Today we'll touch on just four of them though - focusing on French-influenced pâtissiers. As casual visitors to Japan we can't possibly claim that these four are the best; but we can claim that you won't be disappointed if you pay any of these shops a visit!
Pierre Hermé Paris
Location (click for Google Maps link): La Porte Aoyama near Shibuya
The first shop we visited was Pierre Hermé's Chocolate Bar near Shibuya. As its name suggests, this Pierre Hermé's chocolate-centric outlet, serving up a commendable array of chocolate bars of different origins and intensities, and some amazing original chocolate creations. If you'd like some variety, the Fetish Mogador (An assortment of pineapple and citrus themed chocolate-based pastries) is interesting, but our vote goes to the Coupe Glacee Infiniment Chocolat: A super delicious blend of various chocolate ice creams, brownie bits, chocolates and chocolate mousse.
The elegant cafe is on the upper level of the shop; expect to spend around ¥2,000 and up per person. On the ground level you can buy Pierre Hermé's other pastries, chocolates, macarons and other cakes.
Sadaharu Aoki Paris
Location (click for Google Maps link): Yurakucho near Tokyo station
Sadaharu Aoki is a master of the éclair, and marrying Japanese ingredients with other classical French pastries. If you're dining in and would like to sample as wide a variety as possible, make sure to order the degustation - a sampling of six cakes of varying flavours and textures. All delicious, of course. Don't leave out the éclair, though - choose whichever flavour sounds the most interesting, they're all delicious. ¥1,500 and up per person
Hidemi Sugino
Location (click for Google Maps link): Ginza
Of all the pâtissiers in Japan, Hidemi Sugino is perhaps the most accomplished, having won the La Coupe du Monde (World Cup of of Pastry) in 1991. His cafe in Ginza also possibly has the longest queue: We arrived at 10:30am on a Saturday morning (he only opens at 11:00) and there were already two dozen people waiting.
Hidemi Sugino seems to focus on mousse cakes - of all the four creations we tried, mousse was the common denominator. If you're a fan of chocolate (and even if you aren't), make sure to order the Ambroisi: A sublime chocolate-and-raspberry mousse cake so complicated to make that just reading the recipe can tire you out.
Expect to pay ¥1,500 and up per person. Oh, and Hidemi Sugino officially doesn't allow photographs (at all), although the wait staff seem to turn a blind eye when you're seated in the eat-in area.
Echire Maison du Beurre
Location (click for Google Maps link): Chiyoda; in between Tokyo station and the Imperial Gardens
OK, this one isn't really a cafe - it's more accurately a bakery that serves up staples such as croissants and madelines. All made with Echire - the queen of butters, of course. Somewhat annoyingly there isn't any actual seating available, but there's a pleasant open area with trees, plants, benches and a water fountain nearby.
So grab a croissant, some madelines, and some vending machine coffee and have yourself a little picnic!
That concludes our post for today - as always, we hope this was useful for you. If you're interested, check out our itinerary and write-ups of all our previous Japan trips here, and don't hesitate to leave us any questions you might have in the comments below!
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