There are many neighborhoods in Tokyo that you can explore, but many of them are either too touristy, too remote, or lack a concentration of interesting shops. This time, I recommend this neighborhood where many popular stores have opened in recent years. The whole neighborhood has a residential atmosphere, with residents riding bicycles on the streets, kindergarten students playing in the park, and leisurely strolling aimlessly on the streets is very pleasant.
This area is called “Sangenjaya,” which is conveniently located. If you take the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line from Shibuya, you can reach Sangenjaya Station in just 20 minutes. There are many popular cafes and dessert shops in the area, and here are three popular ones for you!
Café The Sun Lives Here
This store briefly set up a pop-up store at Hong Kong SOGO earlier this year, but at that time, only a small amount of products like bottled cheesecakes were available, of course, there are more styles in this store. Some desserts for dining in are served on a platter, the most popular being “Tiramisu”, accompanied by a small bottle of cream sauce to pour over the tiramisu, the soft and smooth mascarpone cream paired with this sauce, easily finishing a whole portion.
The “Caramel Milk Pudding” is delicately served with a spoon, smooth and full of milky flavor, just the right amount without being too heavy. The “Caramel Raspberry Cheesecake” balances the sweetness of caramel with the tartness of raspberries, overall not as sweet as typical Japanese desserts.
In addition to a series of dine-in desserts, the display case in the store has a variety of takeaway desserts, including Matcha Tiramisu for takeaway only, as well as cheese sticks, cheese crisps, and the signature bottled cheesecake in original and chestnut flavors. The owner mentioned the possibility of a pop-up in Hong Kong next year, so stay tuned!
Official Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cafethesunliveshere/
和厨房かんな
There are countless shops in Japan that serve shaved ice, and this shop located in Sanshin Tea House is one of the most famous. Located in a quiet corner of the area, even if you go there at 11 am on a weekday morning, half of the seats are already taken. They offer a variety of shaved ice flavors, including purple sweet potato with milk, strawberry red tea, matcha, Tiramisu, and more.
There are also two to three limited-time flavors, which are flavors introduced according to seasonal ingredients, such as pumpkin and chestnut in the autumn. This year’s innovative flavors for autumn and winter include pistachio wine lees, with a filling of peanuts and wine lees, the taste is very outstanding. You can enjoy the view of the neighborhood streets from the window side of the store, which is especially relaxing and leisurely. If you want to go, remember to make a reservation in advance.
Official Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/wa_kitchen_kanna/
Junibun Bakery
This bakery has 4 branches in Tokyo, with Sangenjaya being the largest and most diverse in styles. One area of this branch is a flower shop, with dried flower decorations hanging and displayed throughout the store. Their signature bread is a cream-filled loaf, stuffed with butter red bean and plenty of chocolate chips. On weekends, there is a chance of selling out, with a variety of cakes and bread available.
Official Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/junibun_bakery/
There are many shops worth visiting in this area, you can reserve a whole day to explore here, even Blue Bottle has a store hidden in a small alley. The spacious interior of the store and the adjacent old buildings form a beautiful picture. If you like taking photos and checking in at the storefront of small shops, this area will definitely satisfy you.
