While Nakano Station is known as a mecca for subculture, it's also a hidden treasure trove of sweets.

This area is home to a wide variety of confectionery shops, from long-established Japanese confectionery stores that have been in business since the Edo period to Western confectionery stores that incorporate the latest trends.

This time, we will introduce recommended sweets that you can find around Nakano Station in detail, divided by purpose. Enjoy the diversity that is unique to Nakano, from the flavors of long-established shops that are loved by locals to modern sweets that look great on social media.

Souvenirs to give out around Nakano Station

Around Nakano Station, you can find individually wrapped souvenirs that are perfect for handing out at work or sharing with friends. Below, we will introduce the following three stores.

Marui store

Marui Shoten is a long-established monaka shop that specializes in manufacturing monaka skins.

Usually, monaka is sold with the filling and skin as a single unit, but at Marui Shoten, the filling and skin are packaged separately, so you can put the filling together yourself just before eating. The freshly baked skin has a crispy and fluffy texture that you can enjoy to the fullest.

Marui Shoten's recommendations are the cute lucky cat and frog shaped monaka. The experience of filling the bean paste into the monaka yourself is perfect for those who love Japanese sweets, as well as those looking for a slightly unusual souvenir.

Address	〒164-0013 1-19-9 Yayoicho, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-3372-7643
Opening times	9:00～17:00
Access methods	10 minutes walk from Nakano-Shinbashi Station
Official website	Marui Shoten Official Website

Bunmeido Tokyo Nakano ( ※This store is currently closed )

Bunmeido is a long-established confectionery store famous for its castella cakes. The Nakano store is a local store that offers traditional castella cakes and a wide variety of other sweets.

Western sweets, characterized by their moist texture and refined sweetness, are loved by people of all ages.

Among them, the castella roll is recommended. It is a castella cake wrapped in dorayaki dough, and is characterized by its moist texture and gentle sweetness that spreads in your mouth.

They are individually wrapped and available in boxes containing between 10 and 30 pieces, making them perfect for distributing in large workplaces.

Address	〒164-0001 1F Sun Mall in front of JR Nakano Station North Exit, 5-64-10 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-3388-0002
Opening times	9:30～18:00
Access methods	1 minute walk from the north exit of Nakano Station
Official website	Bunmeido official website

Nihonbashiya Chobei Nakano Marui Store

Nihonbashiya Chobei is a long-established Japanese sweets store with motifs based on Edo culture and the calendar of the year. Its charms lie in its seasonal sweets and elegantly sweet sweets, and in the summer, its refreshing-looking "goldfish scooping" jelly is popular.

At Nihonbashiya Chobei, the Nihonbashi Senbei crackers are perfect for sharing with everyone. Unlike regular senbei crackers, they have a crispy cookie-like texture and a lightly sweet cream filling.

Nihonbashiya Chobei's sweets are visually stunning, so they're sure to be a hit when you hand them out.

Address	〒164-0001 3-34-28 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-6304-8311
Opening times	10:00～20:00
Access methods	2 minutes walk from the south exit of Nakano Station
Official website	Nihonbashiya Chobei Official Website

Long-lasting souvenirs around Nakano Station

There are times when you want to choose something that will last a long time because it's difficult to decide when to give it to the person you're giving it to. The following three stores have recommended souvenirs that will last a long time.

Papabubble

Papabubble is an art candy specialty store that originated in Spain. Of the 21 stores nationwide, 7 allow you to see the artisans kneading, stretching, cutting and shaping the candy right before your eyes.

Papabubble's colorful and original candies look like jewels. They are not only beautiful to look at, but also have a rich fruity flavor.

There are also collaborations with Disney and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, so you're sure to discover something new every time you visit.

The recommended Papabubble candy is the mixed fruit candy. This is the most classic of Papabubble's classics, and it is a mix of various fruit designs and flavors. It has a melting texture and a refined sweetness, and will be loved by people of all genders and ages.

Address	〒165-0026 1-15-13 Arai, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-5343-1286 (Telephone reception hours: 10:00-20:00)
Opening times	10:00～20:00
Access methods	9 minutes walk from the north exit of Nakano Station
Official website	PAPABUBBLE Official Website

Sakurayama Fruit Bunch

Sakurayama Kabou is a specialty store that sells jams and baked goods made with fresh fruit. They use natural methods that minimize the use of additives, and create products that bring out the natural flavor of the fruit. Many of their products have excellent shelf life, making them popular with health-conscious people.

Sakurayama Kabou's recommended products are the piglet financiers. There are two types: "White Pig" with plenty of Hokkaido butter, and "Black Pig" with a slightly more mature chocolate flavor. If you look closely, you'll see that they are smiling or troubled. There are various expressions, and some piglets have rare faces hidden inside.

Address	〒165-0026 1-30-6 Arai, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-5942-5013
Opening times	11:30～19:00
Access methods	12 minutes walk from the north exit of Nakano Station
Official website	Sakurayama Fruits Official Website

Nogata Kintoki Rice Crackers

Nogata Kintoki Senbei is a rice cracker specialty store that continues to preserve traditional methods. Their authentic rice crackers are slowly baked over charcoal, boasting a crispy texture and fragrant flavor.

They offer a variety of traditional flavors that last a long time and are also popular as tea accompaniments, including soy sauce, salt, shrimp, and wet-boiled.

Among them, the one we recommend is Kintoki Senbei. It is named after the store and is a product that the store owner has a deep attachment to. It won an honorary gold medal at the 20th National Confectionery Expo and is a rice cracker that everyone should try.

Address	〒165-0027 5-30-20 Nogata, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-3330-0273
Opening times	9:00～19:00
Access methods	1 minute walk from the south exit of Nogata Station
Official website	Nogata Kintoki Senbei Official Website

Short-lasting souvenirs around Nakano Station

If you've come all the way to Nakano, why not choose some delicious souvenirs that you can only enjoy on that day? We recommend the following nine stores.

Bonjour bon

This locally-rooted bakery near Nakano Station offers a wide variety of breads. The wide lineup ranges from standard breads to savory breads.

The most recommended item is the maple melon bread, which is the shop's most popular item. The secret to its popularity is the maple butter that overflows from inside the melon bread. This popular bakery was also chosen as the Bread of the Year.

Address	〒164-0001 5-59-8 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-5345-6260
Opening times	8:00～21:00
Access methods	3 minutes walk from the north exit of Nakano Station
Official website	Bonjour Bon official website

Kyle's Good Finds

Kyle's Good Finds is an American-style bakery cafe. They are known for their hearty muffins and cookies, and are popular for their casual, overseas flavors. They are popular as a casual souvenir, allowing you to enjoy the deliciousness of freshly baked goods.

The most recommended item is the blueberry muffin. It is a soft muffin filled with plenty of blueberries. It is American-sized and very filling, and goes perfectly with coffee.

Address	〒165-0026 Sunfast Nakano Arai 1F, 2-7-10 Arai, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-3385-8993
Opening times	Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00 to 18:00 Holidays and Sundays: 12:00-16:00
Access methods	10 minutes walk from Araiyakushimae Station
Official website	Kyle's Good Finds Official Website

Oyaki Restaurant Lefutei

Oyakidokoro Refutei is a famous Imagawayaki shop in front of Nakano Station that always has a line of people waiting. The chewy dough is filled with plenty of bean paste and cream, and each flavor is branded with a different mark.

Among them, the most recommended is the red bean paste sweetened with red bean paste. It has an excellent balance of chewy dough and sweet bean paste, and is a popular item that sometimes sells 3,000 pieces a day.

In addition to red bean paste, there are a variety of other flavors, such as custard cream, cream cheese, and seasonal limited menu items, so you'll have a hard time deciding what to eat first. The homemade taste that gives off a warmth is what makes it so appealing.

Address	〒164-0001 5-63-3 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-3387-3048
Opening times	11:00〜20:00 (Ends when sold out)
Access methods	1 minute walk from the north exit of Nakano Station
Official website	Instagram

L'Autumn

L'Autumne is a Western-style pastry shop run by a chef who has won numerous awards. They offer a wide range of products, including cakes, breads, jellies, and chocolates, and are said to be works of art that can be enjoyed with all five senses. The interior of the shop is stylish and luxurious, with beautiful cakes lined up in a spacious space.

Among them, the roll cake is highly recommended. The sponge cake is moist and the fresh cream melts in your mouth.

It has been featured in the media and is gaining attention. It has a light texture that doesn't feel heavy, making it the perfect after-meal dessert.

Address	〒165-0023 2-30-1 Eharacho, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-6914-4466
Opening times	11:00～18:00
Access methods	1 minute walk from Shin-Ekoda Station
Official website	L'autonne official website

Sowameme

Sowameme is a small cake shop in Nakano Ward. All cakes are made with 100% domestic rice flour and are gluten-free. Because they are gluten-free, they can be safely eaten by people on a diet or those with wheat allergies.

We also use ingredients that are gentle on the body, such as cage-free eggs, grass-fed butter, and sugar beet sugar.

The cake, decorated with pure fresh cream and homemade finishing, looks just like a rose flower. It is healthy for your body, so it can be enjoyed by both adults and children. However, reservations must be made at least three business days in advance.

Address	〒164-0011 1F, 5-24-7 Chuo, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-5385-4822
Opening times	10:00〜17:00
Access methods	8 minutes walk from Higashi-Koenji Station Exit 3
Official website	Sowameme official website

Fluffy

Funwari is a cake shop that offers cakes that are light and fluffy. In addition to the standard cakes, you can also enjoy whole cakes that you don't usually see, such as Mont Blanc and chestnut tarts.

One of the most recommended items is the rare cheesecake. It is one of Funwari's most popular menu items, and is characterized by its light mouthfeel and the same "fluffy" texture as the shop's name.

Address	〒164-0012 4-1-9 Honmachi, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-6879-9777
Opening times	12:00-17:00
Access methods	3 minutes walk from Nakano-Shinbashi Station Exit 1
Official website	Instagram

Musashino Tamaya

Musashino Tamaya is a Japanese sweets store that continues to carry on traditional methods. It offers a wide range of products, from high-quality fresh confections that emphasize the season to everyday Japanese sweets, and is a store where you can feel the local culture. You can enjoy handmade Japanese sweets made with the skill and heart of an artisan.

Among them, the most recommended is Musashino Tamaya's signature sweet, Nabeyoko Monaka. The unique pan-shaped Monaka shell is filled with a lightly sweet bean paste, making it very satisfying to eat. You can choose from three types of bean paste: whole bean paste, smooth bean paste, and sesame bean paste.

Address	〒164-0012 4-30-14 Honmachi, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-3381-7012
Opening times	9:30～19:00
Access methods	3 minutes walk from Shin-Nakano Station Exit 3
Official website	Musashino Tamaya Official Website

Tuna Mart

Maguro Mart is a specialty store that specializes in tuna. They offer carefully selected domestic bluefin tuna that is not frozen, so you can enjoy the original flavor and freshness of the tuna to your heart's content. You can enjoy the food at Maguro Mart not only in the store, but also as takeout.

At Maguro Mart, you can enjoy all parts of tuna cooked in a variety of ways, including sashimi, grilled, deep-fried, etc. You can also try rare cuts that you don't usually get to see.

For takeout, we recommend the tuna chirashi, which allows you to enjoy the natural flavor of tuna at an affordable price.

Address	〒164-0001 5-50-3 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
telephone number	03-5942-8527
Opening times	Take-out: 11:30-14:00, 16:00-20:00 (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 16:30-20:00)
Access methods	6 minutes walk from the north exit of Nakano Station
Official website	Instagram

Fukagawa Iseya

This Japanese sweets shop has deep roots in the Yayoi-cho area of Nakano Ward and is loved by locals. It is used for a wide range of purposes, from everyday snacks to small gifts.

At Fukagawa Iseya, dumplings and manju are popular, but rice dishes such as onigiri and red rice are also popular.

Like the Japanese sweets, the rice dishes have a homemade feel and a gentle, homely taste. They are different from the rice balls you can get at a convenience store, and give off a nostalgic "mother's taste."

Address	〒164-0013 3-20-10 Yayoicho, Nakano Ward, Tokyo
telephone number	03-3373-1055
Opening times	10:00-18:00 (Closed Wednesdays)
Access methods	13 minutes walk from Nakano-Fujimicho Station

summary

The area around Nakano Station is home to many new shops that value the techniques and flavors of long-established Japanese confectionery stores, as well as those that incorporate overseas sweets and tastes. The strength of the Nakano area is the wide range of options available to suit all budgets and occasions.

Why not take a stroll around Nakano Station and find your favorite sweets shop? You're sure to find a souvenir that suits your tastes. Be sure to share the flavors of these famous shops that are loved by locals with your loved ones.