flavors, there’s always something delicious waiting around the next corner.

Of course, pastries and breads are just one part of Tokyo’s vibrant culinary scene. If you’re planning a full food adventure, consider joining one of the city’s guided Tokyo food tours, where you can sample everything from street snacks to hidden neighborhood eateries. Markets are another fantastic place to explore local flavors, and Tokyo market tours offer a chance to see how chefs and locals shop for the freshest ingredients.

And if you have a sweet tooth, Tokyo doesn’t disappoint. The city is home to incredible dessert shops, including some of the best donuts in Tokyo, fluffy Japanese cheesecakes, and colorful fruit sandwiches that have become social media sensations.

For a more casual bite, even Japan’s famous konbini (convenience stores) offer surprisingly delicious baked goods, sandwiches, and sweets that locals grab on the go.

Whether you're hopping between artisan bakeries, browsing neighborhood cafés, or sitting down at some of the best restaurants in Tokyo, the city offers endless opportunities to satisfy every craving.