A travel and lifestyle blogger based in Okinawa,@owncolorstravel shares their Tokyo Kagurazaka experience.
Since my trip to France this spring, I’ve developed a deep interest in French culture. I started looking for places in Japan where I could feel a connection to France, and I found myself in Kagurazaka, an elegant neighborhood with French restaurants and spots that blend the charm of Japan and France.
In this post, I’ll share some hidden gems in Kagurazaka that will make you feel like you’re taking a mini trip to France, a journey full of new discoveries.
・The France I discovered in Kagurazaka
The main goal of this trip was to visit places in Japan where I could experience a bit of “France.”
Tokyo’s Kagurazaka turned out to be the perfect spot to fulfill that dream.
It seems that Kagurazaka naturally became home to many French restaurants due to its strong connection with French culture, including a French community, language schools, and cultural institutions. Isn’t it wonderful to have a neighborhood with such ties to France?
As I strolled through Kagurazaka, wandering through its shopping streets and into narrow alleyways, I found many hidden gems.
I’ll be sharing them with you little by little!
Standing out on the street is the French restaurant Lugdunum Bouchon Lyonnais, where you can enjoy authentic Lyon cuisine from France, with one Michelin star to its name.
Next up is Le Clos Montmartre, a spot that evokes the atmosphere of Paris’ Moulin Rouge.
As you walk through the backstreets of Kagurazaka, down the “Geisha Shinmichi” alley, you’ll find a Mediterranean bar called Manvar, marked by a wine bottle sculpture.
With cider bars, bistros, and so many French influences scattered throughout the area, just taking a stroll can leave you spoiled for choice.
The bakery PAUL Kagurazaka, with its flagship store in France, offers a variety of breads made from French wheat, including the croissants that left me in awe during my trip to Paris.
Many of you might already be familiar with it, as PAUL has expanded its stores across Japan, from Hokkaido to Fukuoka.
PAUL Kagurazaka 〒162-0825 Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Kagurazaka 5-1-4, Kagurazaka Terrace 1F
・Bringing color to your table with French-born frozen foods
As you walk along Kagurazaka Street, you’ll come across Picard, a specialty store for frozen foods that also has locations in France.
PICARD Kagurazaka Store
2-11-2 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825
The store offers an incredible variety of frozen foods, making it easy and quick to enjoy French cuisine at home.
From pizza and croissants to soups and appetizers, and even meats and seafood!
Just a few minutes in the microwave, and you’ve got a meal that adds a touch of flair to your table with almost no cooking required. It feels like the perfect setup to enjoy a solo dinner with a glass of wine in hand.
How about an éclair for dessert?
They also sell insulated tote bags, which are a must-have if you’re coming from a bit further away.
・Cheese fondue in Kagurazaka
Next, we’ve arrived at a restaurant where you can enjoy cheese dishes from the Savoie region of France, near the Swiss border.
Raclette & Fondue Fromatique Kagurazaka
2-10-23 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825
Personally, I love cheese fondue, so we decided to celebrate my friend’s birthday here.
We went for lunch, and the menu featured raclette, cheese pasta, and cheese fondue. You can choose from the traditional Swiss recipe made with white wine or a non-alcoholic version for the fondue.
The fondue was warm and melty, paired perfectly with red wine.
This place is truly a cheese lover’s paradise, offering a complete cheese experience!
The exterior had a European vibe, and the interior gave off the cozy warmth of a Swiss mountain cabin, making it the perfect setting for celebrating with friends.
It was lightly raining that day, but the terrace had a tent for rain protection, so we could comfortably enjoy our meal without worrying about the weather.
・Aux Merveilleux de Fred
One of the French-origin stores I had to visit in Kagurazaka was this one—Aux Merveilleux de Fred, a renowned patisserie famous for its meringue confections and other sweets.
Aux Merveilleux de Fred 107-2 Yaraicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0805
My purpose for visiting this shop was to buy waffles, so I purchased a box of six vanilla-flavored waffles as souvenirs.
There were several flavors to choose from, but I opted for the ones filled with vanilla cream.
They had a wonderfully smooth taste.
After I got back to the hotel, I noticed that the label said to store them at 5°C. Since I bought them on the first day of my trip, I ended up enjoying them during my stay.
I had imagined something more like thin, crispy senbei, but the waffles here were soft, with a light texture like Belgian waffles.
Everything displayed in the store is made in-house, so if you love sweets, I definitely recommend checking it out.
The second and third floors are cafés, so it seems like a great place to take a break when you need one.
・Dinner at Maison de la Bourgogne
Maison de la Bourgogne Iidabashi 3-6-5 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825
This French restaurant, famous for its escargot, will have you asking, “Is this really Japan?”
For those visiting Kagurazaka for the first time, the area is full of narrow alleys and side streets, making it feel like a maze. It’s easy to get lost and not know which way to go.
Use Kenban Yokocho as a landmark to help guide you!
At Maison de la Bourgogne, the staff is mostly French, adding to the authentic experience.
The wine list features an impressive selection of high-end wines, with a particularly rich variety of Pinot Noir. If you’re a wine lover, it’s definitely worth a visit.
The menu offers both Japanese and French descriptions, which was perfect for me, as I wanted to deepen my understanding of French cuisine.
I ordered pan-seared beef hanger steak with roasted vegetables and blue cheese sauce (Onglet põélé, légumes rotis, sauce au bleu) and an assortment of charcuterie (Assortiment de charcuterie), along with a bottle of red wine.
For those unfamiliar, charcuterie refers to processed meat products, like pâté and cured ham.
Fortunately, the rain started to clear up, and we were able to switch to a terrace table midway through our meal, allowing us to enjoy the atmosphere while leisurely sipping more wine.
This time, I came with a friend, but with its elegant and refined ambiance, this high-end French restaurant would be perfect for a date as well.
On weekdays, you can enjoy French cuisine at a more reasonable price for lunch, so I recommend making a reservation.
Maison de la Bourgogne is a special spot in Kagurazaka where you can immerse yourself in a foreign atmosphere, with French being spoken all around you.
・Les Gourmands disent…
Les Gourmands disent… 1F Orara Building, 1-12 Ageba-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0824
This is Les Gourmands disent, a deli packed with French delicacies in a small yet charming space.
I tried the tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil quiche—it was just the way I like it, moist and not too dry.
The braised beef was so flavorful, it made me want to pair it with a glass of wine.
Since my hotel room didn’t have a microwave, I had the staff warm up the food at the shop for me.
Les Gourmandises is a casual deli where you can enjoy authentic French cuisine. The owner, originally from Lyon, France, opened this French takeout specialty shop in 2009.
The most popular item at the shop is the quiche, made with a homemade buttery crust, filled with fresh eggs, cream, and milk, giving it a wonderfully soft and jiggly texture. All the menu items are carefully crafted without any preservatives.
I took my order to go and enjoyed it leisurely back at my hotel.
・L’EPICERIE Kagurazaka
Lastly, let me introduce L’EPICERIE, a shop where you can buy food and drinks from the Brittany region of France.
They offer a variety of items like cider imported directly from Brittany, as well as other specialty foods, caramel cream, and jams perfect for spreading on bread.
I had the chance to taste some of the cider before purchasing a bottle that I liked as a souvenir.
L’EPICERIE 4-2 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825
Right next door to this shop is Le Bretagne Kagurazaka, where you can enjoy authentic crêpes and galettes.
I was amazed by the variety of shops in Kagurazaka, which makes you feel like you’re in France without having to travel there.
Before traveling to France, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with French cuisine to make your experience more enjoyable. Knowing the names of dishes you haven’t tried can be challenging, so having some background knowledge will make it easier to read the menu when you’re there. I highly recommend this approach for a more enjoyable stay!
