Eat

Cafés & Bakeries

Looking for a Hiroshima cafe? We’ve jittered our way across the city to bring you the best stops. Relax and appreciate the sweeter things in Hiroshima at local cafés and bakeries. Admire the steamed milk cat in your latte before you drink him. Enjoy a light lunch of vegan croquettes made with organic vegetables and served with fair-trade coffee. Visit a Japanese boulangerie then spend more time taking pictures of your slice of cake than eating it because it simply looks that good. Find a new appreciation for the changing of the seasons with traditional Japanese sweets, or discover the Showa charm of kissaten—traditional Japanese coffee houses. Our cafe and bakery roundup curates a Hiroshima trip recharge.

Melonpan Flagship Store (メロンパン本店)

The Melonpan flagship store is a bakery in Kure. The bright emerald green building is the landmark of the bakery, and there are many kinds of handmade breads on display. The signature item is the Melonpan (Melon Bread), which gives the store its name. It looks like a chocolate fruit and is a popular bread that can only be found in Hiroshima Prefecture. In addition to the main store, it is also sold at supermarkets such as YouMe Town Kure and Yours ekie.

Moment of Joy

The melon buns at the Melonpan flagship store have a distinctive rugby ball-like shape, unlike the round melon buns that are eaten every day in Japan. The melonpan is filled with a special custard cream that is as moist as red bean paste, and you will feel satisfied enough to fill up on just one piece. In addition to melon buns, the store also sells a variety of other breads with a simple, traditional taste, such as “anpan,” which are buns filled with red bean paste, and sandwiches.