This post was written in 2008. Shop details and prices may have changed since then.
After a meal in Shiodome, I got the chance to wander around the shopping street in Azabu-Juban. The shopping street in this neighborhood has a long history and plenty of famous places to eat. Here are a few of the ones that were recommended to me.
This is a skewer specialist called Abe-chan.
I hear it’s cheap and tasty. Celebrities apparently drop by fairly often, too. I was too full today to find out just how good it is, though..
Mamegen, the main store
It’s a shop that specializes in snacks along the lines of Korea’s squid-and-peanut crackers.
The tasting corner
They were good, so I bought a bag. For Koreans they might be a little lacking in character. Anyway, most of the snacks this place sells were cheap and tasty.
After walking a bit more, I went into a café tucked away on a corner. The atmosphere was nice, but as you’d expect from this neighborhood, it was a bit pricey. (Starbucks is super cheap in Japan, and this was two to three times that.)
Yuzu tea
Tasty, and nicely made without being too sweet.
Refresh tea
Cake assortment
They seem to be really good at desserts. It’d be nice if the prices were a little lower, but given what property costs around here, I guess it can’t be helped..
Maison Kayser, a great bakery
This one isn’t on the Azabu-Juban shopping street. It’s a bit of a walk, but it’s worth the trip. It seems to be a bakery that came over from France, and they sell delicious bread. Their baguettes and croissants are seriously strong. Having a shop like this near home would send your quality of life through the roof..
This is my second time in Azabu-Juban, and apart from the high prices, it seems like a really nice neighborhood to live in. You’d never get bored just stepping outside your front door.. If I move again, I’m definitely going to check whether there’s a good shopping street nearby.