Tokyo’s top 7 doughnut shops

Around 2008, doughnuts seemed to spring out of nowhere in Tokyo, doughnut shops springing up one after the other all across town. Though at the time, some shops had lines of people waiting for over two hours to buy their doughnuts, it seems that things are back to normal proportions.

For the doughnut lover, Tokyo is a real treat— you can find not only popular Japanese doughnut shops, but also a good number of popular international doughnut shops have opened their doors here too. A survey of the offerings at doughnut shops around town shows that Tokyoites still love their simple old-fashioned style doughnuts made with flour, eggs and sugar. Each shop makes their own special style of doughnuts differentiating themselves by making the doughnuts in a particular way or with particular ingredients: domestically produced flour, soy-milk doughnuts with okara (crushed soy beans) from tofu shops, baked doughnuts and even doughnuts made as part of a collaborative project with local elementary school children.

Everyone young and old gets a doughnut craving now and then, so when you’re struck with one, get your fix at our list of the top doughnut stops in town.

Haritts

Originally starting out as a mobile café, this doughnut shop opened quietly in the back alleyways of Yoyogi Uehara and is run by two sisters who have spent a lot of time studying the art of making tasty doughnuts and coffee. The shop building looks much like traditional Japanese folk housing, thus it would be easy to miss if you didn’t know it was there. Haritts’ are known for their light, tender doughnuts, but be sure to go early as they often sell out. There is also a café area where customers can enjoy tea and coffee with their doughnuts.

Address: 1-34-2 Uehara, Shibuya
Telephone: (03)3466 0600
Open: Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat-Sun, nat. holidays 11am–6pm, closed 1st, 3rd, 5th Mon
Website: www.haritts.com/

Hara Donuts (Motomachi)

This store is popular for its simple doughnuts which are made using okara and soy milk from the well-known Hara Tofu Shop in Kobe. There are nine Hara Donuts shops located across Tokyo and the Tokyo suburbs. The ‘Doughnut of the Day’ alternates daily between ‘Banana chocolate’, ‘Snow flavoured chocolate and forest green tea’ and ‘Mochi mochi curry’. Seating is also available.

Address: 5-196 Motomachi, Naka, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Telephone: (045)651 7858
Open: 10am-7pm (closes earlier if doughnuts sell out)
Website: haradonuts.jp/

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (Tamagawa Takashimaya SC Shop)

The Krispy Kreme phenomenon continues with the Tamagawa Takashimaya shop. This amazingly popular shop is known for the lines of customers which can suddenly form outside and the fact that you can actually see the doughnuts being made. The Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Tamagawa Takashimaya SC shop opened in December 2009 in the South Building of the Tamagawa Takashimaya SC Store. This branch boasts a spacious café area which has been specially designed to make customers feel comfortable and relaxed. It also plans to have a doughnut decorating activity in the “Processing Theatre” for children.

Address: B1 South Bldg, Tamagawa Takashimaya SC, 3-17-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya
Telephone: (0120)1072 89 (9:30am-5:30pm)
Open: Mon-Sun 10am-9pm
Website: krispykreme.jp/

Leonard’s

Japan is the first place outside of Oahu, Hawaii to sell Leonard’s popular Malasadas doughnuts. Malasadas are very much like a version of Japanese age pan (fried bread) and became a trendy treat after they appeared in the 2009 Japanese film ‘Honokaa Boy’. The Malasadas are best hot off the griddle, so get them just as a new batch pops out.

Address: 1F Yokohama World Porters, 2-2-1 Shinko, Naka, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Telephone: (045)222 2172
Open: Mon-Sun 10:30am-9pm
Website: www.yim.co.jp/shop/1f037r.html

Miel Doughnuts Ginza

This doughnut shop is a patisserie chef’s foray into the world of doughnuts. These popular doughnuts are cooked in an oven, as opposed to the widespread frying method, creating a light and fluffy texture. The shop, named after the French word for honey (miel) also sells jars of honey and jam. Doughnuts are made from specially selected ingredients and come in a variety of flavours including plain, kinako (soybean flour), cinnamon and rum raisin. This shop also has a café.

Address: 6-12-1 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo
Phone: (03)6218 0112
Open: Sun-Mon 11am-8pm
Website: www.miel-donut.com/

Floresta Mishuku Ikejiri

This shop offers what they call ‘nature doughnuts’. Floresta has its main shop in Nara and its owners are a husband and wife team who wanted to make guilt-free doughnuts that they could feel good about giving to children. The flour, eggs, salt and sugar used in these doughnuts are all organic and domestically produced. Floresta avoids the large batch production that many other outlets use, and only makes doughnuts as needed. Other aspects of the doughnut-making process are also carefully executed with a conscience, right down to their choice of washing detergent, making their doughnuts both good for people and the environment. Floresta is take-away only. (Full details & map)

Neyn

European ingredients doughnut-making are found at Neyn, creating a distinctive doughnut with a subtle flavour, achieved with flour used in French-style confectionary and baked goods, and fresh yeast to impart a pleasantly chewy texture. The inside of the shop is decked out in white with doughnuts presented on tables under cake cloths, and includes space for enjoying the doughnuts on-site.
(Full details & map)