Getting Your Daily Bread – Bakeries in Nagoya

Aug 30, 2024

Getting Your Daily Bread – Bakeries in Nagoya

Nagoya often stands out for it distinctive cuisine. The traditional favorites like miso katsu and hitsumabushi usually come to mind when thinking of foods here. However, Nagoya is more than things slathered in red miso and fried to varying degrees. Offering a delightful blend of local flavors and European-inspired confections, Nagoya’s bakeries are no slouches. Here is a small list of some favorites from myself and the people around me.

Boul’ange

Okay, so this one isn’t really Nagoya exclusive – there are bakeries across the country – but it is an excellent choice for those at Nagoya station. Their Instagram account gives you a great idea of what they are offering with the overall concensus being it’s all pretty swell. The ease of access, especially for people entering or leaving Nagoya, makes them a very easy place to recommend.

Boul’ange – Instagram

Baguette Rabbit

Before we begin, I have to admit that I thought the shop was called “Bucket Rabbit” for a long time and had difficulties reconciling how buckets, rabbits and bread were related. Featuring a French-inspired menu, Baguette Rabbit has a variety to choose from but each item has a small branding twist: If you look carefully at the items, you will notice rabbit motifs. However, my family is a stickler to the mainstay here – We tend to just get the baguettes as they are great on their own or used when we make dinner.

Baguette Rabbit Kanayama Shop (Located inside the Asunal Shopping Plaza) – Website

Maison Kayser

Maison Kayser, an international chain with two branch in Nagoya, delivers the experience of a classic French bakery. There are two locations – One in the Nagoya JR Takashimaya department store and another in Nagoya Central Garden (an upscale stretch of restaurants and shops to the north and between Imaike and Ikeshita stations). Featuring crispy baguettes, melty pain au chocolat and the classics of both French and Japanese bakeries, Maison Kayser offers consistently high-quality baked goods. The bakery prides itself on using natural fermentation processes and the best flour, resulting in bread with a distinctive aroma and taste. For those who prefer savory flavors, their quiches and sandwiches are also worth trying.

Maison Kayser Central Garden Shop – Website

Tôt le Matin Boulangerie

Found out on the east side of the city in the Meito ward, this bakery is within walking distance of Issha station. I often find my French friends and acquaintances to give me quite the stern look when I ask them for their opinion of bread in this country. Many times they will sigh and state that while the loaves are of acceptable quality, people just seem miss the mark when it comes to the various breads from France. With that in mind, this place comes recommended by not one but two French expats for getting it just right. The pain au chocolat comes highly recommended!

Tôt le Matin Boulangerie – Tabelog Link (Use browser translations for help)

Suripu

Tucked away near Tsurumai station is Suripu, which tends to offer a more standard Japanese bakery experience. While the quality of the breads here is fantastic and the quiche was particularly enjoyable, the real draw here is the location. Tsuruma park is a popular destination for various festivals and events and the large, wide sections are incredibly conducive for spending hours on a picnic mat. However, the stand foods inside the park can quickly cross the line from “Eh, the price includes the convenience” to “Yeah, no, we’re not spending that much on fries.” With Suripu just a block or so away from the JR Tsurumai station, you can load up on quality foods that are both filling and easy to carry and eat. Try the quiche!

Suripu – Tabelog Link (Use browser translations for help)

Benkei

In our house, Benkei is more of a pilgrimage than a trip. An experience more than a purchase. A communion more than a snack. Nestled in the heart of Nagakute city, Benkei is a great place to grab bread if you find yourself in the city for any reason (IKEA, Moricoro Park, Tokyo Interior, Nagakute Aeon, or the Toyota Car Museum are all excellent reasons), you owe it to yourself to swing by. The chocolate ring bread is most certainly a must-buy, but everything else from the cheese breads to the humble loaves are all worth a try as well.

Benkei – Tabelog Link (Use browser translations for help)

—

There are several other locations to mention here – I love Nakaya Pan right by Imaike station (It’s not bread, but you really need to try their “an donuts” and their Anpanman-themed bread is always fun), Pan Kyodai (Much like Suripu, this is right down the road from the massive Makigaike Greens Park – grab your lunch from here! Their Totoro bread is adorable and delicious, too), and my favorite place for ordering loaves  – Peu Frequente in Sakurayama (while the loaves are amazing, you have to be able to order by phone in Japanese, which limits their appeal in an article like this).

Have a favorite bread place? Tell us!

—

lazy fri13th via Flickr, CC BY 2.0