Too Cute Food and Drinks: Shun Kissa Panesu Harajuku

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!

Plunge into Tokyo's cutest district on our Harajuku Kawaii Fashion & Pop-culture Tour! Let your English-speaking local guide unveil the vibrant world of Japanese "kawaii" culture in its birthplace. Discover the latest trends that have captured hearts worldwide while exploring Harajuku's colorful streets. Treat your taste buds and Instagram feed to 2-3 incredibly photogenic sweets that perfectly capture Harajuku's creative spirit. From unique fashion boutiques to eye-catching dessert shops, experience firsthand why this trendsetting neighborhood has become a global symbol of Japanese pop culture!

Magical Trip's tour earned Tripadvisor's 'Best of the Best' award

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.

Food at Harajuku 2024: “Kawaii” Photogenic Sweets & Eats
In this article, I’ll introduce trendy, photogenic foods and recommended spots in Harajuku. It’s packed with colorful and “Kawaii” sweets, unique cafes and restaurants – a guaranteed hit for Instagram-worthy gourmet spots.

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.

Immerse yourself in Tokyo's vibrant KAWAII culture with our Harajuku Fashion & Pop-culture Tour! Led by an English-speaking local guide, discover the epicenter of Japan's cute and colorful youth culture. Experience the latest trends in this fashion-forward district while sampling 2-3 incredibly photogenic desserts that are taking social media by storm. From rainbow-colored treats to character-themed cafes, each stop offers perfect Instagram moments and a taste of Harajuku's sweet innovations. Join us for an unforgettable adventure through Tokyo's most kawaii neighborhood, where fashion meets fantasy and every corner brings a new kawaii discovery!