Rice is the staple food in Japan, but bread is also popular!
The Kansai region in particular consumes a large amount of bread and is home to many famous bakeries.
From breads developed uniquely in Japan to hard breads made in France, we introduce you to our recommended bakeries in Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe.
Whether for breakfast, lunch, or a snack on your trip, please taste the bread that Japanese people love too!
The famous restaurant that introduced French bread to Japan
【Hyogo Ashiya】BIGOT Ashiya Main Store
Philippe Vigo, known as the “God of French bread,” founded VIGOT in 1972. It is a popular store in Ashiya, a hot bread battleground, where customers never stop coming on weekday mornings. Currently, the second generation has taken over the store.
The most popular item on the menu is the baguette! Mentaiko France,” a baguette filled with mentaiko butter, is also popular among the Japanese. There is also a wide variety of croissants, danishes, and other items. The largest selection is available from 12:00 to 13:00.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
6-16, Narihira-cho, Ashiya-shi, Hyogo [MAP]
Access
8-minute walk from Hanshin Main Line Ashiya Station
9-minute walk from Hankyu Kobe Line Ashiyagawa Station
Kobe's leading boulangerie located in the heart of Sannomiya
【Kobe-Sannomiya】Comme Chinois
A boulangerie by a French chef. We continue to bake honest bread with an emphasis on natural flavors. From breads to sandwiches, sweet breads, and creative breads that cannot be found anywhere else, 40 to 50 varieties of breads are available every day.
There is also a café where you can taste bread and French cuisine.
A selection of items such as dressings, sauces, and other souvenirs are available only from a French chef.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
7-1-5, Gokodori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo [MAP]
Access
2-minute walk from Hanshin Main Line Kobe-Sannomiya Station
8-minute walk from Hankyu Kobe Line Kobe-sannomiya Station
Great location! All you can eat bread!
【Kobe-Sannomiya】TOOTH TOOTH FISH IN THE FOREST
TOOTH TOOTH FISH IN THE FOREST, located near Meriken Park, a famous sightseeing spot in Kobe, is a bakery cafe recommended for lunch during sightseeing. For lunch, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat bread baked in the store every morning!
The breads include a wide variety of elaborate and creative breads such as melon bread, a traditional Japanese bread, croissants, and other breads that can be found in bakeries. Seasonal breads are also available.
The spacious restaurant is open and easy to use with children.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
2-8, Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo [MAP]
Access
17-minute walk from Hankyu Kobe Line Kobe-sannomiya Station
18-minute walk from Hanshin Main Line Kobe-Sannomiya Station
The most diverse selection of bread in Kansai!
【Osaka-Umeda】Hanshin Department Store Umeda Main Store Breads Terrace
Hanshin Umeda Main Store is so strong in gourmet food that it is called the “Hanshin of food.”
The “Breads Terrace” on the first floor is a place where you can go every day and never get bored, with two bakeries and a croissant and Danish specialty store, as well as popular bakeries opening stores for a limited time and events changing weekly.
Be sure to check out the unique Japanese breads that are sometimes featured at the event, such as anpan, curry pan, okazu pan, cream pan, and more.
Also, Tommy’s “Anshoku,” which appears in the store every Wednesday, is a popular menu item with grains of sweet bean paste kneaded into the bread. If you come across it, be sure to buy some and taste it for yourself.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
1-13-13, Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka [MAP]
Access
Right by Hanshin Osaka-Umeda Station
10-minute walk from Hankyu Osaka-umeda Station
【Osaka-Umeda】THE CITY BAKERY GRAND FRONT OSAKA
The first overseas branch of THE CITY BAKERY, a bakery from New York, is located in Umeda, Osaka, and is very popular among Japanese.
The signature item on the menu that you must try is the pretzel croissant.
It is larger than the croissants found in other bakeries in Japan. The crispy texture of the croissant, the salty taste of the pretzel, and the savory sesame flavor all come together to create an addictive menu item.
The restaurant is open early in the morning in the center of Umeda, and you can eat in at the stylish restaurant. A visit to the store for breakfast during your trip is also recommended.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
B1F, Umekita Plaza, 3-1, Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka [MAP]
Access
3-minute walk from Hankyu Osaka-umeda Station
5-minute walk from Hanshin Osaka-Umeda Station
Boulangerie with a fine atmosphere on the first floor of the hotel
【Osaka-Umeda】Andante
Located on the first floor of the Osaka Shin Hankyu Hotel, a popular destination for travelers, Andante opened in 2022 and sells 13 types of bread, including hard bread, baguettes, croissants, and loaves of bread, in a face-to-face setting.
Croissants made with 100% French folded butter are a particularly good choice. The surface is covered with French bread dough and baked to achieve a crispy texture. It has an elegant aftertaste with no buttery residue.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
1-1-35, Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka [MAP]
Access
Right by Hankyu Osaka-umeda Station
10-minute walk from Hanshin Osaka-umeda Station
A popular and nostalgic store for Japanese people specializing in koppeban
【Kyoto Omiya】Maruki Bakery
Coppepan is a long, thin, fluffy bread often eaten at school lunches, and is said to have developed uniquely in Japan. It is a simple and nostalgic bread for Japanese people.
Founded in 1947, Maruki Bakery’s bread with various ingredients sandwiched between cobbler buns is so popular that it attracts not only locals but also people from far and wide.
Ingredients include homemade side dishes such as croquettes, fish fries, omelets, and shrimp cutlets, as well as red bean butter and peanut cream. The number one seller is the ham roll, filled with ham and crispy cabbage!
Every morning, the staff greets customers with smiles and cheerful voices.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
740, Kitamonzen-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
8-minute walk from Hankyu Kyoto Line Omiya Station
Great smell of wheat! People from abroad also visit
【Kyoto Karasuma】fiveran
“fiveran” is a boulangerie located near tourist attractions such as the Kyoto International Manga Museum and Nijo Castle.
Bread made with carefully selected domestic ingredients focuses on bringing out the full flavor of the wheat. From the moment you pick up a loaf of bread, you can smell the rich aroma of wheat! Hard breads with a distinctive wheat aroma are a must-try menu item. There are also many breads that incorporate seasonal and Kyoto-style ingredients.
The shell-shaped bread “patissière” is a popular item filled with slow-cooked custard. Inside is a generous amount of vanilla-scented melt-in-your-mouth cream!
In the cafe corner in the back, you can enjoy the bread you purchased.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
377, Ennogyoja-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
9-minute walk from Hankyu Kyoto Line Karasuma Station
Website
So cute, it's a shame to eat it!
【Kyoto Arashiyama】Miffy sakura Bakery Arashiyama Store
Here’s a cute bread available in Arashiyama, a sightseeing spot in Kyoto!
Freshly baked bread featuring Miffy is very popular at this store. In addition to “Miffy Anpan,” the shop offers a variety of breads in the shape of Miffy, including dashimaki tamago sandwiches, danishes, fried anpan, and more!
If you want to take out and enjoy eating and walking around, you can have a coffee, green tea latte, or other drinks with cute Miffy decorations.
For souvenirs, we recommend the “Can Danish”, which is a Danish bread in a can.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
20-27, Sagatenryuji Tsukurimichi-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
5-minute walk from Hankyu Arashiyama Line Arashiyama Station