[2019 Edition] 5 Select Bakeries to Visit in Tokyo

1. POINT ET LIGNE (Marunouchi)

This popular bakery has endless lines of customers streaming out of it, and is situated in a location directly connected to Tokyo Station. They offer a selection of 35 to 40 different breads made with a commitment to achieving both a light texture and rich flavors. Each bread is baked carefully by blending high-quality domestic wheat that the bakery developed itself with a variety of ingredients. The most popular bread is the Un Bizarre (238 JPY (incl. tax)), a long and thin semi-hard bread with an olive oil aroma that is stuffed with smooth adzuki bean filling made with muscovado sugar. There\'s a bar in the back of the bakery where you can enjoy bottomless breads, creative dishes devised by a French chef, and great wine.

2. VIRON (Marunouchi)

This bakery is also located right by Tokyo Station. It is a place to enjoy the flavors and atmosphere of the bread capital of the world, France. Their Baguette Retrodor (357 JPY), a chewy baguette with a crunchy and aromatic crust, is very well-known and highly regard even among bread lovers. It is made with a high-quality flour used by bakers who have won top awards at baguette competitions in Paris. VIRON has an exclusive license with the miller in France, so it is the only bakery in Japan that offers the unique flavors made possible by this flour. There is also a wide selection of Casse-croûte (600 JPY and up) sandwiches of ham, tuna and rillettes in baguettes. You can eat the breads in their cafe attached to the bakery.

3. CENTRE THE BAKERY (Ginza)

Located in the Ginza area close to Tokyo Station, this is a bakery managed by VIRON that specializes in sandwich bread. There are 3 types of breads available for purchase (700 - 800 JPY each). The most popular loaf is the soft and chewy square Kakushoku-pan (made with flour from Hokkaido), and they also have the springy Puru Man and the crispy Igirisu Pan. The eat-in area offers guests the opportunity to compare different loaves (1,000 JPY and up). There is a variety of different toasters, so customers can choose their favorite one and use it at their table.
*Prices do not include tax

4. Dans Dix ans (Kichijoji)

Dans Dix ans is a chic bakery in Kichijoji. Their simple breads are made with carefully selected ingredients with a commitment to taste and healthiness. Some of their most popular breads are Akane (200 JPY), a bread roll with adzuki bean paste lightly sweetened with cane sugar, Cigar Chocolat (300 JPY), which comes with a cold ganache cream filling that\'s added in right after an order is placed, and the Hook (200 JPY), which consists of cave aged Gruyere. Unlike many other bakeries in Japan, at Dans Dix ans, you tell the staff which breads you\'ve decided on, and they\'ll pick it up for you.

5. Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura (Shinjuku)

This is a popular bakery & restaurant from Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture. Sawamura\'s breads are characterized by rich flavors and a chewy texture achieved by using four types of homemade leaven and a slow, low-temperature rise. There is a wide selection on offer, ranging from sandwiches made with hard bread that are perfect as meals, to danishes for desserts, and even to baked goods. The Hot Dog (680 JPY) and Panini (480 JPY), which are prepared after the order is placed, are also recommended. There is an eat-in area to relax and enjoy the breads with coffee (around 400 JPY). Located in the NEWoMan shopping center in Shinjuku, it is a great place to stop by for lunch while shopping.

These bakeries are all very highly rated on social media as well, so be sure to try them out!