Strolling through gastronomy in Kagurazaka, a town in Tokyo that feels like Paris

Bonjour! Hello everyone!

　Did you know that there is a town in Tokyo that makes you feel like you are in Paris? Many French people live in Kagurazaka, and the area is full of French-related stores such as French language schools, bookstores, and brasseries, and is known as the "little Paris of Tokyo. In this article, I would like to take you on a tour of Kagurazaka, focusing only on French food, and introduce some of the restaurants, breads, sweets, and shopping spots I recommend. Kagurazaka is only a 20-minute train ride from both Tokyo Station and Shinjuku Station, and although it is located in the downtown area of Japan, there is a hint of Paris here and there.

▲Everywhere in the city, there is the smell and atmosphere of France, and there are even stores that originated in France.

■Morning Arrival at Kagurazaka

　If you arrive in Kagurazaka in the morning, you should take a walk around the city. First, let's visit Antiche Français Tokyo, a French language school established in 1952, which is the origin of Kagurazaka's French culture. With the establishment of this school, many French people began to gather and live in the city. The school is located in a beautiful environment and building, just like in a park, where you can feel and think about France.

　Kagurazaka is also home to many fashionable general stores, cafes, and commercial facilities, making it a very enjoyable place to stroll around. If you take a step off the street, you will find narrow alleys and slopes that will make you feel like you are in the back alleys of Paris. In Kagurazaka, where you can feel the Parisian atmosphere, let's start with a tour of French food.

▲Antiche Francais Tokyo, the start of French culture in Kagurazaka

■11:30　Galette, a traditional dish from Brittany, France, for lunch!
　Galette is a crepe dish made from buckwheat flour, a nutritious food rich in protein. Why not have lunch at a restaurant where you can casually enjoy galette, a traditional dish from Brittany, the largest buckwheat producing region in northwestern France? There are several types of galettes on the menu depending on the combination of ingredients, and today we will have a galette with seasonal ingredients. Enjoy a glass of wine or Brittany's vitamin C-rich cider (non-alcoholic type also available) with your meal. You can also take the galette home with you.

▲The photo shows the seasonal galette, a terre-et-mer with mushrooms, scallops, and bacon. The galette goes well with wine or cider. "Le Bretagne Kagurazaka" has many branches in France, where you can enjoy the authentic taste of galette.

■After lunch, take a stroll around the town and look for souvenirs that remind you of France!

　First, you can stock up on French ingredients at the store next to Le Bretagne. Here you will find about 200 different kinds of foodstuffs (canned goods, seasonings, etc.), sweets (cookies, caramels, etc.), and alcohol (cider, whiskey). I recommend the oil sardines from Brittany, where processed seafood is also a specialty, and the Brittany cider, which is said to be the best in the world and goes well with any dish.

▲The entrance is small, but the store is full of French ingredients, which is very exciting. "L'ÉPICERIE Le Bretagne"

▲A wide range of oil sardines on the shelves　　　　　　　　　

　 ▲In the fridge, ciders imported directly from Brittany.

The next ingredient to look for is cheese!

　This shop is dedicated to the true taste of cheese and always has over 300 varieties of cheese from France and around the world. In addition to fresh, white and blue moulded cheeses, you will also find jams, dried fruits, wines and other foodstuffs that go well with cheese, as well as cheese cutters. In addition to selling cheese, you can also learn how to make cheese dishes.

　Cheeses are sold in 100g portions, so you can enjoy a variety of cheeses and buy them easily.

▲"Alpage", a cheese shop with a wide variety of cheeses, stands out with its blue colour.

▲There are 300 different cheeses in the case.

And when you think of France, you think of French bread.
　Once you've bought all the ingredients, you need to buy the bread! I've been a bread lover since I was a child. I've worked in many restaurants and I'm very particular about the breads that I like to make, so I've carefully selected 20 different types of bread. We recommend the four different types of baguettes, which are elastic and crispy, and especially the alfa baguette made with rice malt, which is very sticky and tasty. Of course we also recommend the classic croissants and pain au chocolat. Kagurazaka is a place where baguettes, cheese and wine go hand in hand with the French culture.

　 ▲A little difficult to find in Kagurazaka, but a must-visit bakery "Pain des Philosophes", with a small selection and quantity of bread, so it is advisable to visit in the morning.

▲The baguette we recommend on the right is the Alfa Baguette, one of our best.

■Of course, French sweets are also available. Let's take a break and have afternoon tea!

　Merveilleux is a French version of the Belgian pastry. Made with meringue and whipped cream, the Merveilleux is a very high quality sweet, handmade every day in front of the customer. The texture is crispy and fluffy, with flavours such as chocolate, cherry and caramel.

　The shop offers a wide range of waffles, croissants and cakes. The upper floor is a café, where you can take away the products and enjoy them upstairs with a drink inspired by the Merveilleux .

▲"Aux Merveilleux de Fred" with shops all over France

▲Left: The seasonal Merveilleux, which has a chestnut flavour.　Right: a popular product, the Merveilleux is a meringue with chocolate whipped cream and coated with dark chocolate chips.

■Other attractions in Kagurazaka

▲If you have time, take a stroll through the Akagi Shrine, which also has a café in the area. Architect Kengo Kuma designed the precincts and shrine buildings of this modern shrine.

■Kagurazaka location ・Nearest stations　　　

It takes about 20 minutes to get there from Tokyo Station or from Shinjuku Station by Nearest stations areJR Chuo

・Sobu line Iidabashi station West Exit　2 minutes on footSubway Yurakucho Line

・Tozai Line・Nanboku Line Iidabashi station 2 minutes on footSubway Oedo Line Ushigome-Kagurazaka Station　2 minutes on foot