The Harajuku area, located in Shibuya Ward, is one of Japan's premier shopping districts, encompassing the area from Harajuku Station to Omotesando Station.
Harajuku is popular among young people and known as a trendsetting hub where cutting-edge brands and items gather. It's also the epicenter of the globally talked-about "kawaii" culture (meaning cute in Japanese, referring to Japanese pop culture that focuses on cuteness). Here, you can find many colorful and adorable food items and products.
On the other hand, the area around Omotesando Station, about a 15-minute walk from Harajuku Station, has a different, more relaxed atmosphere that adults can enjoy. In addition to shopping, there are plenty of stylish cafes, restaurants, and art museums.
Today, as someone who loves cute things and stylish cafes, I'll introduce you to an absolute must-visit, incredibly cute shop in the Harajuku area!
If you are interested in Harajuku's pop culture, check the article below! I summarized how and where you can enjoy them as much as possible.
Takashi Nakadomari
If you are interested in "Kawaii" Photogenic Sweets & Eats in Harajuku, check the article below! I summarized how and where you can enjoy them as much as possible.
Takashi Nakadomari
Café Scene in Harajuku
Harajuku is a fiercely competitive area for cafés in Tokyo, with many unique establishments gathered here. It's also very popular as a tourist destination, with plenty of commercial facilities, making it a bustling area. Consequently, there are many attractive cafés.
Among them, a particularly noteworthy café is "Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku," which reopened after renovation on March 1, 2024 (Friday). This bread-focused shop offers a rich menu that allows you to experience Japanese Showa-era café culture. The visuals are beautifully arranged, making it enjoyable just to look at.
The interior decor is both retro and stylish, creating a photogenic atmosphere. It's highly recommended for those who love cute things!
Highlights of Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku
Cute and Colorful Interior
source：Tabelog
Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku's first highlight is its incredibly cute and colorful interior! The terrace seating, in particular, features a distinctive pastel-colored design inspired by houses, making you want to exclaim "Cute!" just by looking at it. It truly embodies the kawaii aesthetic. The house-shaped terrace painted in four colors - blue, pink, green, and yellow - gives you the sensation of stepping into a picture book world.
The terrace has about 15 seats, offering excellent openness and comfort, creating a space where you can relax. Combining the colorful interior with drinks and sweets for photos will result in a magazine cover-like finish!
Be sure to take your favorite shot!
Photogenic Food & Sweets
source：Tabelog
The most recommended point of Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku is its photogenic, colorful food and sweets. They are particularly characterized by their "cute color combinations" and "three-dimensional appearance."
The combination of vibrant fruits like strawberries, cherries, oranges, and muscat grapes, along with toppings of chocolate cookies and whipped cream, is so adorable that you'll want to take pictures immediately.
Moreover, the visually impactful bread is impressive, such as the volume-packed toast using a whole loaf of original thick bread topped with pasta and fried eggs to the point of overflowing, or the pudding parfait with vanilla ice cream, pudding, banana, whipped cream, and a cherry on top.
Don't forget to capture Panesu Harajuku's food and sweets that you'll want to share with many people, not just the colorful interior!
Recommended Menu at Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku
Ribbon Bread
source：Tabelog
The most popular menu item at Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku is the Ribbon Bread, a cute bread shaped like a ribbon.
Originally popular in South Korea, it's been adapted with a Japanese twist. The "Sakura Ribbon Bread" particularly caught attention. It's a cherry blossom-colored bread filled with sweet bean paste that smells of cherry blossoms, not only beautiful but also delicious!
The flavor and color change every month, so what comes next is always a surprise. There was once a matcha-flavored Ribbon Bread with a green ribbon, which was irresistibly delicious for matcha lovers like me!
You can purchase up to 2 per person, subject to availability. It's so popular that if you don't line up by 11 AM on weekends, it might sell out. Even on weekdays, it often sells out around noon, so if you want it, go early in the morning!
Cream Soda
source：Official X
For those wanting to order a drink, the cream soda (soda float) is recommended. Cream soda is a sweet drink with vanilla ice cream floating on soda water. The fizzy texture of the soda water perfectly matches the gentle sweetness of the vanilla ice cream.
Panesu Harajuku's cream soda is characterized by its variety of flavors. The "Special Cream Soda" comes in seven flavors: Berry Berry, Sky, Grape Purple, Honey Orange, Apfel Yellow, Peach Milk, and Melon Milk. All are not only cute but also delicious, making it difficult to choose.
My favorites are Berry Berry and Peach Milk. "Berry Berry" has a deep red color with a fruity berry aroma. On the other hand, "Peach Milk" has a gentle pink color, with the sweet scent of peach and the mellow taste of milk spreading in your mouth. As you can enjoy both the appearance and taste, it's irresistible for cream soda lovers like me!
Each has its unique character, so it's fun to try and compare them!
Carrot Cake
source：Official X
Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku's carrot cake is adorned with fresh carrots on top, making it visually appealing.
While carrot cakes are generally sweet, this one is more of a main dish with salty, spicy, and cheesy flavors. It's large and heavy, offering a satisfying eating experience.
The batter is spiced with cinnamon and other spices, which pairs excellently with the cream cheese generously seasoned with black pepper.
The batter contains apple compote and walnuts, making it fluffy and delicious!
If you approach it as a spicy, non-sweet carrot cake, you'll find it very tasty, so give it a try! Spicy carrot cake is rare, so enjoy this kawaii experience as a memento of your visit to Japan.
Points to Keep in Mind
Time Limit
At Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku, there's a 60-minute usage limit during busy times. This is to ensure efficient entry even during crowded hours, so let's cooperate to allow many people to enjoy the café.
While Panesu Harajuku often has lines for the Ribbon Bread, it's less crowded before 11 AM if you're not aiming for the Ribbon Bread. After 11 AM, you might have to wait about an hour or more to enter.
Remember that there's a time limit during busy hours after 11 AM. Weekdays are generally less crowded than weekends, so it's recommended to visit on a weekday if possible.
Maximum of 4 People
The seating at Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku is limited to a maximum of 4 people. Even the largest table is a 4-person table, so groups of 5 or more will need to split up into multiple tables. Keep this in mind if you're planning to visit with a group.
Of course, it's possible to visit with more than 5 people, but since there are only about 20 seats inside, for larger groups, consider takeout. Many items like the Ribbon Bread, Carrot Cake, and Canelé are available for takeout.
On the other hand, many solo visitors come as well, so don't hesitate to visit if you're interested.
Photo-Taking at Designated Spots or Your Seat
Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku has rules regarding photography. While many spots in the café are photogenic, moving products for photos is generally not allowed.
As of May 2024, the green terrace seat is specially open as a photo-taking spot, allowing you to move products for photos, such as placing drinks and sweets on the window frame. The photo-taking spot may be temporary, so check when you visit. If you spill anything while moving items, please inform the staff.
On the other hand, you're free to take photos at your own seat. Some sweets might collapse if moved, so it's recommended to photograph them as they are. Even photos of just drinks and sweets are quite photogenic, so give it a try!
Recommended Usage
Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku doesn't accept reservations. Therefore, you need to visit the store in person. Pay special attention to the "Ribbon Bread," which is likely to sell out quickly.
Ribbon Bread sales start at 11:30 AM, but numbered tickets are distributed from 11:00 AM. If you're aiming for the Ribbon Bread, you need to visit around 11:00 AM and line up for a numbered ticket. This time slot is likely to be crowded, so early arrival is essential. However, note that waiting in front of the store before 11:00 AM is prohibited, so consider spending time at a nearby café.
Toast items also tend to sell out early, so it's recommended to go early in the morning!
Access
Address: 101 Miyazaki Building, 6-28-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access: 3-minute walk from Meiji-jingumae <Harajuku> Station (Chiyoda Line, Fukutoshin Line), 10-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station
The nearest station to Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku is "Meiji-jingumae <Harajuku> Station." It's a 3-minute walk, but the route can be a bit confusing, so here's a detailed explanation.
First, exit from Exit 6 for the Chiyoda Line or Exit 7 for the Fukutoshin Line at "Meiji-jingumae <Harajuku> Station."
Here's how to get there from Exit 7 of Meiji-jingumae <Harajuku> Station. Turn right and cross the first crosswalk, then walk along Meiji-dori. After crossing the second crosswalk, you'll immediately see "JAM" (a vintage clothing store) on the 1F of a building. Go through the passage of that building, and you'll see the landmark colorful houses on your right. That's "Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku."
Basic Information
Operating Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Closed: Irregular (announced on social media)
Phone: 03-6427-4577
Official Website: https://bread-espresso.jp/shop/junkissa_panesu.html
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shunkissa_panesu/
Official X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/junkissapanesu
Payment Methods: Cards accepted (VISA, Master), QR code payment accepted (PayPay), Electronic money not accepted.