When you visit Ginza, there’s more to do than just browsing the upscale brand stores. Don’t miss out on a visit to Kimuraya, a charming bakery with a rich history of over a hundred years, conveniently located next to the iconic Mitsukoshi department store. Established in 1869,Kimuraya holds the prestigious title of Japan’s first bakery and is renowned as the birthplace of Anpan, the beloved Japanese red bean bun. These delightful treats have captured the hearts of locals and travelers alike, and are even favored by the Japanese emperor as his esteemed choice of bread.
Anpan’s Birthplace: The Original Red Bean Bread Store
Ginza Kimuraya holds the prestigious title of being the birthplace of Anpan, the beloved Japanese red bean bread. As the oldest and first Western-style bakery in Japan, it has left an indelible mark on the country’s culinary landscape. If you’re a fan of Japanese dramas, you might have noticed the scenes where students eagerly flock to the school cafeteria to grab a delicious red bean bread during lunchtime.
This culinary sensation traces its roots back to Yasubei Kimura, a former samurai who found himself unemployed after the abolition of the samurai class during the Meiji Restoration. Determined to start anew, he journeyed to Nagasaki to learn the art of bread-making from a Dutch baker. It was during a hanami, a traditional cherry blossom viewing party, that they unveiled the Sakura Anpan, a variation of red bean bread filled not only with sweet red bean paste but also a delicate salted cherry blossom. This delightful creation captured the attention of Emperor Meiji, who requested it and bestowed it with royal recognition.
To this day, Kimuraya continues to honor its rich heritage by using the traditional sakadane liquid yeast in their red bean bread, infusing it with a subtle sake aroma. This time-honored recipe has been cherished and passed down through generations, ensuring that the allure of Kimuraya’s red bean bread remains as captivating as ever.
How to Get to Ginza Kimuraya Sohonten
- Address: 4 Chome-5-7 Ginza, Chuo City, 104-0061 Tokyo
- Phone: 0335-61-0091
- Opening hours:10:00~20:00, Daily (Closed from 31st December to 1st January)
- Official website
Ginza Kimuraya is conveniently situated next to the iconic Wako Clock Tower in the heart of Ginza. You’ll find it just a stone’s throw away from Ginza Station Exit A9, a mere 1-minute walk. This beloved bakery is easily recognizable with its prominent sign and boasts multiple branches across the city. Even if you can’t make it to the flagship store in Ginza, fret not! You can still savor the delights of Kimuraya at various department store food courts, including Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi, Takashimaya Nihonbashi, Isetan Shinjuku, and Seibu Ikebukuro.
Explore Ginza: Your Ultimate Ginza Day Trip Shopping Guide – Complete Itinerary & Must-Try Food Spots
Ginza Kimuraya: A Multilevel Culinary Journey
The Ginza main store of Mukuraya has four floors. The first floor sells around 130 types of bread, while the second floor is a café where you can sit down and enjoy light meals such as bread and sandwiches. The third floor mainly sells Western-style dishes such as beef stew, beef curry, fried crab cakes, and Japanese black beef hamburgers. The fourth floor is a French-style bar where you can enjoy beer while gazing at the night view from the window.
The most popular spot for tourists is definitely the bakery on the first floor! On a leisurely Friday afternoon, the small Kimura House was packed with customers selecting bread. We followed the Japanese people and queued up in front of the wooden boxes filled with various flavors and types of bread. In the wooden boxes, you can mix and match the quantity and flavor of the bread, and you don’t have to buy a whole bag. You can just buy a little and taste the flavors.
The wine bread comes in signature flavors such as red bean, cherry blossom, chestnut, cream, matcha, and more, with prices starting at 160 yen, but the bread is only the size of a fist. The most popular item in the store is the red bean bread wrapped in white cotton paper.
After taking a bite, Piaor only felt an infinite sweetness. Having eaten quite a few desserts in Japan, the flavors were all light and slightly sweet, with a faint fragrance melting in the mouth. Compared to that, the sweetness of the red bean bread from Mugimaru-ya was even stronger than that of Taiwanese red bean bread. There was also a faint taste in the bread that made it different from regular bread, perhaps due to the special flavor of sake bread, but it was not a taste that Piaor liked.
Also a great recommendation for a new era bakery: [Shinjuku] Sawamura Shinjuku: Famous bread from Karuizawa
Although the sweetness of Kimuraya’s bread doesn’t suit Piao’er’s taste, their bread still has its own fans. It is highly recommended to come to Tokyo and taste the bread from Japan’s first bakery. Maybe it will become an unforgettable taste of your Tokyo trip!
Explore Ginza: Your Ultimate Ginza Day Trip Shopping Guide – Complete Itinerary & Must-Try Food Spots
Ginza One-Day Shopping Itinerary
【Morning】Tsukiji Market for fresh seafood Take Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line from Tsukiji Station to Ginza Station→ 【Afternoon】Shopping in Ginza, having afternoon tea, shopping in Yurakucho, and taking a walk to see the maple leaves in Hibiya Park Take Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from Ginza Station to Shimbashi Station→ 【Evening】Enjoy the Tokyo night view and watch the Miyazaki Clock at Shiodome Caretta
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