28/02/2025 Ran
When do you usually eat bread? What kinds of bread do you enjoy? For me, I often buy bread on my way home or during a walk, and I end up eating it while walking. The anticipation of getting home makes it hard to resist eating it before I arrive.
On the way back from outings with my grandmother, we always stopped at “Aurole” on Matsuyama Street. My favorite was the sesame bread shaped like a stick, and I would be so happy when my grandmother bought it for me. Over time, I started visiting the bakery on my own. The shop also offered plenty of other treats perfect for snacks, like whipped cream-filled sandwiches and fruit dishes. I visit this place when I need a moment of calm, eating the bread while reminiscing about the walks with my grandmother.
My mother, after work, would always bring back bread. She would often pick out ones filled with lots of chocolate or spicy sausages. The bakery was called “Road,” and it was located further down Nakasugi Street, past Waseda Street. When you arrive, a small figurine of an old man greets you at the entrance. Whenever I faced difficult times or needed the strength to keep going, biting into the bread my mother chose for me naturally filled me with energy.
When I’m feeling down, I head to a bakery called “Honey.” I discovered it while walking with my brother. Whenever I was feeling low, he would come by and take me on a walk to cheer me up. Walking east from Asagaya Station, you’ll eventually see the small white shop—“Honey.” The berry bread sold there has a sweet and tart flavor that gently spreads in your mouth. As I eat it, it feels like my worries melt away.
One of my friends during school also loved bread. After school, we would always go to “Saint-Germain,” a bakery in Pearl Center. We’d talk about everything while eating chocolate donuts or fluffy loaves of bread. That became part of our daily routine. Even now, when I travel, I go on bread-hunting trips. Every time I eat bread from Saint-Germain, those warm memories from back then fill my heart.
Asagaya also has a bakery that only opens at night. “Bon Bon” is located at the end of a gentle slope and is open two nights a week, from evening until late at night. The cookies with chunks of chocolate chips have a moist texture, so much so that they seem to wash away the fatigue of the day. The warmth of the shop, contrasted with the darkness outside, creates a cozy atmosphere that soothes the soul. Eating bread at night feels like a reward for the day, recharging me for tomorrow.
Asagaya is full of charming bakeries. Every time I enter one, the smell of freshly baked bread gently surrounds me. Why not take a peaceful moment to visit the bakeries of Asagaya, where the warmth of the bread and the memories created within them can fill your heart?